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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘She felt people had become hypersexualised – I don't think the solution is to go completely the other way'
Occupation Teacher Voting record Green in one election while at university; otherwise, has voted Labour Amuse bouche Has two children and one on the way, and plans to start a family band when they're old enough, singing close-knit harmonies of mainly 90s pop songs Occupation Student Voting record Labour in 2024 Amuse bouche Has just done hairdresser modelling – went in for a normal haircut, was asked to model, and came out blonde, with a pixie cut Jo She seemed very cool. I was worried about being early – she was even earlier than me. Ruby She came across as warm and friendly, even from the first minute. She had a nice pink dress on. Jo We had lots of very delicious small plates. Both of us are vegetarians. We had curried cauliflower and hash browns with confit egg. Ruby The egg was so good, we ordered it again. Plus watermelon and feta salad, and whipped Marmite butter and sourdough. Jo I'm very much in favour of sex before marriage. The foundations of a solid marriage are having total communication, honesty and transparency – being aligned in lots of areas, knowing that you're going to grow together. Sex is a big part of your identity, not huge, but to hold that back would be not to reveal all your colours. And, while I think people do change as couples, if your libidos are misaligned, or you have very different niche interests, these are things partners should know. People may have waited in the past and still made the marriage work, but often people just stayed together even though they were very unhappy. Ruby I totally take the point that testing out your sexual chemistry is important. I want to be careful not to misrepresent myself as a puritan in this regard. But the flip side is, if you're having sexual partners without any meaningful connection, that's not sexual exploration either, really. More meaningful sex should be sought after; that doesn't necessarily come from waiting until marriage, but we don't live in a culture that promotes sexual learning. Jo She felt that people had become hypersexualised, very focused on sex and not considering anything else. I don't think sex is such a big deal that it needs to be shut off, and I don't think the solution to a hypersexualised culture is to go completely the other way. Ruby Lots of young people suffer from a lack of freedom in the role they're expected to perform. There's a huge range of diverse attitudes to sex and equality, but the hypersexualised, Sabrina Carpenter brand of feminism is quite dominant, which is a homogenising experience for people who don't buy into it. I think it's quite a plastic form of sexual liberation. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Jo We talked about feminist sex parties, masturbation, self-awareness and pleasure. It's a gendered stereotype to suggest that girls can't enjoy sex without connection or can't enjoy sex without intimacy. And, on sex work, we didn't completely disagree – we both think it should be decriminalised and agreed that, for the majority of sex workers, it's not the first thing they'd choose if they had other options. But we have to be very careful of saying to women: 'You think you're autonomous, but you're not.' Ruby I find it hard to see how sex work is liberating. Just as pornography is through a male lens, buyers of sex are predominantly men. It relies on a world where women's sexual presentation is distorted to meet a male gaze. It fetishises white, thin women, and we know men's sexual preferences aren't described by that. I think women have a responsibility not to meet these expectations. Ruby Women do have agency to resist the expectations that are put on to us. For every woman who gets plastic surgery, it only deepens the divide and entrenches the gendered expectation. Jo She was really open to hearing about my experience of having children, and how that morphs your body in ways you're not expecting. It's not just that you put on weight, it's that it feels unrecognisable. Sometimes surgery is giving you the confidence to feel like yourself again. Ruby I thought she was lovely. She is definitely dedicated to improving education for women – I thought that was really a noble cause. Jo My last impressions ended up the same as my first – she was really smart and wise beyond her years. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Jo and Ruby ate at Little Bat, London N1. Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘She felt people had become hypersexualised – I don't think the solution is to go completely the other way'
Occupation Teacher Voting record Green in one election while at university; otherwise, has voted Labour Amuse bouche Has two children and one on the way, and plans to start a family band when they're old enough, singing close-knit harmonies of mainly 90s pop songs Occupation Student Voting record Labour in 2024 Amuse bouche Has just done hairdresser modelling – went in for a normal haircut, was asked to model, and came out blonde, with a pixie cut Jo She seemed very cool. I was worried about being early – she was even earlier than me. Ruby She came across as warm and friendly, even from the first minute. She had a nice pink dress on. Jo We had lots of very delicious small plates. Both of us are vegetarians. We had curried cauliflower and hash browns with confit egg. Ruby The egg was so good, we ordered it again. Plus watermelon and feta salad, and whipped Marmite butter and sourdough. Jo I'm very much in favour of sex before marriage. The foundations of a solid marriage are having total communication, honesty and transparency – being aligned in lots of areas, knowing that you're going to grow together. Sex is a big part of your identity, not huge, but to hold that back would be not to reveal all your colours. And, while I think people do change as couples, if your libidos are misaligned, or you have very different niche interests, these are things partners should know. People may have waited in the past and still made the marriage work, but often people just stayed together even though they were very unhappy. Ruby I totally take the point that testing out your sexual chemistry is important. I want to be careful not to misrepresent myself as a puritan in this regard. But the flip side is, if you're having sexual partners without any meaningful connection, that's not sexual exploration either, really. More meaningful sex should be sought after; that doesn't necessarily come from waiting until marriage, but we don't live in a culture that promotes sexual learning. Jo She felt that people had become hypersexualised, very focused on sex and not considering anything else. I don't think sex is such a big deal that it needs to be shut off, and I don't think the solution to a hypersexualised culture is to go completely the other way. Ruby Lots of young people suffer from a lack of freedom in the role they're expected to perform. There's a huge range of diverse attitudes to sex and equality, but the hypersexualised, Sabrina Carpenter brand of feminism is quite dominant, which is a homogenising experience for people who don't buy into it. I think it's quite a plastic form of sexual liberation. