News Diary—Friday 22 August 2008

The Sexualisation Of Childhood

This week I attended two separate events, both of which raised concern about the sexualisation of childhood. The first was a meeting of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, at which Michael Carr-Gregg was guest speaker, the second was the First Annual Conference of the Association of Child and Family Development.

Michael Carr-Gregg commenced his address by saying that we are teaching the most vulnerable generation in history. Factors leading to this vulnerability include loss of social capital, a 45% divorce rate, media marketing, peer pressure that amounts to a new tribalism (aided by technology), the sexualisation of children and the early onset of puberty. The sexualisation of children has led to the destruction of innocence.

This sexualisation of childhood was further explored by Dr Emma Rush who spoke, at the conference of the Association of Child and Family Development, about the research and empirical evidence that tells us about the risks to children of exposure to early sexual images. Advertising images now pose children as young as 10 or even 8 in a sexual context. This sexualisation of primary school children is relatively new. Children are now being moulded into sexual stereotypes modelled on adult sexual behaviour. Sexualising products such as bras for 3 year olds and G strings for 10 year olds, are now being sold specifically for children. Pornographic images are infiltrating popular culture and children are being exposed as never before. These images tell children that their value depends on their sexual appeal.

The AMA is convinced that “marketing and advertising” contribute to the eating disorders that are occurring at an earlier and earlier age. Studies have shown that girls as young as 6 or 7 are aware of dieting and desire to be thinner. There is good empirical evidence that girls are facing problems of severe depression at an earlier age and that this is linked to appearance. What one researcher described as “developmental confusion” occurs when girls feel that they have to present themselves in a sexual way but are not mature enough to understand the consequences.

Research shows that there are clearly risks associated with early sexualisation. There is extensive and well documented evidence that earlier sexualisation leads to earlier sexual experience. Those who have had early sexual experience are more likely to have unwanted sex. About 25% of 16 to 19 year olds report sexual intercourse before the age of 16. A study in 2006 involving Year 10 to Year 12 students reported that 28% of girls reported having had unwanted sex.

Although there are no longitudinal studies, anecdotal evidence and other research suggest that the sexualisation of children could promote paedophilia.

Preshil has always advocated for children and the preservation of childhood. Now, more than ever, parental involvement is needed to protect our children, allowing them space to be children and not little adults.

signed Principal, Vivien Millane — MPubIntLaw, BSc(Econ), Barrister at law, Dip Ed.

Building Site At Blackhall/Kalimna

To comply with Occupational Health and Safety requirements, the fenced off building site is restricted to Authorised Personnel only. Students, staff and parents are not permitted onto the site. Any queries should be addressed through George Marin on 9817 6135.

Requirements If Leaving Preshil

Please remember that a term’s notice in writing is required if a child is leaving the school. If such written notice is not given, a term’s fees in lieu will be charged.

Now & Then

Don recently handed me (yet another) folder for the Archives. It contains within it dozens of hand-and type-written pieces by past and then present (1981) students (and teachers or parents) of Preshil. Margaret was preparing a publication to mark the 50th anniversary of Preshil’s inception. One contribution came from Arthur Sandell, whose two boys attended Preshil between 1957 and 1967. Arthur wrote about the “enduring stability” of Preshil, “not to be confused with conservative inertia”. He wrote that “freedom for children” was and remained the touchstone and most “precious quality” of Preshil. Arthur also noted how typical and apt it was that past students, parents and teachers were invited to tell their stories for the Jubilee publication, rather than an official historian being commissioned for the occasion.

At the time, and still today, there were people attached to Preshil from the early days. They each wrote, in their own ways, about their experiences while at Preshil, and reflected on what the place meant for them. One such student, Sue Stürüp, chose to contrast her memories from 1948 with a more recent encounter, more than 30 years later. Her poem, entitled ‘Preshil’, appears below.

1948

Peppercorn trees and sand,
Big wooden blocks.
Tram adventures and the smell of varnish,
Warm stoves, smoke.
The magic of Easter, the secret front garden.
Mystery of the big house, scary dark corridors.
Wonder of the older kids.
Bus rides.
The fun of climbing,
Close together stories,
Strange other worlds,
Friendly centres from which to explore,
Confusion of people, finding a space.
Where to be? What to do?
Choice.

