Are our kids behaving badly?

If I could answer the above question succinctly and without the passion and possibly ‘loaded’ manner in which most of us would, then I could be living at an address far more salubrious than the one I live at now! Not that I have any complaints or desire to change that. BUT---are not you all sick of hearing about how the ‘kids of today are so badly behaved,’ as evidenced in the rates of youth crime or just through our coming into contact with our young people? Ask any teacher and you will hear the whole range of answers depending on the experiences they have had. A short answer to the question could be: ‘they do so because they can.’ That is usually followed up with the adage that—‘there are no real consequences for their behaviours.’ I have been hearing that since I began teaching four decades ago. What was said then about abhorrent behaviours, is said now. What the ‘kids’ did then,’ is happening now. Those very same ‘kids’ on thinking of their behaviours and comparing them to their observances now, say that ‘they had respect for their elders and teachers,’ and ‘that they would never have spoken to their elders in the way that they hear happening now.’ Mmm—my memory is that---well they did! Is this looking at their pasts with rose tinted glasses or is it a fact? Is the possibility that many teachers are afraid to confront the negative behaviours of their students a fact or something that does not exist? From what I am hearing from colleagues in a range of schools’ it is a fact f and a terrible reality for a few. The answers as always lay somewhere ion the middle. It is so easy to get carried away, when we hear anecdotal evidence about the more extreme behaviours of our young people. Without a doubt, the vast majority of our ‘kids’ respond to good teaching and classroom management. A small minority of students are the group that drives’ the energy of teachers down. That has always been so, but what has changed is the nature and extremes that this group now exhibits. A huge amount of ‘specialist ‘time goes into working with this group, some would say at the expense of that cohort that would benefit more, just above the extreme group. I am not going to put figures on that group, because there is not enough credible evidence to do so. That this latter group exists is a fact, that they take away from the chances of other students is undeniable. That schools are introducing programmes and work alongside other agencies to change behaviours and outcomes is also true. The bottom-line is that schools do not exists as a vacuum. They are part of society and they receive their ‘young people,’ from families that also have ‘difficulties. When a family is well housed; warm and safe, with the necessities of life as a taken, then there are less issues feeding into problems at school. Yes, there are always young people from the latter familiars who are problematic, but the resources and energy to handle these issues are more apparent and the school is better abode to engage with the families when ‘things go wrong. That is called ‘cultural capital, and it is not about ethnicity! If the means, examples and ‘stories’ exists within a family whereby a young person has a ‘mirror’ to look into that shows that he or she ‘can do it,’ because the pathway is accessible and believable, then many of the issues that arise for all young people have a way of working out. When these ‘assess’ are not present then the possibilities for success are dented. No amount of pontificating from politicians on the ‘right’ of the political spectrum about ‘if I can make it, through shear hard work, then anyone can,’ will explain away lost chances. Oh, if this was only true. It is too simplistic and shows a complete misunderstanding of how it is ‘out there.’ So, why are our kids so badly behaved? Well they are, for some, but they may not be that different to the ‘kids’ of years gone by. The issues that we faced are still there; the task of being a teenager, the same forces that face us---but at another level, we have changes as a society. It seems that schools are expected to take on the role that parents would have considered theirs in the past. Unless there is an effective partnership between schools and families, with other agencies linking when needed, then yes, behaviours will appear to be far worse. Where there is real energy and the basic needs of families are being met, the problems are able to be addressed, with energy, zeal, passion and effective outcomes. For those who cannot access help or ‘feel alone,’ then the problems are vastly magnified. It all goes back to the—‘it takes a village to nurture and care for our children.’ We need to expand that concept in this entirely new and faster moving society. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Joko Widodo, the popular Governor of Jakarta wins Indonesian eelctions.

Despite all attmepts from his opponent, (Subianto, the ex General with a 'doubtful past.)Joko Widodo has won the Presidential elections for Indonesia. Now is the time for Indonesia to prove to itslelf and to the world that it has reached that state whereby it can run fair and honest elections and that the people, unlike other nations, accept that result. All too foten we have seen vast unrully crowds on the streets of capitals,trying to turn the results around. OK, in some cases, the reasons were valid, but Indonesia, despite some issues, has gone beyond that stage. It has matured, after having suffered from a terrible period in its past under Suharto. Indonesia is on a roll; its economy is expanding and more people are joining the middle classes and those are the ones who will safe guard the gains made in the last decade. Sure, there are corruption issues; very few nations are clean in that respect; sure there are areas and regions of Indonesia where there are unfufilled aspirations to be 'separate' from Indonesia, but as things improve, perhaps those can be relalized too. President, 'elect,' Widodo--I wish you well in your massive task--- to keep building your democratic nation and that your people share in the wealth and opportunity that your country possesses. You are a shining light to the rest of the region. We need that stability, where so often other forces would rule.Hopefully, we see you in NZ soon. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Snippets from new Zealand today---and ---just NZ!