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Jo We talked about feminist sex parties, masturbation, self-awareness and pleasure. It's a gendered stereotype to suggest that girls can't enjoy sex without connection or can't enjoy sex without intimacy. And, on sex work, we didn't completely disagree – we both think it should be decriminalised and agreed that, for the majority of sex workers, it's not the first thing they'd choose if they had other options. But we have to be very careful of saying to women: 'You think you're autonomous, but you're not.' Ruby I find it hard to see how sex work is liberating. Just as pornography is through a male lens, buyers of sex are predominantly men. It relies on a world where women's sexual presentation is distorted to meet a male gaze. It fetishises white, thin women, and we know men's sexual preferences aren't described by that. I think women have a responsibility not to meet these expectations. Ruby Women do have agency to resist the expectations that are put on to us. For every woman who gets plastic surgery, it only deepens the divide and entrenches the gendered expectation. Jo She was really open to hearing about my experience of having children, and how that morphs your body in ways you're not expecting. It's not just that you put on weight, it's that it feels unrecognisable. Sometimes surgery is giving you the confidence to feel like yourself again. Ruby I thought she was lovely. She is definitely dedicated to improving education for women – I thought that was really a noble cause. Jo My last impressions ended up the same as my first – she was really smart and wise beyond her years. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Jo and Ruby ate at Little Bat, London N1. Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Teachers exploiting loophole to work in classrooms without minimum qualifications
'I am seeking advice from my department on options to restrict the employment of teachers in Victorian government schools that have not completed at least two years of study.' Acting NSW Education Minister Courtney Houssos said dealing with the national teacher shortage was the government's top priority, but lowering the quality of teaching standards was not the answer. Houssos said NSW would work with other states to safeguard and improve teacher training across the country in response to the wider impact of the WA decision. 'The need to get qualified teachers into classrooms should not mean cutting corners and underpreparing teachers for expert classroom practice,' Houssos said. 'Research shows the biggest factor in improving student outcomes in the classroom is the quality of the teacher in front of them.' Teaching Registration Board of WA acting chair David Bean said teaching registration authorities across the country were consulted when WA announced the recommencement of one-year teaching diplomas in late 2023, outlining that all teachers must still have appropriate qualifications, English language proficiency and demonstrate they are fit and proper to teach to gain registration. 'Graduate diplomas offer a shorter and more efficient pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees and contribute to the supply of teachers into WA classrooms,' Bean said. 'It is understood enrolments into these programs have been strong. This is understandable, given they meet the qualification requirements for teacher registration and represent a shorter pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees.' But Victorian Institute of Teaching chief executive Martin Fletcher said mutual recognition was intended 'to support quality, not just mobility'. 'We welcome collaboration across states, but consistency and commitment to high standards in teacher education is essential,' Fletcher said. NESA chief executive Paul Martin said WA regulators took the 'unusual step' of accrediting watered-down qualifications almost immediately after all states adopted the findings of the Teacher Education Expert Panel review, which sought to strengthen those national standards. 'There are no simple solutions to the teacher workforce challenge. But the answer cannot be to the lower expectations of teacher preparation,' Martin said. After the WA Teaching Registration Board announced it was lowering registration requirements, several WA universities reintroduced one-year education diplomas for 2024 that not only halve the two-year time frame, but also the $10,000 cost. The WA diplomas also reduce the 60-80 days of practical experience teaching that trainees are mandated to spend in classrooms under nationally agreed standards to just 45 days. At the completion of its first year offering the reintroduced diploma, Curtin University announced more than 300 new teachers were qualified to enter classrooms in 2025, with its course overview encouraging prospective students outside WA to 'cofirm' (sic) mutual recognition requirements in their states before signing up. Loading 'This intensive course has been created to help address the shortage of teachers in Western Australia. After completing this course, you'll be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board Western Australia. If you're outside WA, contact the teacher regulatory authority (TRA) for the relevant state or territory to cofirm (sic) eligibility requirements,' the Curtin University course materials state. While one-year education diplomas are also offered by Victorian and NSW universities, they are aimed as a stepping stone towards a two-year master's degree and not intended to immediately qualify graduates to teach. This masthead revealed that a similar loophole was being used by building surveyors, another sector affected by shortages and tougher qualifications requirements. Mutual recognition from WA made up 123 of 204 registrations with the Victorian Building Authority in the 2024-25 financial year. Publicly available data showing many of those who signed up interstate provided Victorian addresses at the time of registration. Members of the Australian Teachers group on Reddit have encouraged would-be teachers to look west to fast-track their careers, including some who claim Victoria-based friends have already done so via online degrees at Perth universities. Some Queensland-based teachers have also used Reddit to raise the possibility of using the 'legal loophole' of mutual recognition to become registered to teach via WA, while others claim state regulators are turning a blind eye in desperation to boost their workforces. 