Happy posts...

...yeah, that lasted a long time didnt it :)

What on Earth do they think they are teaching them!!

My posts concerning teachers are generally ones of sympathy at having to put up with the little sods that are tomorrows future. I myself was by no means a model student, but in comparison to students today, I was as sweet as sugar.

It infuriates me when I walk around the school I work in and hear them shouting terms of abuse at eachother. It doesn't shock me that they swear - who in this world, who actually steps foot outside of their own front door can be delluded to believe that children do not swear?

It is the terms that annoy me. That make me want to bang their stupid little heads together, or against the wall - whichever is closer/harder or more likely to knock some sense into them.

I do not like to hear "gay", "homo", "lessa", "paki" and other such terms thrown around as the most derogative term that the user can think of. I tend to think, oh it's the parents, or their friends that are teaching them that this is the correct way in which to use these terms.

I could not have been more wrong. Whilst quite happily going about my job today the computer I was working with was being difficult (It was being like me on a monday morning). The member of staff who's computer it was turns to me and says "oh 'mop' is it being gay". My jaw nearly hit the floor!

I remember a few years ago whilst in a lesson where an open and frank conversation about homosexuality would have helped alot of my friends, the teacher concerned could not even acknowledge homosexuality. The education sector did not want it discussed. I can understand this with respect to the fact they do not want negativity on the subject broadcast, but for a teacher who everyone knew was pro same-sex relationships, it was stupid and wrong. Very much a Harry Potter "he-who-shall-not-be-named" sort of thing.

So why all of a sudden now has this changed. Why can a teacher - the head of a department no less - be allowed to refer to homosexuality with such disrespect, and in a manner which the students use/pick up.

I understand that in various areas, this is just common slang - which whilst not making it right does lessen the impact, but it is still wrong and should certainly not be allowed within a school environment.

I tell the children in my care off when they use such terms - I don't treat adults any different. As you can imagine - the staff member in question was not best pleased to receive a lecture from a lowly technician.

Ooops :)

While we are on the subject of abuse...

...I want to just very quickly mention the new NSPCC/Childline collaboration site.

www.donthideit.com

I also want to draw to everyones attention that this is a site that uses flash and only flash. Many schools, including the one I work for have a ban on all flash sites. I implore you to check with your schools to make sure that if it all possible that this site is allowed.

Many children who are being abused may only be able to access this site safely if at all from school and it is therefore essential that it not be banned.

Every child deserves access to this site;

Please help them to help themselves.

They need to know it's not their fault.

Elderly Abuse

Sorry, but a rant is about to follow...

This latest rant has been brought to you by BBC news again.

Really, how can anyone be shocked by this? Surely it is common knowledge?

Do the remaining 3/4 of people questioned in this survey not know any old people, or are they the abusers?!

To anyone else who was unaware of this problem, I don't mean to be rude. But - wake up, smell the coffee, get your head out of your arse and stop whatever else it is you are doing, that has deluded you enough to fail to see a problem. The world is not a nice place, and the quicker this is realised the better.

Why do things like this go unnoticed. Presuming that the woman has family, you may think that one of them *atleast*, may have found the manner of her death somewhat bizarre.

And even this one. The most basic in training, either not provided or just disregarded.

In fact, have this link instead.

I would like to add, in defence for both of the blogs to which have provided links, they are in no way associated with my paltry excuse for writing.

But I fail to see how people do not notice these things, even at a tender young age when visiting people in hospitals I observed what I perceived as incorrect response/treatment toward the elderly people in a ward. When overheard commenting to myself about this, I was told by a passing nurse "to be quiet or I'd get myself into trouble", but I do understand that people close their eyes to what they do not wish to see. People do not wish to acknowledge things that show that their world, their society, is not as perfect as they like to believe.

But anyway, I digress.

What especially annoys me, despite the fact that a large proportion if not all care agencies for the elderly pretend that it is a shock (our patients being abused... errr, erm whats the correct response... oh yeah... oh.. no.. we must stop this..) but that reports like this arise around only one day a year ; a.k.a World Elder Abuse Day on 15 June.

Don't get me wrong, it is good that attention is being brought to it, no matter how small. And the infrequent splurges of stories shock people into caring. But for how long? A few days? A week, perhaps the entire month!!!? Excuse me for being cynical but in a world where this warrants a mention, why are care homes not named and shamed.

Footnote: Yes, I am glad that the doggy emerged unscathed - really I am. I love animals too, and I'm not saying it shouldnt be mentioned, only that other things *should* be mentioned at the same time.