1981

Peppercorn trees and tan bark,
Warm wooden structures.
Two-tiered arches, garden and pond,
Cool verandahs and red doors.
Freedom to choose, special spaces to be,
The self creating a world in which to grow.
Possibilities presented, plays upon play.
Joys in tasks completed.
Train rides.
People together, living, being,
The uniqueness of each accepted and treasured.
Balancing
Formal structure and rich creative chaos,
Reflections of our inner world.
Growth.

Almost the same amount of time has again elapsed. It is interesting to ponder the combination of continuity and change that seems to have provided Preshil with its enduring stability. It is no less challenging to imagine the nature and make-up of the school in 30 years from now, or even 20, when the centenary will be looming.

Your thoughts on, or contributions to the Archives are welcome. I can be contacted on the school’s number (9817-6135) or by email

Gary Levy

The 6s & 7s Visited CERES

I went to CERES and I went ponding and we went to bee school and we went on a tour around CERES. I was number 1 in the line. At bee school when I was trying to get some pollen, people were climbing over me and I didn’t crack it.

By Harry

I was impressed by my behaviour at CERES. I ponded! It was great! I went for a tour around CERES! And I went to bee school. Some big kids were watching us. It was embarrassing, really embarrassing because we were in bee suits, but it was fun.

By Lucas

Wednesday 8th August 2008 — We went to CERES and we had fun. We learned how to make honey. Kaye and I went ponding and we caught tadpoles and Mosquito Fish.

By Sebastian

When I went to CERES we caught 14 fish and a water spider. We had a great time! We went to bee school and we saw honeycomb. We tasted honey.

By Dante

Swings For Front Garden At Arlington

Dear Parents

My name is Damon and as a project I have decided to make swings in The Front Garden for the primary school. As a donation, if anybody has any old tyres or strong rope they do not need, please contact myself at Arlington. I am in the 10s and 11s room and my teachers are Amy and Karen.

Thank you very much.

Damon

Medieval Day

A Medieval Day has been organised for Years 7 and 8, as part of their studies, on Wednesday 3 September. Children in classes from the 5s to the 10s & 11s at Arlington have been invited to join some of the festivities. Class teachers will have further details. Many students and staff will be in costume for the day – so start thinking about that now!

Cambodia Trip — continued

Over the next few days we visited several aid organisations. In Phenom Penh there are over 400 non-government organisations (NGOs) working to create greater opportunities for Cambodians. We heard of the amazing work of World Vision in dealing with land mine victims, HIV/aids, domestic violence, child sexual abuse and community development programs, eg education, nutrition, health, security and agriculture. Staggering figures such as a 6% infant mortality rate and 12% mortality rate for under 5 year olds are disturbing. The HIV/aids rate has dropped from 2.6% in 2003 to 0.9% in 2008 which is encouraging. Working through women they have made good progress and so now they have affordable loans for women. World Vision has a strict policy that all contracts with suppliers are made based on merit and are transparent rather than who you know or what family you were born into. Bribery, which is rampant, continues to make real progress difficult.

Later in the day we visited the Street Children Transformation Project (previously known as Bamboo Shoots Children’s Centre) for children from 4 to 12 years of age. The children we spent the afternoon with came from the country, as well as from domestic violence and poverty situations. The 27 children are here by choice and are free to leave at any time. They are mostly boys and the girls we saw all had some neurological dysfunction. The children can access the home and school up to four times before they will no longer be accepted into the program. Later we saw the Outreach staff, from the same organisation, working in the streets in the market area. Here they provide basic first aid and classes on health, nutrition and other life skills on a mat on the pavement. If the children attend the classes, at the end of the evening they are given food and drinks. Many of these street children earn a few cents, cleaning around the market stalls, which will barely sustain them.

Our second stop for the evening with the Outreach staff was near the Mekong River at another market where whole families sleep under canvas. Sadly the pattern of the other market is repeated for their new owners.

Later again in this first week we met an amazing Canadian woman, Janne Ritskes, who has worked in Cambodia since 1993 and formed the Tabitha Foundation. She briefed us on the work of the foundation which includes house building and a cottage industry of sewing and embroidery for women. The group I was with had to raise $1,200 for materials for each of the four houses that we built plus $2,000 administration fee – ie a total of $6,800. While this was a difficult task, the look of joy on the faces of the families who were to be given these houses, that would not leak when it rained and would not need repairing when the winds came, made this a most memorable experience. During the formal handing over of the houses one old toothless woman who had lost her husband recently wished the group “long life, safety, cleverness, strength and a good complexion”. We wished these things for these people too and hoped that these places would be happy places for them. As Janne had said all along, this work is not about us, it is about these people who have been through so much.