I shall keep it short and free from the terrible events overseas. Let's stay KIWI! 1) Auckland health authorities are expecting a surge in flu-like afflictions over the next few weeks. It seems that the hospityals are strecthed to the,imit as people head for the free servoes that are available in NZ. A plea has gone out for people to only go to A and E departments if they deam their situations to be serious. Judgement will be high on everyone's list, eh. Oh well, it is better to be safe than sorry, even if that means overworking our already dilligent doctors and nurses in NZ's excellent public health serice. 2) Valerie Adamns, New Zealand's version of Wonder Woman' or the world's best 'shot-putter,' is going to be the Queen for the day as she holds high NZ's banner at the entry and opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, the land of the free and possibly newly independant nation, if a large portion of that said country's people have their way soon. Valerie will enter the stadium with her head held high ion the knowledge that no one has beaten her at her chosen sport in more than 50 'meets.' Fabulous! 3) If you have chikens, you better count them! Yes, you must not have more than 6 or the city council will come down on you like a ton of bricks. Now we can't have that or your little egg-producing friends may get squished. Now, that doesn't mean that you can off-load your excess feathery delights into our public parks, adding to the dog crap that already lays in waiting for unsuspecting walkers. Yuck. I always pick up Perdy's little additions. So if ya got chooks, mates, count the buggers! How very ----rural eh! 4) David---you havn't said sorry today---yet---so please keep it that way. We don';t want you knonw as the guy who would be King' always started with--'I am so sorry for---whatever the feck it is for the day.' Y0ou have good policies and that is what we want to hear. NO more crocodile tears, just policy, policy and then some. Keep us informed, becuase there is enough shite going on that make us all feel sorry on your behalf! AS FOR the rest of the world---may we have a day off please! I like my little spot down at the bottom of the South Pacific! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Mike Hosking fell in love ----with a dunny seat!

Mike Hosking sometimes bores me---he has an attitude that can get right up one's ---well you get the picture. He can dish out the brown stuff on almost anyone; he can be quick off the mark to insult, decry or bring someone down a peg or two---yeah that's not such a bad thing. Sometimes I enjoy his antics, both on radio and on TV. I guess what I am saying is hat he is not your 'stuck in the middle,' nice guy next door. That he is opinionated and 'hacks' into that part of us that wants to say what he says, but just can't quite bring ourselves to doing it, because we don't want people to think ill of us. Not Mike---if he thinks it, he says it! 'Take it or leave it folks,' he seems to say. Every so often he leaves me in a state of---well---almost wetting myself! Take tonight's Seven Sharp, when Mike decided to describe his incredible experience in Tokyo---with a toilet! Mike came across this toilet 'set-up' that did everything except--cook your breakfast and I am not totally sure that it didn't! Mike was out from behind whatever passes for a seat on the set of the show and he grabbed his 'pointer' (no I am not being rude!)and proceeded to point out the features of the said toilet. It seems that it cleans your bum in three different settings, air dries, from multi directions, warms your butt, just to describe a few of the 'features.' Wouldn't you know it---Mike tried them all---at the same time! His eyes shone as he reminisced about his wonderful toilet experience. Such is life eh, Mike. One can get pleasure in the most essential places. Good on ya! Something tells me that such a device will appear very soon in the Hosking's residence. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Pro-Russian 'gangsters' have much to hide.

