A personal story from a Melbourne doctor on why a disappointing ATAR can be an opportunity, new research on schools providing lunch, and a plea to stop shaming parents over screen time.
Our selection of thought-provoking and useful resources from around the web on educating and raising children, and supporting families.
Disappointing ATAR an opportunity, not a failure
(James Warner, The Age)
Many students are about to take places in courses based on a good performance in Year 12, reflected in their ATAR.
This article is not for them. ‘Every year, there will be a significant number of students who haven’t achieved what they set out to do,’ writes the author. ‘Despite their efforts, there will be many who are disappointed.’
The author, a Melbourne doctor, knows exactly how those students are feeling. His Year 12 result was an average one. He decided to study music, became a musician, then joined the ADF.
Then at 29, he decided to open another chapter, and become a doctor, he was worried about his Year 12 score. It didn’t matter.
This is an inspirational story to share with students who might be feeling a sense of despair or failure.
Read the full articleDeath of the Vegemite sandwich? Schools providing lunch a good idea, says research
(John Elder, The New Daily)
The start of the new school year delivered some interesting research on school lunches from the Flinders University Caring Futures Institute.
The study looked at how schools providing lunches to students might work, compared to the traditional bring-your-own approach.
A universal school lunch system had several benefits: all children would have access to food, it would reduce the stigma of children not having lunch or having different types of foods to their peers, and would help to ensure children had healthy lunch options.
Interestingly, the article cites other research showing parents resist the idea.
Read the full articleLet’s switch off those who shame parents about screen time
(Séamas O’Reilly, The Guardian)
This is a protest from the locked-down United Kingdom that will resonate with many Australian parents who have had or are having the same experience.
The author wasn’t concerned about their young son’s screen time, but discovered other parents were feeling guilty about their children, thanks to newspapers, blogs and extended family members (who aren’t looking after toddlers at the moment.).
‘It made me angry, to hear the same tedious patterns of shame and judgment, wielded against parents who are just trying to get by as best they can.’ he writes.
You might also like Andrew Fuller’s Wean your teen off the screen
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