'All states recognise all other states' accreditation. It's not really a loophole, as no one cares enough to stop it happening. The teacher shortage is hitting hard,' one Reddit user wrote. Others on the teachers subreddit have been quick to warn against taking a shortcut, advising prospective students that a one-year diploma will not prepare them for the realities of the job. 'A grad dip is rough going into primary just as heads up, often leaves you unprepared. Definitely try and get as much hands on experience if you can, especially if your previous job wasn't education or child adjacent,' one user posted on Reddit.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Teachers exploiting loophole to work in classrooms without minimum qualifications
'I am seeking advice from my department on options to restrict the employment of teachers in Victorian government schools that have not completed at least two years of study.' Acting NSW Education Minister Courtney Houssos said dealing with the national teacher shortage was the government's top priority, but lowering the quality of teaching standards was not the answer. Houssos said NSW would work with other states to safeguard and improve teacher training across the country in response to the wider impact of the WA decision. 'The need to get qualified teachers into classrooms should not mean cutting corners and underpreparing teachers for expert classroom practice,' Houssos said. 'Research shows the biggest factor in improving student outcomes in the classroom is the quality of the teacher in front of them.' Teaching Registration Board of WA acting chair David Bean said teaching registration authorities across the country were consulted when WA announced the recommencement of one-year teaching diplomas in late 2023, outlining that all teachers must still have appropriate qualifications, English language proficiency and demonstrate they are fit and proper to teach to gain registration. 'Graduate diplomas offer a shorter and more efficient pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees and contribute to the supply of teachers into WA classrooms,' Bean said. 'It is understood enrolments into these programs have been strong. This is understandable, given they meet the qualification requirements for teacher registration and represent a shorter pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees.' But Victorian Institute of Teaching chief executive Martin Fletcher said mutual recognition was intended 'to support quality, not just mobility'. 'We welcome collaboration across states, but consistency and commitment to high standards in teacher education is essential,' Fletcher said. NESA chief executive Paul Martin said WA regulators took the 'unusual step' of accrediting watered-down qualifications almost immediately after all states adopted the findings of the Teacher Education Expert Panel review, which sought to strengthen those national standards. 'There are no simple solutions to the teacher workforce challenge. But the answer cannot be to the lower expectations of teacher preparation,' Martin said. After the WA Teaching Registration Board announced it was lowering registration requirements, several WA universities reintroduced one-year education diplomas for 2024 that not only halve the two-year time frame, but also the $10,000 cost. The WA diplomas also reduce the 60-80 days of practical experience teaching that trainees are mandated to spend in classrooms under nationally agreed standards to just 45 days. At the completion of its first year offering the reintroduced diploma, Curtin University announced more than 300 new teachers were qualified to enter classrooms in 2025, with its course overview encouraging prospective students outside WA to 'cofirm' (sic) mutual recognition requirements in their states before signing up. Loading 'This intensive course has been created to help address the shortage of teachers in Western Australia. After completing this course, you'll be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board Western Australia. If you're outside WA, contact the teacher regulatory authority (TRA) for the relevant state or territory to cofirm (sic) eligibility requirements,' the Curtin University course materials state. While one-year education diplomas are also offered by Victorian and NSW universities, they are aimed as a stepping stone towards a two-year master's degree and not intended to immediately qualify graduates to teach. This masthead revealed that a similar loophole was being used by building surveyors, another sector affected by shortages and tougher qualifications requirements. Mutual recognition from WA made up 123 of 204 registrations with the Victorian Building Authority in the 2024-25 financial year. Publicly available data showing many of those who signed up interstate provided Victorian addresses at the time of registration. Members of the Australian Teachers group on Reddit have encouraged would-be teachers to look west to fast-track their careers, including some who claim Victoria-based friends have already done so via online degrees at Perth universities. Some Queensland-based teachers have also used Reddit to raise the possibility of using the 'legal loophole' of mutual recognition to become registered to teach via WA, while others claim state regulators are turning a blind eye in desperation to boost their workforces. 'All states recognise all other states' accreditation. It's not really a loophole, as no one cares enough to stop it happening. The teacher shortage is hitting hard,' one Reddit user wrote. Others on the teachers subreddit have been quick to warn against taking a shortcut, advising prospective students that a one-year diploma will not prepare them for the realities of the job. 'A grad dip is rough going into primary just as heads up, often leaves you unprepared. Definitely try and get as much hands on experience if you can, especially if your previous job wasn't education or child adjacent,' one user posted on Reddit.
