A Buzz in the Air

Woke and stared out the window. A backyard tree now hung with a new moving mass of bees. The power of the queen to harness so many energetic workers! Perhaps there is something to the monarchy ... not for the worker bees!

Bono

The Alternative Hymnbook has a great link to a recent interview in Rolling Stone with Bono. He says, "The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God."

The problem is I feel like most of the time I'm meandering rather than running.

5 Reasons I Like My Class

Sometimes teaching is tough and tiring. It's good to remember the recent positives ...

1. The questions that seem to come from right angles! They often tell of a student making connections with their world.

2. The excitment bubbling from students confronted with a creative opportunity.

3. The grin and wide eyes as a student whispers "Look! I think I get it!" as we look at the relationship between multiplication and division.

4. The inquisitive questions that reflect an eagerness to understand.

5. The silence in reading as students retract from the classroom and move into a world of words and imagination.

Amajuba: Like Doves We Rise

Sue and I went out for the night and thrived on the thumping dance and melodic strains of an African theatre production company. Stories retold with energy, inviting the audience to enter. The taste of township dust as it was shovelled across the stage, the disturbing smell of rubber recalling the horror of necklacing and the refreshing smiles enjoying the bath along the journey. The evening retold the personal experiences of the actors as they grew up in South Africa. All seeking new ways to live while understanding the past and the influences it has had on them.

We are often imprisoned by our past but the journey to define who we can be is perhaps the greatest challenge of all!

Not the Churches!

In discussing the possibility of striking our union branch were trying to decide whether the plannned Community Day of Action, planned in protest to the changes to industrial relations, was in fact going to be a big event. Then, out of the blue one of the teachers said, "I'm not going if the only people who are turning up are the churches!"

Thought provoking!

Bubble Project

Thanks morepraxis for linking to this creative art project. These blank cartoon bubble stickers were plastered around New York. The public filled them in. Visit The Bubble Project to find out what they wrote.

Causes one to think ...
... where could I place a sticker?
... what would I write?

Watching the Press

Two of my favourite The Age articles today were ...

1. The Age reported that the body of a WWII training pilot was just discovered after emerging from a glacier in California! I cannot imagine what it might have been like for those who discovered him.

2. An editorial entitled Preaching to the Politicians discusses the lambasting that occurs when any religous leader makes a political comment. The editor points out that 'its [the church's] biblical mission is to comfort the afflicted - especially the poor and oppressed - and afflict the comfortable.' I am suprised it needs to be stated. I always thought that politics was about the organisiation of people. It's not only natural for the church but crucial for democracy for them to participate in a comentary on politics. [The Age]

Tough Industrial Decisions

We had a meeting today. It was a tough decision. A (insert collective noun) of teachers gathered around student desks, shins pressing into chins, on chairs built for younger bodies.

Most teachers I know hate striking. It means time away from the kids or missing oportunities to move them along in their reading or maths. In our case we have planned a curriculum day - one of the few key organisational days when we butt heads and define what learning looks like in our school. Surrendering such a significant day made it even more difficult.

After much anguish the group decided to hold industrial action on 15 November and join the Community Day of Protest that will express our outrage at proposed changes to workplace relations.

The key questions that focussed my decision were;
1. What will I think about my action or non-action looking back in ten years time?
2. Will the legislation act to protect and encourage the most vulnerble in our community?
3. Does the proposed legislation contribute to shaping a more caring, equitable and just workplace?

For those who feel they are unable to take industrial action I urge you to consider contributing the days pay to the fighting fund of your union.

Change in Church!

Thanks from Wibblethorpe Cartoons for the laugh!

John Howards Blog!

Thanks Rhax for pointing this fun site out. For anyone is anyone eager to glimpse the inner workings of John Howard's mind visit his blog. [John Howard's Blog]

Why the IR changes Frighten Me? (Pt1)

The press has been awash with the changes the proposed Industrial changes will bring. The unions have certainly begun the debate but the government has poured tens of millions of dollars to promote the legislation.

I'm trying to wrap me brain around it all but this is a little of what concerns me so far ...

1. Unfair dismissal of all workers -
All workers will be able to be dismissed on grounds that include "the operational requirements" of the employer's business. That is, employees who are dismissed for arbitrary and invalid reasons based on their conduct will be excluded from taking unfair dismissal proceedings provided the employer can show that at least one other reason for dismissal was the operational requirements of the business. [SMH]

2. Unfair dismissal from small buisness -
I always thought unfair is unfair! The Government will amend the federal laws to remove protection against unfair dismissal for employees of small and medium business — roughly half of all employees. It will even make it illegal for collective or individual agreements to protect workers against unfair dismissal. [The Age]

3. It's unlawful to sack someone for not signing an Individual Work Agreement but... -
If you are sacked, you can go to the Industrial Relations Commission to seek reinstatement, but it can only mediate. In the end, sacked workers can enforce the law only by a costly court case, which could only be afforded if one has a job! [The Age]

4. Right to sue for unfair dissmissal -
It will be more difficult to successfully sue for unfair dismissal when employees are forced out of employment, by placing the burden on them to prove that they were constructively dismissed (or forced to resign). [SMH]

5. Faliure to protect minimum employment levels -
The government states that workplace agreements "need simply set out how the new agreement will either change or remove [allowances, penalty rates, shift/overtime loadings, rest breaks, etc] in that agreement". [SMH]

As I struggle with these changes there could be more ...

