I can’t call it anything else. It’s teacher bashing. And the culprit is Sydney radio commentator Alan Jones. The man is a fool, and is an embarrassment to a national culture that values an ethical and responsible consideration for all issues reported in the media.
At 6.30 am this morning, I was travelling on a transit bus to Sydney airport, and had the misfortune to have a driver who was tuned in to Jones’s morning rant. I’ve heard his 2GB show before, but have rarely listened to him stoop so low. Here’s the story.
Just yesterday morning, a 16-year old schoolboy was attacked by a shark at a Northern NSW beach, and died before his friend (a profoundly brave young guy) could drag him to shore.
On the same morning, some teachers in NSW, including ones at the boy’s school, had conducted a stopwork meeting to negotiate on a series of important industrial issues. This unfortunate young man and his friend had taken the opportunity of the late start at school to go for an early surf.
So, in Jones’s mind, it is the teachers’ fault that he died. I assure you that there was absolutely no ambiguity in his statements. He directly blamed them for the death.
At a time when the boy’s family, and the entire community, including the teachers at his school, are in grieving over this tragedy, it is reprehensible that a media commentator would make such a statement.
Teachers offer so many important contributions to society, and are rarely thanked for them. And then we have to put up with this rubbish. The dilemma is that some people are going to agree with him, simply because they heard it on their radio.
All through my life, I have always looked for the best in (just about) everyone I have met. Yet I’m struggling with this guy. Shame on him.