Our time in Phenom Penh ended when we were able to spend a good hour and a half with a retrial judge who works on the International Criminal Court. Presently these courts are involved in the trials of surviving leaders of the Pol Pot regime for their “crimes against humanity”. This was a very interesting and stimulating time even though he was not able to answer all our questions due to the ongoing nature of the trials. Together with his colleagues from Africa and Hong Kong we were able to gain valuable insights into the complexities of this work which at times must be extraordinarily frustrating, but in time it may demonstrate that justice can be done however late it may seem.

Don Page-Wood

Lost Property

Several items have been handed in and are awaiting collection – mobile phones and prescription spectacles among them. Check with Pam or Judy. For items of lost clothing, check in the classrooms at Arlington or the large box at the front of the toilet block at Blackhall/Kalimna.

Harp For Sale

A Harp used for a beginner is for sale. Phone Trish 0425 782 797 for further information.

Communications

The quality of any community – including our school community – is greatly affected by the quality of communication among its members. Council is therefore committed to ensuring information flows at Preshil are always improving to keep pace with the evolving needs of children, parents and teachers. Council recently approved a strategy for the Arlington campus which has at its heart a range of actions around boosting communication and addressing gaps that have arisen over time. One of these actions is to conduct a structured survey of Preshil families to gauge how parents feel about the lines of communication at present, where we can improve and how. This responsibility has been delegated to Cam Lee who has been working with a group to draft a survey.

To achieve a representative sample, 60 families (selected at random) will be emailed a link in the week beginning Monday 25th August with login details to enable them to complete the online survey. The process is simple and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Families who do not receive this email but would nonetheless like to participate in the survey are welcome to email their opinions to Cam.

If anyone has any questions or comments about the survey, please contact Cam. Results will be very important in informing ongoing work to improve communication across the Preshil community and will be confidential.

Thank you for support with this initiative.

Vivien Millane

‘Changing The Dream’ – Symposium Review

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Gandhi

Imagine the emergence of an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling human presence on this planet, as the guiding principle of our times. History tells us that when enough people are working in the same direction, tipping points can be reached and social transformation becomes a possibility. Overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, the end of Apartheid and the collapse of the Berlin Wall are just two examples.

These ideas were among the key themes of the half-day ‘Changing the Dream’ symposium, held in the Kevin Borland Hall at Arlington, on Sunday 3 August. Focusing on the possibility for us, as ordinary citizens, to be agents of change, participants were encouraged to examine and question our modus operandi within the western world, and to take personal responsibility for our individual attitudes, choices and actions.

The symposium represents a grass roots movement that looks into not just the social and environmental problems that humanity faces but importantly, how we can deal with these issues and collectively facilitate a shift towards a more aware, just and sustainable society.

Thought provoking presentations offered participants the chance to explore their relationship with the natural world, and to consider the damaging impact of current practices. Our common humanity and shared future were highlighted, and ways of reconnecting with others and living more in harmony with the life support systems that sustain us were identified. This non-profit programme helps to empower people to address the concerns we face in a positive and proactive way. The skills and know-how already exist to make the necessary changes — political and social will are required to make them a timely reality.

The original symposium was borne of the ‘Pachamama Alliance’, a fusion of traditional wisdom and modern knowledge, initiated within the Ecuadorian Amazon in the mid-1990s. The indigenous rainforest inhabitants recognized that the real threat to their homelands lay far beyond their shrinking forest borders – within a western mindset rooted in consumerism and individualism. To the Achuar Indians, the destructive western relationship with “mother earth” appeared as almost “dream-like”.

The original ‘Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream’ initiative has since spread around the world, encouraging people to take stock of where we are as a global human society, how we got here, and where we are headed. Participants are taken on a journey, looking at the concerns we face (environmentally, socially and economically), and tracing the root causes that have led to the current imbalances.

This “reality check” is associated with a sense of fear, anxiety and helplessness. Such feelings give way to a far more positive state of hope and empowerment as the questions “What’s possible for the future?” and “Where do we go from here?” are explored. This process unfolds through the guidance of facilitators, brief group discussions and engaging audio visual presentations.