Hands up for what?

As the Uniting and Anglican Church gain national press [ABC] on their stance against the Government's industrial relations legislation the Assemblies of God (Hillsong) sing a different song. The Age reports, Brian Houston, Assemblies of God in Australia national president, as saying he was relaxed about the impact of the changes on Sunday worship. "It would be nice if things never changed but we need to come to grips with the reality that there is increasing competition for people's time."

Isn't it a little odd to consider that the Pastor of Hillsong sees no relelvance for these IR changes? Has it anything to do with Costello's, and other politicians, speaking engagements at his church? Is Houston being influenced by the fact that a number of conservative politicians attend his congregation?

What's going on? I'm really struggling to understand how radically different Brian Houston's understanding of the bible is to mine. The faith is not corralled into Sundays but seeps into everyday life ... particularly into the places where the most vulnerable are open to abuse. Some might even suggest that this is where Christ might be rediscovered!

I haven't got time to wave my hands blindly at a faith removed from the world. It's time to tread the streets and join with others in protest to these restrictive legislative proposals.

Join theVictorian Trades Hall Council's National Day of Community Protest on Tuesday 15 November!

Is Pat a Terrorist?

The Age reports that US wealthy religious conservative, Pat Robertson is at it again! He's promoting the belief that the end of the world is nigh! With the recent earthquakes in Pakistan and tsunami that devestated South Asia, Pat contends that this could be the beginings of the end times.

Having amassed a fortune peddling terror I suspect Pat might be more closely aligned to terrorist ideology than Christian belief!

New Eyes

It's like seeing it for the very first time!

Truth in Advertising

If you listen to the defense forces advertising then they are the employers who foster leadership development, undergraduate careers as well as trades and apprenticeship opportunities while offering you a chance to see the world!

In the latest effort to boost stagnating recruitment numbers, The Age has reported that the Australian Defense Force has provided visitors to their site with an opportunity to pilot an F/A-18 or rescue personel at sea on a sea hawk. Dianne Kelly, Veteran Affairs' Minister, has pointed out that such computer games "... help develop the fine motor skills required to become a pilot in the Navy, Army or Air Force."

After visiting the site I'm not sure that the ADF is serving it's cause by asking... Would you rather participate in World Events or watch them on TV? After all ... would you rather watch people getting killed in Iraq or would you rather do the killing.

Let's get real! The Defence Force is a military force with a central goal to protect Australia's interests (as defined by the Government of the day). It's not about getting an apprenticeship, nor should it be about playing computer games. It is about the power of life and death over others.

Christ Incognito

Don't go to church this Sunday without reading this gripping reflections on the weeks lectionary reading [Mathew 22:1-14]. It's a horrid passage that tangled us up last night with friends. A God who acts violently and indescrimentantly against the defenseless. Here's another slant that makes remarkable sense and relevence.

The parables of Christ, even the innocent, pastoral, tender, innocuous-seeming ones, conceal just below the surface a whiplash, a shock, a charge of dynamite. The stories set conventional expectations, whether concerning God, religion, politics, vocation, status and class, utterly off kilter.

A parable for today, if not tomorrow - the parable of the king's banquet by Jesuit Daniel Brennan in New York.

Evening Light

Welcome gentle sun of spring!

hold this space

Check out hold this space. It's the new alternative worship site at the Victorian Synod and a wonderful collection of worship resources. It will be fun to see what it grows into. I'm interested in the reflection;

How much the church wants things to be different, but wants what is different to still be the same…

Sounds a lot like me. Oscillating between holding onto significant faith experiences and the continous stepping out to welcome a refreshing faith. Surely we can do both?

Back in the Swing

Not quite landing on the moon but nevertheless a giant step. Today marks the day I headed back to work after 8 weeks off. Armed (pun intended) with crutches and a little unsteady wobble, school proved a refreshing ritual. An afternoon with the physio and I'm ready to face the hours of preparation before the coming school day! Rituals ... you have to love 'em.

Kuta Prayer

For those in Kuta, Bali,
and those who are not.
Be present.

For the injured, terrorised and dead
and for those who wait.
Be present.

Themselves,
their families and friends
and us all.
Be present.

How Do You Lean?

Here's you're chance to let others classify you. This US site defines your political leanings!

You are a Social Liberal (71% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (13% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist Link: The Politics Test