bookbard
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I just read this article, which was very sad: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/mar/17/earl-charles-spencer-a-very-private-school-interview I remember C .S. Lewis writing about his experiences too. I think the only problem is that people think it is something to do with the past, but it is certainly still going on - there is a scandal going on right now about a school in Sydney, and there was certainly an abuser at another top boarding school in Sydney in 2012 who was imprisoned.
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Will you speak up on behalf of Aussie homeschoolers?
bookbard replied to caffeineandbooks's topic in The Chat Board
Same in NSW. The only thing that seems different is the 'best interests of the child' thing and that is pretty vague - how would they define it? But none of the other stuff is onerous at all in practice, there are still plenty of people unschooling in NSW, and I know people whose kids basically did no written work all year and the only comment they got from the dept was "you need to do some writing - here's some ideas". There are just so many homeschoolers and so few visitors that they can't put a lot of effort into it, I find. And in terms of 'you can't pull them out before they're assessed', well again that's the rule in NSW and I did and plenty of other people do. I remember years ago Victoria moved from basically no regulation to regulation - it would be interesting hearing from people there as to how it went. -
Saw an interesting article about how NZ and Australia were the only places not to have a fall in life expectancy due to Covid, and how it vindicated their lockdowns: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/how-australia-bucked-a-global-covid-19-life-expectancy-trend/thpl96aw4?utm_campaign=CDAqEAgAKgcICjDNi4ELMMz8-wIwrdf1AQ&utm_content=rundown&utm_medium=gnews&utm_source=newsshowcase
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I think it depends on the school. My daughter goes to a tiny private school (art focused) and they have always had a strict no-phone rule. They're able to enforce it because the school is small and the parents agree to it before joining. They do not take the phones away from the kids, but they'd get in trouble if they were using it. However, the huge public school nearby has a new no-phone rule (new state rule) and some parents are really concerned as it is understaffed, there's a huge amount of bullying and vandalism and it's not easy for a kid to get help if they need to. The other day a kid I know rang his mum from the toilets in order to get help. On the other hand, a kid was beaten unconscious and all the kids filmed it, rather than helping . . . I don't know what the answer is.
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Well after reading most of Ilona Andrews' other works, I finally managed to get into the Kate Daniels series by reading the newest 'series' (Wilmington series). It's similar to her (actually their) other books, magic, violence, romance, tough woman etc. In other words a fun easy urban fantasy - knowing there are a dozen books left to read is very reassuring.
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possible cause for long covid? https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240304/Iron-dysregulation-identified-as-potential-trigger-for-long-COVID.aspx It makes sense on a lot of levels, eg why women are more likely to be affected.
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Just saw a headline (couldn't read the article) in Australian Doctor that ATAGI is no longer recommending covid vaccines for children. They're allowed to get two shots, but it sounds like they're telling GPs not to advise them to get it. It is simply mind-blowing, considering there is no harm to the vaccine, and there is harm from getting covid. I wish someone would investigate ATAGI - I just don't understand, except for saving $$. This is an old article (2022) about ATAGIs attitude towards vaccinating kids. In Australia, they hold all the power around vaccines. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/10/atagis-strict-covid-restrictions-preventing-desperate-parents-from-vaccinating-their-children-expert-says
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So the main issue I'm having is always feeling stiff and sore (I'm near to 50). I was thinking of looking into yoga to help. It's not just waking up in the morning, but anytime I sit for a short while.
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Have you ever successfully overcome an inhibition?
bookbard replied to Sunshine State Sue's topic in The Chat Board
Oh, lots of things. I refused to learn to drive, until I was forced. Now I drive hours each day. My sister could never speak in public - then she got a job where part of it was public speaking, every day. She's fine with it. We were all raised to be scared of adults and really struggled with shyness that took years to overcome, but we're all confident now. The key is practice. Also, I guess, realising that everyone is thinking of themselves, 90% of the time, and not you. -
If it's a crime or whatever yeah I have seen kids faces blurred, but on commercial TV they still do that thing of visiting a school or club with kids waving flags and banners, esp breakfast TV. But it's so common I can't see that it would be dangerous unless the kid was already in a danger situation eg custody.
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Just finished reading Kipling's Kim. Now I was certain I'd read it before (years before) but I remembered nothing at all. I did enjoy it mostly because I've spent a lot of time in that part of the world and it was very obvious Kipling knew and loved India. Of course, it was the India that a British person would see, but after accepting you're reading the perspective of someone living in the world of British India, it's still a fine piece of historical fiction. I don't know that many kids would enjoy it nowadays though, except that Kim gets his own way against the adults for most of the book.
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I am so sorry, and infuriated on your behalf.