No Sympathy

Sympathy for the English Cricket team? NO WAY!!!

They considered themselves the best team in the world after one Ashes series win over an underperforming Australian team. Talk about coming back down to earth with a thud. They got what the deserved after thinking they were 'all that'. They didn't look realistically at the previous Ashes win. They came here with big expectations without the skill, game plan or state of mind to even come close to beating Australia. For some reason they underestimated Australia. They didn’t bring their 'A game' and not one player could say that they came to play for the entire series. There have been a few one off stand outs but they quickly disappeared into hibernation once their moment in the sunshine had finished.

I am hoping for a 5 – 0 whitewash as it is what England deserve this summer. Next time, they better come to play.

HSC Results

I have two things to say about the recent release of the HSC results.

1. Premier Iemma has been celebrating the fact that Govt schools topped the list of best performing schools in NSW. What he neglects to mention is that all these Govt schools are selective. They select from the thousands wanting to attend these schools. Many intelligent people have to miss out (eg Me) because there are limited places available. It’s easy to perform well when you get to choose who can attend.
2. I am very proud this year. There was a core group of young people at the G.U.C youth group (called BOB). I helped and sometimes led this group of youngsters for many years. This group has now graduated from Yr 12. Most, in fact, have featured on the honour roll that was in the paper this week.

Why Blog?

Firstly, what is a Blog for those new to all this, as quoted from sydneyanglicans.net:

Blog is short for ‘web log’ and is an online journal or diary that encourages interaction. There are blogs on cricket, crochet and Christianity. Mums have ‘blogged’ their experience of pregnancy and parenting. Some companies use blogs to connect with employees. Blogs can be short or long. They have three characteristics: They are very regular (e.g. weekly), ordered chronologically and exploit the internet’s ability to link to other sources.

In the latest Briefing from Matthias Media there was a story on blogging and how it can be a useful ministry tool.

I was interested in expressing what I regard to be some “rules” to check off before beginning a blog. They are:

1. Have a purpose
   
2. Commit to content
3. Don't follow the crowd into the blogosphere
   

Purpose
Knowing your purpose will determine how you answer every other rule. It shapes what will be the focus of your blog. It can be very specific or broad as you like, as long as it is clear. Take into account that if it is a specific purpose then what you can write about will be limited. You probably should work out a purpose before starting.

Content
Doesn’t have to be a lot, but has to be regular. A blog everyday I think is way too much, but a few times a year is nowhere near enough. It really depends on your purpose. It’s probably a good idea to write some content before starting a blog to see if you have the interest in writing down thought and ideas that fulfil the purpose. I like to draft everything in Word while others like to write straight off the top of their heads. Whatever works for you. You shouldn’t feel obliged or forced to add to a blog. If you feel like this then dare I say, perhaps a blog is not for you.

Blog for the sake of it
I argue that if you aren’t committed to producing content to fulfil the purpose then you are blogging for the sake of blogging. It does seem that lots of people have a blog these days. Still, just because there is a multitude of good blogs out there doesn’t make it a good idea to make it your main reason to start a blog. As someone once said to me, “If I got a blog it will take up my precious Battrick time.”

Time For Change

Last week I made a very big and tough decision that perhaps I should have made ages ago:

1. I withdrew my application for permanent employment to teach with DET, and as a flow on effect,
2. I told the Teachers Federation that I would no longer require their services (never did really)
3. I also told NSW Institute of Teachers that I don’t want to pay $20 admin fee during what they call a “leave of absence” when I won’t be teaching

All that felt quite liberating.

Of course this all means that I have become a statistic. Every new teacher has probably heard the spiel about 1 in 3 new teachers not making it past their first year. Well I’m that 1. In fact I almost didn’t make it to the end of my first year, I’m not sure if they have a statistic for that.

I had to really think about: Was it just this school or govt schools in general? If I just got a job at a better school would it make a difference? But then it’s hard to impress at an interview with that as your mindset.

I’m usually about options and having as many options available as possible, so being rid of the teaching option might seem like a strange move to make. But teaching was increasingly looking like being a bad option. It is a bit disappointing as I spent 5 years at Uni specifically to get into the profession of teaching only to have it send me to a particularly low point in my life. A low that I wish not to replicate ever again.

This action is a result of a recent contemplation regarding my teaching future. My former Deputy Principal from Greystanes High School got the Principal’s job at Westfield Sports High. This sparked my interest as I am well known to him and I thought he might be able to get me a job at there. As usual though mum gives me the harsh reality of what would be required as far as preparation, lesson planning, reports etc, and I’m brought down to earth with a thud. A much needed thud.

The New Tolerance

The “New Tolerance” is a book by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. The “New Tolerance” is a concept that has been in existence for a long time but is so subtle that it might not have been noticed. In a nutshell the book explains that: Christianity believes in the absolute truth, this is perceived as intolerant (by the “new tolerance”) which results in intolerance towards Christianity.

Evidence of this:

• Continual acceptance of alternative lifestyles eg homosexual ministers
• Increased political correctness i.e. not showing nativity scenes at Christmas as it may offend non Christians
• Discrimination laws favouring ethnic and religious minorities, in effect discriminating against the majority
• You may remember the Green private members bill to stop Christian schools from selecting their teachers based on their Christianity, and therefore discriminate against non-Christian teachers.

Contrasting definitions of tolerance

Traditional tolerance

• A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry (dictionary.com)
• The disposition to be patient and fair towards those whose opinions or practices differ from one’s own (Macquarie Dictionary)
• Willingness and ability to tolerate (Oxford Dictionary)

New Tolerance

• All opinions are equal. Each one has its point, and all should be respected or praised…there is no rational way to discern between them. (Savater from McDowell & Hostetler)
• Every individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and perception of truth claims are equal…There is no hierarchy of truth. Your beliefs and my beliefs are equal, and truth is relative. (Helmbock from McDowell & Hostetler)

The book gives a lot of examples in various scenarios that have actually happened, such as young children being told they can’t say grace before eating their lunch at school as it “may offend.” As I read these examples I kept thinking, “Yeh, only in America.” It couldn’t happen in Australia, but it is and will continue to unless people recognise it. I know personally that some of the new PDHPE curriculum spat out by the Dept of Education is full of “new tolerance” nonsense.

The “new tolerance” fails to recognise the difference between the person and the behaviour. Christians, I think, would be kind to the person but not necessarily agree with their lifestyle choices. The “new tolerance” says that if you don’t accept my moral judgement then you are attacking me personally.

We must be aware of the “new tolerance”. It might be happening right under our nose without us really knowing. In the schools, government and in general society. It’s scary to think about what could happen if this ideology takes over and becomes the norm.

McDowell gives some hope though, with practical methods to each problem to counter the attack of “the new tolerance.”

A very good and eye opening read. Available from Koorong or other Christian bookshops.