If the Pro-Russian separatist fighter had nothing to hide, then they would not be putting in road blocks in any manner for the Government forces or the airline investigator units as they go about their search for 'answers' to the tragedy. Instead they have strung out the process, stood-over investigators and interfered with the evidence, both in the form of bodies and the objects in the luggage of the passengers and the actual plane itself. At times they have been threatening and at best only marginally ‘helpful.’ It has taken a great deal of pressure from various governments in order to get even a modicum of cooperation. Why is this so other than for reasons of hiding the truth? Sure we are getting a different story from RT about various theories that pertain to proving that the missile was not fired from Pro-Russian territory and even one claim, backed up with maps and ‘facts’ about the possibility of the missile being fired from Ukrainian Government held areas or even from a Ukrainian war plane. There is always a remote possibility that this could be so, but so far the evidence says otherwise and the behaviours of the separatists, with the ‘spectre ‘of Uncle Putin standing firmly behind then, say something quite different. If the latter’s claim of the innocence of the separatists was true, then why the stubborn subterfuge and downright nastiness. That all indicates a level of guilt about something that went wrong. Fess up, ‘rebels,’ and Mr Putin—can you not see that the truth is very different than the story you put about; one more to do with your dreams of a ‘phoenix-like’ new born Soviet Republic, but one ruled by your heavy hand. That is the bottom-line---not the aspirations of a group of criminal fighters—many of whom would soon disappear once you gain back the territories you believe you have lost. They will go the same way as the ‘Brown shirts’ of Nazi Germany, once you have no more use for them!

When dogs attack the debate renews.

The news yesterday that a young man (17 years old) was attacked by the family's dog will no doubt renew the call to ban certain breeds. That call will also bring out the usual 'defenders' of that particular breed, claiming that it is 'how the dog is brought up that is the main contributor.' I have a certain amount of sympathy fo that 'opinion,' given my fairly limited contact wity that breed. I am of course talking abaout the dogs we call 'Pitt Bulls in New Zealand and possibly some of their close 'interbred' relations. I come accross them in my walks down at my favourite walking huant, the 'Bay' in Onehunga. OK, there, the dogs in question are under control and I have not yet seen an example of one that has run amuck and attacked anyone or any other dog. Indeed, it is sometimes the least likely, if one goes by size, that causes the issues. In those cases it may be a combination of lack of control and plain old 'doggie personality.' BUT---it seems that the other side of the coin is also a major facotr. So mnay of the attacks reported in the news media are from 'that' breed. The 'loving' owners jump to their defence, quoting all sorts of spurious 'facts and figures' to justify their possession of the dogs. They make outrageous claims about other dogs quoting figures that for the most part are mere figments of their deluded imaginations. The bottom-line? Pitt Bulls may be loyal, and some say loving pets, but they possess qualities out of all proportions, that given the right (or worng) circumstances,they attack and when they do so, it is often with disastrous results, even culminating in death on the odd occassion. They are 'not to be argued with' and they try to shift the blame to other factors. It is this unpredictability that leads these dogs into that area where we just 'cannot be sure.' I say again--the dogs of this breed that 'I know,' are fne examples and after my innitial 'meeting' with them, I am reasonably confident as to mine and others safety around them. Like all dogs though you cannot guarantee such peaceful and fun outcomes; it is this that makes many people wary and leads to the outcries we will hear over this latest incident. Perhaps we need to take a long, hard and careful look at how other countries are handing this issue. I doubt that our 'dogs' are any different to those from overseas. Let's keep this discussion rational though, eh! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Snippets from New Zealand on July 21.

IT is the start of Term Three for New Zealand schools. That is news for all the hard-working teachers! The kids? -well---ask them. 1) We awake today to hear that the loss of life in the Gaza strip in both sides of the conflict is the worst yet. Whe will this end--Better still--when will the senseless round of truces and then war again finally find a resoltion that both sides accept? 2) The Russians continue to sidestep their repsonsibility re the terrible shooting down of a Malaysian plane.Thier puppets on the Ukarainian side of the border are hampering all efforts by the international community to 'find the truth behind the terrorists act and Putin is doing his best to delfect attention from the part he has played in this. He is increasingnly lookling like past Russian/Soviet leaders. Mind you, that is not an insulst to him---it is a dream! 3) David Cunliffe has come under fire because he spent 'some time with his family' (much less than the time his cpounter[art, John Key, spent on holiday in his bolt-hole in Hawaii with HIS family)prior to beguinnning the real fightforthe election. That such criricism comes from an insider in his own party is typical of some of the disunity we have seen in the past. Will Labour individuals not get the message that such behaviours are handing the election to Mr Key, even before the final countdown? That faceless individual should 'fess-up,' then leave the party.David---you did the right thing! 4) If I needed any reminders about why I embarked on my bariatric surgery journey, then look at the picture. I was NOT a big happy carefree guy. I was not healthy. I was NOT living! I am now ME!