Education focus should be on facts, not on faith

Surely religious prayer groups are not entitled to active supervision by our overworked public school teachers (“Parent’s anger over child joining school prayer group”, April 20)? Teachers’ precious non-teaching time should be given to planning lessons and supporting students. No wonder parents who have chosen secular public education for their children are angry. We all should be angry that we continue to subsidise religious access to schools, staff and students in our secular state. Sarah Hart, Gordon

Religious teachings in our secular schools within our secular society is an entree to young minds by radical groups. Not all religious movements are like this, but our educational remit is on facts not faith. Monitoring it has clearly failed and it is an imposition on the teaching system. Full separation is a must. Richard Hambly, Potts Point

“The NSW Education Department said it assessed Daoud’s complaint and tightened its processes around parental consent for prayer groups to ensure they followed departmental policies”

Why is it considered sufficient, when politicians, Big Business, social media platforms etc simply declare they have corrected egregious errors and blunders and so consider themselves absolved from the penalties for these appalling “errors”, while justice simply overlooks them? Until the perpetrators are held personally responsible for malfeasance, this sort of “error-making” will continue. The “slap on the wrist” attitude is worse than useless, as it encourages the continued contravention of rules and laws. Ian Lewis, Kentucky

The article on children’s attendance at prayer groups in public schools, without parental consent, suggests to me that religious indoctrination has no place at public schools. Instead, we should be teaching our children critical analysis skills in ethics classes. This might reduce the likelihood of radicalisation of our children as they carefully consider the consequences of their actions. Gordon Stenning, Seaforth

Anyone proposing “tougher penalties for parents who let their kids carry knives” has not faced the challenge of parenting a difficult, non-compliant teenager (Letters, April 19). When your child is 16 and carrying a knife in public, there is nothing you would more like to do than stop that happening. Sadly, the reality is that mostly one is powerless. Penalising parent for powerlessness would achieve nothing, other than adding further pressure to an already fraught family situation. Rather than punishing parents, it would be more helpful to increase the public supports accessible for those parents who have a teenage child with violent tendencies. Our own experience was that there was no support available until after an offence had been committed. Name and address withheld

If your correspondent thinks to defend religion by pointing to brutal communist regimes, he might consider the role of religion in supporting Franco’s Spain, Peron’s Argentina or Pinochet’s Chile (Letters, April 20). Or we could point to the Catholic terror of the Inquisition, Protestant witch burning, ISIS, missionary complicity in the repression of Indigenous peoples and untold brutality in the name of religion. Religion is no defender of morals or ethics, let alone kindness. Each person’s faith or inability to accept religion is their own business and should be respected. We should all be empathetic, kind and ethical to all others and cherish our parlous environment. Alex Byrne, Glebe

Not-so-social media sign of society we now inhabit

Peter Hartcher draws our attention to the convergence of atrocities (“Nation must look in the mirror” , April 20). The stabbings at Bondi Junction, the stabbing at Wakeley followed by the riot took place in one city just days apart. This convergence reminds us that we live in a malignant world, alienated from each other, from ourselves and from goodness. The social media companies reflect the world in which we live. Mark Porter, New Lambton

Hartcher calls social media “perhaps the greatest threat to civilisation”, but the only thing social media does is make it easier for all the ratbags out there to get in touch with each other and gain prominence. There have always been ratbags around and there always will be. John Croker, Woonona

The prime minister has made sensible and considered comments about how to respond to the Sydney stabbings, including pointing to the evil influence of social media companies. Coalition leaders can only criticise his responses. Bereft of any well thought-out plan or constructive ideas to assist, they snipe and make matters worse, undermining positive ideas at every opportunity. Dividing our community might win some votes from the lowest common denominator, but it is not leadership nor worthy of a potential governing party. Ian Ferrier, Long Jetty

Social media companies such as X and Meta have scant regard for social conscience or government regulations and policies. It is time to reject such companies’ influence and hurt them where it matters the most; namely by restricting their income streams. Government should be encouraged to remove the ability for advertisers to claim marketing and promotional tax deductions if using social media companies. If advertisers suddenly find social media more expensive for advertising they might think twice about supporting the antisocial media movement. John Roydhouse, South West Rocks

X has said it will not take down the video of the Wakeley stabbing (“Take down order unlawful and dangerous. X rejects Australian law”, April 20). If that’s the case the government must tell X it is no longer welcome in Australia and the service will be shut down. We could be world leaders taking on websites that spread misinformation. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

X is adamant it won’t to comply with Australian laws. Our e-commissioner should follow the likes of China and consider banning its operations. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

I was under the impression that the media’s role was to hold power to account. Not to be the cheerleader of the government’s intentions and policies, by encouraging censorship (“Canberra looks impotent over reluctant X”, April 21). Beverley Garlick, Double Bay

After 50 years on the feminist barricades, I have listened to white, male, middle-class judges in rape trials, often privately educated and entitled, being swayed by an antiquated law and rape myths to bring a depressingly low number of convictions (“And still the rape myths don’t go away”, April 21). It was startlingly obvious to me that Justice Michael Lee had indeed taken into account what your columnist, Julia Baird, describes as the best drivers of change: experts, evidence and experience. Jenny Forster, Manly

