Teachers not to blame for exodus

It is a terrible indictment of parents and society that they “have to choose” a private school for their children to attend, especially during their high school years (“Sarah thought she still had years to choose high school. Kids were leaving in the 3rd grade,” March 8). If the public does not support it, everything will decline and so will the public education system. Unfortunately, if the system is lacking, people blame teachers. It’s not the teachers’ fault. These are political decisions made in the past to finance private education and cut major resources from the public system through inadequate increases in funding, thereby suppressing budgets. This is about not listening to those at the coal face, but sowing distrust in public school teachers by placing increasingly stringent demands on the details of programming, evaluation, and tedious record-keeping. This is about loading the curriculum with so many extras. This is not about supporting teachers, but somehow making them scapegoats for the evils of society, when in reality it is society. This is about the layoffs of teachers, especially support staff. It’s sad that although NSW now allocates more money to state schools, they are still not seen as equal to the private system where parents have to pay for everything. It’s sad for all the wonderful teachers who fight so hard for better funding and conditions not only for themselves but for their students. It is a shame that programs such as The Schools Spectacular and PSSA will not be broadcast if public schools can no longer support them. It’s a shame that all teachers have to meet the same accreditation standards. Who will educate these students from families where income cannot cover the costs of private education? Ask what happens if it’s not there anymore? Augusta Monro, Dural

The answer to why parents send their children, especially their daughters, to private school is always “money” (they can afford it, they buy it). The focus is on economic division, and as long as this continues, the real causes will never be addressed and nothing will change to stop this trend or, in fact, make our public education a valuable system. Jenny Greenwood, Avcılar Tepesi

day to remember

Parnell Palme McGuinness (“The Big Lie Women Tell Other Women,” March 8) comes out every International Women’s Day with her bombastic attacks on what she portrays as the feminist movement’s agenda to convince women through lies that babies, motherhood, and monogamy should be avoided. She uses several quotes from decades ago to support her vision of true feminism, but there is no evidence that contemporary feminist writers support a model that teaches us to override an evolutionary purpose and desire to have children. Instead of being “outraged” at women who freeze their eggs, it might look at the more relevant aspects of our society that International Women’s Day addresses, such as gender violence, which claims a woman’s life almost every week. Jennifer McKay, Ashbury

As a stay-at-home mom of two in the early ’70s, I thought I didn’t fit Women’s Books’ criteria for being a feminist (which went something like this: get a job, get rid of my husband and kids), but Germaine Greer’s Female Eunuch It lit the fire that burns to this day for women’s equality, but now for much more: for indigenous people, immigrants, the disadvantaged. Betsy Brennan, Wahroonga

The center leaves a faint

Your reporter talks about the disgusting area that is the current City Hall site (Letters, March 8). He could also criticize the middle end of George Street, which looks nothing like a red-light district these days. Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale

garden goodness

I agree about the gardens (“My memory garden, the best therapy money can buy”, March 8). Since I was little, I loved getting dirt under my nails and learning, watching and enjoying the exquisite beauties that Mother Nature has gifted us through plants and trees. It is true that gardens are actually the tapestry of a life full of lasting memories. Other benefits could include sharing the love and stories of gardening with grandchildren, helping with the climate, and gifting cuttings and plants to friends to remember special times and people. What’s not to like? Merilyn McClung, Forestville

Which century is this?

Forget science and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions so that future generations can have a livable planet (“One Nation chooses Farrer byelection candidate,” March 8). Barnaby Joyce said: “Coal-fired power plants, which used to be the cheapest energy we had, are back. Nuclear power is coming.” John Cotterill, Kingsford

for krill

First there was the bloody harpoon, made more “effective” by exploding tips (“Krill wars: The fight to keep food on the table for whales,” March 8). Then came the less obvious but equally deadly persistent pesticides, microplastics, acidifying waters, warming seas, and now the “vacuumization” of krill, the staple food of many whales. Whales, powerful and magnificent marvels, have been swimming in this planet’s oceans for nearly 50 million years. Will our great grandchildren tell the story of their passing into memory? Steve Dillon, Thirrou