The Human Stain
Is David Benson-Pope about to become the latest victim of political correctness? If so it is interesting to note those lined up against him.
Some, who are known to rail about "political correctness gone mad", appear to have already convicted him. What of I'm still not sure. National's Judith Collins, who has been most vocal in attacking Benson-Pope, likes to bandy that "PC" phrase around a bit too.
I must say the whole affair reminds me of Philip Roth's novel The Human Stain, in which a university lecturer, Coleman Silk, is drummed out of his position for using the word "spooks" in class. He meant ghosts, but it was wrongly interpreted as a racist remark. There are other similarities to Roth's novel. If Benson-Pope goes, it will likely be for misleading Parliament, not because of any of the substantive allegations being proven. It's very similar to the situation Bill Clinton found himself in, and which forms the background to the novel.
So here we have someone who once had the courage to take on a really tough job, teaching, now being crucified in public over what look to me to be relatively insignificant incidents. Teachers throwing chalk and dusters around and applying the strap and the ruler were the norm when I went to school. There was always a bit of rough and tumble between male teachers and male students. I hope there still is.
Girls arguably were much harder to manage. Some of them found out they had a kind of power over their teachers that male students did not have and were not afraid to use it. A lot has changed in education, but I don't think the dynamics of the classroom have.
Teachers have to think on their feet and probably make mistakes every day. In this case we are putting those mistakes under the microscope, years later, to be used in evidence.
Good on Helen Clark for backing her man and standing up to the PC mob. But how long can she hold out?
Some, who are known to rail about "political correctness gone mad", appear to have already convicted him. What of I'm still not sure. National's Judith Collins, who has been most vocal in attacking Benson-Pope, likes to bandy that "PC" phrase around a bit too.
I must say the whole affair reminds me of Philip Roth's novel The Human Stain, in which a university lecturer, Coleman Silk, is drummed out of his position for using the word "spooks" in class. He meant ghosts, but it was wrongly interpreted as a racist remark. There are other similarities to Roth's novel. If Benson-Pope goes, it will likely be for misleading Parliament, not because of any of the substantive allegations being proven. It's very similar to the situation Bill Clinton found himself in, and which forms the background to the novel.
So here we have someone who once had the courage to take on a really tough job, teaching, now being crucified in public over what look to me to be relatively insignificant incidents. Teachers throwing chalk and dusters around and applying the strap and the ruler were the norm when I went to school. There was always a bit of rough and tumble between male teachers and male students. I hope there still is.
Girls arguably were much harder to manage. Some of them found out they had a kind of power over their teachers that male students did not have and were not afraid to use it. A lot has changed in education, but I don't think the dynamics of the classroom have.
Teachers have to think on their feet and probably make mistakes every day. In this case we are putting those mistakes under the microscope, years later, to be used in evidence.
Good on Helen Clark for backing her man and standing up to the PC mob. But how long can she hold out?
posted by Rob O'Neill at 5:12 PM
7 Comments:
Are you kidding?
He misled parliament, dude. It's almost the only place politicians aren't allowed to lie. A good pollie dodges, evades, spins, diverts, obsfucates, procrastinates. That's admirable. But anyone caught inventing the truth in the House isn't fit to govern.
It's no-one's fault but DBP's. He done it to himself, from the moment he said "I am not aware of any complaint of any kind," right up until, well, what's the time now?
I work in education and I agree with all that you have said.
Society has gone PC to the point of being totally paranoid.
Adult phobias are being instilled into children, and children are all too aware that crying 'Abuse' can be the perfect revenge on a teacher they don't like.
Teachers are advised not to hug kids who need comforting or who have hurt themselves, unless witnesses are present.
Many schools have a 'No Touch' Policy'.
Society's fatherless boys need male mentors to look up to in their schools - is it any wonder virtually none are present?
Statistically, more children are abused in the home by people who are known to them, than have ever, or will ever, be abused at school.
Once again, it's a case of the majority, (caring, hardworking teachers), paying for the minority.
IMO, Benson-Pope has become a scape-goat in order to push alternative, political agendas.
Perhaps private and public schools should become outlawed completely, and home-schooling made compulsary, parents would then become responsible for their own children's education and welfare full-time, and both parents and teachers would have nothing further to fret over.
Teachers have a range of skills that cross over into many professions, they also make great Real Estate agents, or so I've heard...
How long can she hhold out?
till the next surprise revelation I suspect.
No, TS, I'm not kidding (being a bit naughty, maybe, but fundamentally not kidding).
And yes, Zippy, as I've noted, he may have misled Parliament and that could be his undoing.
Teachers, particularly male teachers, are in a tough position and put themselves "at risk", if only to lies, every day.
They deserve some support.
Rob, I entirely agree that male teachers walk a near-impossible line in their line of work. That was one of the main considerations that put me off any attempt at teaching.
Parliament on TV? Yeah, it's essential democracy. Notice the broad smiles, smirks, nudges and winks on the pack that surrounds any of these attack hounds when they score a political point on even the most serious subject.
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