Won for all

Early last century the methods employed by the Suffragettes were roundly deplored by many, despite their cause being just (“Lisa Wilkinson has claimed victory. She’s got to be kidding”, April 21). Indeed, many decried the cause as well. And those same Suffragettes later claimed victory too. But despite what Kate Halfpenny suggests, the victory belongs to the cause and also to the Law. Thanks to the enlightened judgment by Justice Michael Lee, a lot of light and oxygen finally penetrated that composite pile-on and, yes, Lisa Wilkinson got some staining in the process. But overall, this has got to benefit us all. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

Jury trials

The effort required to empanel a 12-person jury for Donald Trump’s trial confirms that jury service is generally not a highly prized privilege (“Full jury selected after multiple setbacks”, April 20). In Australia, the jury was a late starter for gender equality. In 1923, Queensland was the first state to grant women the right to sit on juries, but there were few volunteers and women who did were subject to peremptory challenge. As a result, by 1941 only three women had served as jurors in Queensland. It took time to realise that women and men could be called on an equal basis for jury service. James Moore, Kogarah

Death, taxes

This is all well and good (“The Moby Dick manoeuvre: How charity organisers harpoon Sydney’s wealthy ‘whales’”, April 20) but it’s not until the last few paragraphs that the issue of tax is raised. An inheritance tax is a good idea, but it is political death . Why not make tax more progressive? Why not give the government the resources to ensure that no Australian child lives in poverty, that they have a proper school uniform, the textbooks they need, they can go on excursions, and they are fed well? Then we wouldn’t need commercials targeted at those who are least able to afford to give – but do. David Rush, Lawson

Axe debts

There are no HECS debts burdening Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and many other members of parliament because they received their free tertiary education during Gough Whitlam’s enlightened time (“Albanese floats budget help for students bearing HECS burden” , April 19). In the US, President Biden has cancelled student debt. Albanese’s budget help is not a solution. Cancellation is needed here now. I have five young grandchildren, all working, all paying their taxes, all paying exorbitant rents, all longing to be able to save for a deposit on a home. They are the ones burdened by HECS as well. Anne Bradley, Manly

Wong call

Is Taylor Swift really “the busiest woman in the world” (“Taylor Swift’s new album is here, and it’s proof she needs to take a break”, April 20)? Someone hasn’t checked Penny Wong’s schedule. Jeff Apter, Keiraville

E-bike rules

Another article on the dangers of unregulated powered bikes and scooters, but it appears that no one is listening (Letters, April 20). Controls on e-bike capabilities are strictly defined within the law, but there appears to be no enforcement of violations of these laws. We already have enough regulation in place to control the use of electric scooters and bikes. However, with our policing resources already stretched, a lack of enforcement is what needs to be addressed. Julian Hare, Penshurst

Dress destinies

Three wedding dresses, three different fates for them (“Modern brides break one of the last wedding dress taboos”, April 20). My ballerina length one was given to the Smith Family; my sister-in-law’s was kept and worn by one of her daughters for her wedding; my daughter’s is hanging in my wardrobe, in limbo. Joan Brown, Orange

Vale Gus

On Saturday in the “Tributes and Celebrations” section the passing of Gus Plater - “educator, traveller, activist and letter writer” - was recorded, to which might be added the good old Australian description of “bloody good bloke”. Gus was a regular contributor to Herald letters pages and as an ex-state school economics teacher and principal was a passionate champion of the quality and equity provided through public education. He was equally critical of those forces he perceived to be a threat to the public good. He and his contributions will be greatly missed. Trevor Wootten, Petersham

To the Max

Max Presnell, you were not only a more than a great turf writer, but also a good judge of a horse (“‘Last of the great turf writers’: The Herald farewells a legend”, April 20). You told me in the Winning Owner’s Room at Randwick after a gelding, in which I had a minor share, won a lowly race: “It’s not the last time you’ll be in here with that horse.” Sorry Max, but you were wrong: another visit there was not to be. A Hong Kong businessman bought Montaigne soon thereafter and changed its name to Beauty Generation. It became the world’s best “miler” two years in a row, winning the equivalent of $14 million. Prophetic. Harry Evan, Mosman

Max Presnell’s comments and analysis of turf topics were always exceptional, often sprinkled with appropriate quotes from past identities. Significantly, he often highlighted the action of country racing with descriptions of cup days at Mendooran or Warrnambool, or the groundbreaking achievement of a person like Betty Lane who went from training a few horses at Geurie to attaining a No.1 licence at Randwick in a decidedly men-only domain. Well done, Max. Steve Taverner, Gulgong

Call it harsh, but every Saturday when I did the scratchings for the races, I would put a line through Presnell’s win selection. By his own admission, Presnell was an average punter, but there was an eloquence to his writing few sports journalists could match and it made his articles a must-read. Go well, Max. Mike Kenneally, Manly

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