Teaching for uncertain futures - Neville Freeman Agency

18four scenario worldsglobalisation while the other clings unsuccessfully toideas like social justice, community and theAustralian flag.My main worry used to be climate change. Whatsort of world, if any, would my kids inherit? However,technology (plus a bit of tough legislation andcommonsense) seems to have sorted out most ofthe man-made mess, which means that my currentconcern is education, especially the ways schools canpromote a social conscience and provide a safety netfor families.The crime rate around the region has really worsenedover the past thirty years, especially with poor kidsstealing from the rich hobby farms that are emptyfor most of the week. There’s a problem in the localschools with obesity, drugs and Internet addiction, allof which are of course treatable if you have the means.For example, there’s a vaccination now available toimmunise kids against binge drinking but it costsmore than most people around here have to spend onfood for the entire year.difficult to fit in with our tight local communityunless they shared our culture and beliefs – whichwould mean they’d never work at the school.I’ve thought about home schooling, which is verypopular, especially with the immigrants, but to behonest, I think it’s important to physically supportthe community. I also worry a bit about my kidsspending too long in front of a computer screenas it is.My kids are great, of course, and my ex shares thisbelief (although he won’t share much else). However,Millie and Jamie do seem rather disengaged. I’m notsure how resilient they really are. Their level ofselfishness and narcissism scares me. They won’tlisten either. I keep telling them how importanteducation is, especially if they want to get a jobsomewhere else, but they seem totally absorbed bytheir own virtual worlds. Mentally, I think they aresomewhere else already.I’m a really strong supporter of local schools, especiallythe way that these schools have integrated themselvesinto the local community. When we had the bigdrought, the schools played a vital role in helping localfamilies survive and we’ve never forgotten that. Welook after them and they look after us. Parents andgrandparents help out at the local schools andbusinesses in the area do their bit too.There’s talk of a developer building a boarding schoolfor privileged city kids. The parents of these kids areso busy earning megabucks and living in skyscrapersthat they prefer to farm their kids out to give them ataste of the healthy country life. They’re thinking ofbuilding the school quite close to here but I promiseyou it won’t work. First of all, no local teacher that Iknow of would work in such a place because his or herworldview is so different. Equally, any school teacherfrom the city that moved here would find it very