Saba Yemen
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Education: Construction, resilience front tops state's priorities for eleventh year: Report
Sana'a - Saba: For the eleventh consecutive year, the Education Front continues its steadfastness in the face of attempts to disrupt education, defying the repercussions of the aggression that targeted schools and educational facilities, causing the suspension of salaries, and seeking to undermine this sector and the foundations of societal renaissance. In the face of the project to target education, educational institutions have demonstrated real cohesion. Schools have maintained regular attendance, and the new school year has begun with widespread student attendance and engagement. This confirms once again that the educational field is a front in its own right, waging its battle with no less determination than other fronts. The official government approach represented a practical embodiment of its commitment to education. The Government of Construction and Change placed this sector among its priorities, working to provide a portion of salaries through an exceptional mechanism, in addition to activating the Teacher Support Fund to disburse monthly incentives to volunteers and teachers. With the start of the new school year, the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research demonstrated a high level of preparedness, demonstrated by a series of measures aimed at ensuring regular school attendance, intensifying administrative follow-up, and enhancing supervision at the directorate level, thus enhancing educational performance and regulating the pace of the educational process. With regard to the educational infrastructure, the Ministry continues to implement projects to rehabilitate schools damaged by the aggression and provide the basic requirements for the start of a full school year, most notably the printing and distribution of textbooks to various governorates. In the face of hostile campaigns targeting the educational process and spreading rhetoric of incitement and frustration, school enrollment rates recorded a significant increase this year, a clear indication of the failure of these campaigns and the resilience of the educational front, which continues its work with a firm belief in the mission of education in serving the nation and humanity. This widespread engagement with the school by students and their families reveals a growing awareness of the importance of education, a community's commitment to its complementary role in ensuring the success of the educational process, and the view that schools are the first line of defense in the battle for awareness and enlightenment. Within this framework, the Ministry has begun implementing training and qualification programs for educational staff, aiming to improve the quality and outcomes of education, keep pace with changes, and enhance teachers' ability to fulfill their mission in an environment that is not without challenges. The current field reality confirms that the state, despite the economic pressures it is facing, has not hesitated to support the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and provide all possible success factors, recognizing that human development is the most important investment in the battle for resilience and development. The government seeks to support schools and enhance their resilience by meeting basic requirements and instilling a sense of stability within classrooms, which positively impacts students and their academic achievement. With the first week of the school year, schools recorded a large attendance of more than six million students across various governorates, reflecting a widespread public readiness to engage in a new academic year and continue the journey of learning. Students' commitment from day one is evidence of the community's deep conviction that education is a national necessity and mission that requires determination and perseverance, requiring everyone to be at the forefront of education, as in other areas of struggle. The start of the new school year with this level of attendance and organization reflects the state's success in stabilizing the path of education amidst exceptional circumstances. It confirms that the educational front has become more entrenched and effective, supported by a serious government will, vibrant community engagement, and a growing awareness of the importance of education as a tool for national construction and transformation. With the launch of the new school year, the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research expressed its unwavering commitment to strengthening this vital front, emphasizing that education constitutes the cornerstone of the national advancement project and requires a broad partnership between the state and society to ensure its continuity and development. In this context, Minister of Education and Scientific Research Hassan al-Sa'adi stressed the importance of education as a fundamental pillar for the advancement of peoples and the building of their future. He called on everyone to feel responsible for the success of the educational process, considering it a comprehensive national responsibility. Al-Sa'adi urged students to be diligent and persevere in acquiring knowledge and developing themselves, enabling them to effectively contribute to national development. He also addressed the Ministry's efforts to ensure the regularity of the school year, appreciating the steadfastness of educators and their continued commitment to their duties despite the harsh living conditions and the repercussions of the ongoing aggression. Undersecretary of the Ministry for the Basic Education Sector Hadi Ammar emphasized that the regular attendance of more than six million students in various public and private schools represents a direct result of the Ministry's completion of all preparations and arrangements over the past weeks, and the creation of appropriate conditions for the resumption of education, despite the challenges resulting from the ongoing blockade and the repercussions of the aggression. The start of the new academic year confirms the solidity of the education front as a pillar of national resilience, having overcome years of challenges and systematic targeting. Through the integrated efforts of state institutions and society, the educational path continues to be consolidated, not only as a public service, but also as a strategic option in the battle to build human capital. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