The facilitators’ aim was to leave us in a state of “blessed unrest”, feeling awake, aware and motivated to make a personal and collective stand and keep things moving forward in a more sustainable direction.

Over the coming months we will be sharing simple strategies for “doing our bit” to help generate change. The opportunity also exists to join a post-symposium group that Victoria Osborne will be convening to provide further support and ideas. Thank you to Victoria for introducing the symposium to the Preshil community, and for the assistance of staff members Don Page-Wood, John Collins and Cameron Lee, and parents Philip Millar, Kim Low, Eva Holly, Sue Jollow and Eliza Bram. Gratitude also, to those who provided afternoon tea (especially Meg Low for her delectable cake), and to the 10s and 11s for preparing the hall!

Tess Holderness
(Nursery parent, on behalf of the Preshil Environment Group)

Have you heard about The Preshil ‘Action Circles’?

Even if you couldn’t come to the Symposium you might be interested in what happens next. The Canadian branch of ‘Be The Change’ has developed a kind of structured support/discussion/reading/book group called ‘Action Circles’. They’ve been going for about twenty years in Canada and the idea is spreading across Europe, North America and I'm astounded to announce, Preshil. We’re the first Australian group! Another first for Preshil!

The idea is that the group examines an issue; for example, using less plastic bags. There would be reading material about the effect of plastic bags, why plastic bags have become so ubiquitous and why it might be a good idea to limit their use. Then, each person elects to take a certain level of action for the next week or two. Perhaps they will use a certain number less plastic shopping bags that week, or they may stop using plastic bags, or they may write a letter to the local supermarket to encourage them to stop using plastic bags.

At the next meeting, that action or improvement is logged and filed online with the ‘Be The Change’ International Organisation, which aims to keep a record of everyone’s attempts to improve their local environment. This way, we’re supported, even in our smallest decisions about sustainability and social justice.

As our first move towards the ‘Action Circles’ we are planning a...

‘BE THE CHANGE’ PARTY on Monday 25th August in Kew

7:00pm (9:00pm finish at the latest)
For details, please contact Victoria Osborne 9816 8693 or byemail.

* Please bring a plate to share (some people may not have had dinner!).

The ‘Be the Change’ Party is to find out what the ‘Action Circles’ are. There is no commitment at this stage. We’ll find out exactly what the handbook and course materials are, how much they cost and how long the course will take. We’ll discuss where the meetings will be, at what time and how long they should take.

Victoria Osborne

Helpful Hints from P.E.G.

Plastic’s Hard Facts – Taken from Carrie Hutchinson – Sunday Age Magazine

Plastic contributes the most litter of any waste material in Australia, according to the 2006/2007 Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index. The survey found there was almost three litres of plastic litter waste per square kilometre across all national sites. A marine trawl of the Pacific Ocean found there were more than six parts of plastic pieces to one part zoo plankton.

Estimates suggest mores than a million birds, 100,000 whales, seals and turtles, and an even greater number of fish are killed by plastic rubbish every year, by entanglement, suffocation and ingestion.

Plastic bags are made from polyurethane, which is made from oil. In California alone, about three million barrels of oil are used each year to produce the 27.5 billion plastic bags.

Plastic bags take 20 to 1,000 years to break down. However, they never disappear – they just turn into dangerous microscopic particles, which end up in our food supply.

So how about considering alternatives to how you pack lunch? Or even take up the challenge of having a naked lunch (no packaging whatsoever!!)?

Puppet Performance

Are you booking your tickets for the Melbourne International Arts Festival?

Remember, you’re busy on the evening of Friday 17 October at 6:00 pm! You, and all your family, are coming to Harlequin’s Marvellous Theatre!

This will be Preshil’s third Puppet extravaganza. We’ve invited internationally acclaimed Dennis Murphy to bring his puppet booth (baracca) and keep us in fits of laughter with the age old characters from the Commedia dell’Arte.

Remember. Friday 17 October 6:00 pm. This is going to be a real treat.

For more information check out the Website or keep watching for more details in the next NewsDiary. Enquiries can be made through email.

Dates For Your Diary

Please check the Calendar page of this site regularly to keep your diary up to date with all the important upcoming Preshil events

Important Preshil dates at a glance:

Father's Day Breakfast

Thursday 4 Sept - 8-9am

Last day of Term 3

Friday 12 September

More important dates here →

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2007 Annual Report to parents:

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