Anne Hollande and Glyn Davis column ‘(‘Promoting kids’ wellbeing begins at the top level’, The Australian 30/3) offers reflective opportunity to all who are connected with the wellbeing of children and young people.

The needs of one third of our population are being adjudicated in a remote and non-consultative manner with youth, who are the key and major stakeholders in our future. Creating policies ‘about’ and ‘for’ young people is less wise than developing those programs ‘with’ young people. The wisdom of tomorrow’s adults should never be discounted.

I believe however that transacting the future for young people, while of necessity involving them, should not discount parents. During their formative years, young children deserve, want and need the awareness, contribution and responsibility of their parents in helping to shape their appreciation of the world and their attitudes toward the future. Indeed, too many young people are left to drift and find their youthful position in life’s world, because parents are distanced (often by economic imperative and work circumstances), from offering critically important primary care. Development of youthful attitudes by agencies, including child care centres and schools, cans never supplant the primary care and nurturing love that parents offer their children.

One can only hope that a more predictable, secure and safe environment can be brought to bear in supporting children and young people during their growing up years.

What a sad and poignant story was depicted on the front page of Monday’s “Australian”, (‘Kumanjayi bashed me, but I loved him’). It is incredible to think that a young girl, a maturing teenager, should think that her partner had the right to bash her brutally and for long periods of time.

How can it be possible in the way things are viewed by the majority of people, for Walker to forgive his partner Rickisha Robertson for the fact that her presence motivated him to abuse and beat her so savagely. Forgiveness from Robertson toward Walker, albeit misplaced, is understandable but for him to forgive her for being the person she was, is beyond the pale of comprehension.

The story reminds me of the fact that in traditional times and before the arrival of Europeans in Australia, Indigenous women were deemed to be the property of men. They were objects men could do with as they saw fit. During my time of working in remote areas of WA during the 1970’s, entitlement and possessiveness of girls and women by men, was still very much a part of life.

The worm is turning, but to this day far too many men regard women and girls as goods and ‘possessions’ to be dealt with as they like. This story confirms just how far we have to go in shedding and hopefully eliminating this thinking and subsequent actions from indigenous and indeed from all cultural mores.

All the very best to all educators and students, teachers and learners today and every day.

We are all teachers and we are all learners.

THANKS MR McGREGOR

I owe Mr McGregor a vote of thanks. I have owed him that vote of thanks for the best part of 50 years.

McGregor was the gentleman who introduced the idea of “Theory X” and “Theory Y”. 

Theory X is all about the recognition of extrinsic reward for work undertaken. It covers the dollars and cents and salary that people learn. Monetary rewards are an important part of motivation but they are not the end and be all of what drives people.

McGregor through Theory Y touched on and elaborated intrinsic rewards associated with work. Intrinsic rewards are what people feel in terms of “soul satisfaction“ about the work they do. Are they valued, appreciated, thanked and made to feel worthwhile beyond simply drawing money for the work that they do. Over the years McGregor’s theory (both X and Y) have been important drivers. I have enjoyed earning but I have also enjoyed and valued being appreciated. In turn , as a leader I tried very very hard to give back to people in terms of Theory Y. People who are happy to work helpers build positive atmosphere within organisations. They work and they gel together. Their collective energy (Synergy) m the years McGregor’s theory (both X and Y) have been important drivers. I have enjoyed earning but I have loved being appreciated. In turn, as a leader I tried very very hard to give back to people in terms of Theory Y. People who are happy to work helps build positive atmosphere within organisations. They work and they gel together. Their collective energy (synergy) helps organisations drive higher and further toward achieving goals. Intrinsic appreciation values everybody and keeps them on the same page.

So I do thank Mr McGregor for his theories. I tried very very hard to always be a leader who promoted Theory Y thinking within my schools.

I owe Mr McGregor a vote of thanks. I have owed him that vote of thanks for the best part of 50 years.

McGregor was the gentleman who introduced the idea of “Theory X” and “Theory Y”.

Theory X is all about the recognition of extrinsic reward for work undertaken. It covers the dollars and cents and salary that people learn. Monetary rewards are an important part of motivation but they are not the end and be all of what drives people.

McGregor through Theory Y touched on and elaborated intrinsic rewards associated with work. Intrinsic rewards are what people feel in terms of “soul satisfaction“ about the work they do. Are they valued, appreciated, thanked and made to feel worthwhile beyond simply drawing money for the work that they do. Over the years McGregor’s theory (both X and Y) have been important drivers. I have enjoyed earning but I have also enjoyed and valued being appreciated. In turn , as a leader I tried very very hard to give back to people in terms of Theory Y. People who are happy to work helpers build positive atmosphere within organisations. They work and they gel together. Their collective energy (Synergy) m the years McGregor’s theory (both X and Y) have been important drivers. I have enjoyed earning but I have loved being appreciated. In turn, as a leader I tried very very hard to give back to people in terms of Theory Y. People who are happy to work helps build positive atmosphere within organisations. They work and they gel together. Their collective energy (synergy) helps organisations drive higher and further toward achieving goals. Intrinsic appreciation values everybody and keeps them on the same page.

So I do thank Mr McGregor for his theories. I tried very very hard to always be a leader who promoted Theory Y thinking within my schools.

In all you do, it’s important to always aim high. If there are goals or N points you have in mind and if you’re reaching toward those ambitions being fulfilled, there will be times you feel like abrogating and the longer pursuing the ends you have in mind.

It’s important not to give up but to keep on going even when you feel down. In the end things will come through for perseverance is ever so important.

Schools are for children.

System structure should serve this function.

What you don’t need is to become seriously unwell in Darwin over the weekend. From the close of business on Friday until business is open again on Monday, the ability of a very sick person to be carefully and properly managed with their health needs is almost zero.

The only viable option (and the only option available) is to be conveyed by ambulance to Royal Darwin Hospital ED. The ambulance service is excellent and paramedics very very well qualified and caring people. Their service is AAA.

The ED at the Darwin Royal Hospital is entirely different. It’s like the “Z“ of efficiency compared to the excellence of the paramedic service.

This is not the place to summarise the differences or to comment on detail on the ED. Suffice it to say that patients are numbers rather than people. Suffice to say that care is often minimal and seems to be reluctantly given. And suffice it to say that very little of what’s happening for the patient has communicated directly to the patient by those ministering to his or her needs.

The only available situation medically for those who are very very ill (apart from one or two surgeries that might be open for limited hours) is the Royal Darwin Hospital ED. That is insufficient and given the policies of management and administration of health in the BT isnot good enough!

I am writing this onto my main educational blog. It’s not really an educational topic! However, if “education is a life force“, then health and hospital care should be a service offered to support life. In general terms, and on weekends particularly, I just do not see that the Royal Darwin Hospital ED has sufficient understanding of that particular priority.

Is there a leadership style better than all others?

In every aspect of life, at home, work and through association aim to do your best. You never quite know when it will be your last. Putting your best foot forward is the key to contribution at all levels.