|
22 Jun 00 - 10:29 AM (#245841) Subject: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Another odd offering from the world's press. (Puts on old fogey voice: "What thes youngsters need to do is play some healthy sport or learn a musical instrument, that'll take their mind off etc etc...")
Students strike over school kissing ban Earlier this week a group of more than 200 students at Rutherford Technology High School in New South Wales walked out in protest at what they said was the inconsistent and discriminatory nature of discipline there. They say "unwanted" students who are caught kissing, swearing and smoking are treated differently from others. The school's principal Sharon Parkes has said holding hands is allowed but what she called "prolonged kissing" was a no-no. Now a hard core of activists say they will remain "on strike" until their demands are given a fair hearing. The rebels, aged between 14 and 17, have labelled themselves "non-conformists" standing up against discrimination. More than a kiss "It's about students standing up for what we believe in", year 11 student Charly Lindsay told the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph. "All we want is equality and then we'll be happy." The students have dismissed Ms Parkes' rules as coming from her "middle class mentality" and said the schools rigid rules were an effort to suppress their individuality. Several of the striking students' parents have given their support to the action saying the principal was out of touch. Sex and drugs Further strikes have been threatened if their concerns are not met. Callers to local radio stations have hit out at the students' demands, saying young people need to be protected from sex and drugs, not given carte blanche to indulge in them. Their action has also drawn fire from New South Wales' Education Minister who said there was no question of bowing to the strikers' demands. State MP John Aquilina said the school principal had taken a firm stand and any student who did not like the school's values should consider leaving. "Students cannot smoke at school. Students cannot swear at school and their kissing demands will not be met," he said.
(c)BBC News Online
|
|
22 Jun 00 - 10:38 AM (#245845) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: catspaw49 Skiff, I've been wondering........Do you have some search engine programmed with something like, "Find the Most Bizarre Bullshit in the News" or what? Spaw |
|
22 Jun 00 - 10:48 AM (#245847) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: IanC Could try the Fortean Times page! Cheers! IanC |
|
22 Jun 00 - 10:49 AM (#245849) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Just my strange mind,'Spaw! I try to scan the online papers & BBC news website daily for boring work-related things. Finding these other odd items gets me sidetracked and relieves the monotony! RtS |
|
22 Jun 00 - 10:57 AM (#245851) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: Mbo No kissing!?!?! Insults!!! The barricades go up tonight my fellow young people... --Mbo |
|
23 Jun 00 - 02:05 AM (#246364) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: Helen Hi guys, This high school is 20 miles north of here, in my hometown, Maitland. My nephew just started going to this school a couple of weeks ago. Strange that it shows up as world news. I haven't decided yet what my opinion is of it all. It's quite possible that there is one rule for some of the kids and a different rule for the disadvantaged ones, but it is also possible that they are just trying it on. In the long run, I think it's okay to challenge the rules made up by schools because we are still coping with the tradition-bound, inwardly focused attitudes of school administrators who tend to forget that they are supplying a service to parents and children. I still think that there needs to be some commonsense rules but they need to adjust with the times, too, so challenges like these just keep the school teachers and administrators on their toes, breaks them out of their complacency. It could go too far, though, too - see what I mean about being undecided?? Helen |
|
23 Jun 00 - 03:39 AM (#246381) Subject: RE: BS: Kisses sweeter:Oz whine From: Callie I think they're just trying it on m'self. Still, it has taken the talkback shows' attention away from Indigenous people and the uneployed, so it can't have done the nation any harm. |