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April 1, 2011

saturday. fear

it worries me sometimes that the last couple of elections within australia have focused on australia's "refugee crisis". that the campaign for a whole new parliament of leaders is based upon instilling fear, when really, australia is one of the least effected countries when it comes to illegal immigrants and "boat people" - the term i dislike for many reasons - as if we're talking about inanimate objects. that's how they want us to feel. they want us to think of them not as people, but as objects of fear. not as real citizens of nations in turmoil, but as possible threats. we see what has happened in america, with 9/11 and full body scanners, and we shake in our boots. and we should. those were horrible events. but we need some perspective.

personally, i believe that while mandatory detention is necessary in keeping our country "safe" and "protected", it should definately not come at the price of the health and safety of those detained. countless detainees each year committ suicide or self harm, sometimes even children. stories of riots and burning buildings are also not unheard of. it's shocking, but apparently necessary.

also, on another note, if i told you that 70% of all illegal immigrants entering australia were from the same country, where would you guess they were from? i bet you thought of somewhere like iran or iraq or afghanistan. unfortunately you're wrong. something like 70% of all illegal immigrants (who enter australia using genuine means i.e. not boat people) are english. why is it we somehow overlook this when talking about illegal immigration and threats to our nation? think about it.

i am thankful for Ms Stevens, my Study of Society teacher for four years in high school.

bye for now
xR

March 27, 2011

monday. lovely!

i am realising how lovely this blog is. i've had a couple in the past and, up to now, they've never really amounted to anything. when i say this has 'amounted' to something, i actually just mean it looks aesthetically pleasing and has pretty colours. also, i have followers and friends here. i have music, links, twitter, ... it feels finished and established. it feels nice.

i am thankful for the internet

bye for now
xR

monday. metaphor

If a classroom of learners were an orchestra, the teacher would be the conductor. The job of the conductor is to direct the musicians to produce their best work in a collaborative environment. To work as a whole to produce energy that flows and moves about the space. The job of the conductor is not to make the music, but rather to lead it in the right direction.

I believe this metaphor can be used to express the energy and collaborative learning that takes place in the classroom. However, this metaphor is limited in that it only includes the musicians learning as a whole; as a team. It does not allow for one-on-one interaction with the teacher or “conductor”. The conductor can not stop during an orchestral piece to work with any one musician. In these ways, it cannot be applied to the classroom setting.

i am thankful for self-reflection and self-evaluation lessons.

bye for now
xR