We are departing from the norm today in The Spirit because the recent stories about Sir Edmund Hillary and Bullies in Schools have created quite a stir with people compelled to share more than their usual short opinions. I have picked a few more detailed contributions to share with other Maverick Spiriters. Of course I have also included our usual quotes, interesting nonsense and less emotional feedback.

If I get you to think, make decisions about what we should be doing, and act on what you feel should be done, then I think The Maverick Spirit is a worthy contributor to our community of thinking, caring people.

So, here is some of your community of readers feedback:

Regarding Sir Edmund Hillary

Graham Stevens writes:

I was privileged to meet him at his house in Auckland last year whilst on business there. I had with me the 1953 London Times souvenir supplement commemorating the Everest climb that I took with me hoping that it might be signed by Sir Edmund.

I rang the day before expecting to be answered by a PA or some such as Sir Edmund's address & phone were listed in the Auckland white pages. Lady Hillary answered the phone and having explained the reason for the call, she invited me to call by next day with my magazine.

Upon calling by, I was invited into the house, a complete stranger and met Sir Edmund who gladly autographed the magazine cover which now proudly hangs in my study.

The most surprising thing about the visit is, Sir Edmund being an absolute icon in NZ, is listed in the phone directory! And was taking calls from all over the world & meeting people who had called him.

Truly a remarkable human being whose loss will be felt tremendously by all New Zealanders who held him in the utmost esteem.

It was a privilege to meet him and be given 10 minutes of his time."

And unexpectedly, I received a email from best selling author and Maverick Spirit subscriber, Robert Ringer:

Wayne

I would argue that New Zealand’s greatest achiever was John Britten, my neighbour who died back in the nineties. I presume you know about his exploits?

RJ Ringer

I have to admit, being an Aussie I had never heard of John Britten is for those who fall in the same category, here is a link to some back ground on this truly remarkable Kiwi.

And of course debate will rage forever about who actually got to the top of Everest first:

Wayne

Yes I knew that Sir Edmund Hillary passed on.

Tenzing was the one who step up first and pulled Hillary up

Well how could he, Hillary, have taken Tenzing's pic first, other wise how could he be world champion!

Jeevan Dhungana

Making our schools safe for learning...

And the Maverick Spirit about  Bullies in Schools and Robert Ringers thoughts about a similar situation in the US has my feedback file bulging with your thoughts. Here are a few to get you thinking about the important issue of bullying in schools and the workplace:

Hi Wayne,

I have enjoyed every issue until this evening when I read this issue. in particular;

"Are the teachers who engage in such idiotic behaviour simply stupid? Or sadistic? Or perhaps just too lazy to divide up the children as evenly as possible — without commenting on their abilities?"

I find this sledging of Teachers is on par with the small minded writer(s) for the West Australian Newspaper "Bethany & Friends...." Teaching comes under humanities and from my experience I would not associate words such as "Stupid" "Sadistic" or "lazy" with Teaching or Teachers I know.

I can respect each person has their own view, but I did not expect to read it in your publication.

A very simplistic view, which I found very out of the "Maverick Spirit".

As this is the first time I emailed you back - As I mentioned above I really enjoy your emails and for the past ones thank you - they have often asked me to question my views and recentre my energies.

Peter.

And another point of view, I am sure from one of the majority of our teachers who do a fantastic job in our school system:

Wayne

I just read your comments on teachers and I thought that you should know that not all teachers do this. My wife and I are both teachers and we always divide the students into groups without having them choose. Maybe you should actually check out our schools before launching into this accusatory mode. I work in a large metropolitan primary school and I am unaware of any of my colleagues engaging in the process that you outlined.

Mark

Challenging me to print a contrary view doesn't always guarantee that I will share people opinions with the Maverick Spirit community but this email from Bob raises a number of issues that I hear discussed in my group of friends and associates:

Hi Wayne.

You asked some interesting questions regarding teachers attitudes and abilities. Perhaps I can throw some light on by quoting an ex teacher friend who feels the basic problem comes down to the simple point that nearly all teachers never leave school.

They have 5 or 6 years in high school then off to teachers collage for 3 or 4 years, then back to school to teach. Generally they socialise with other teachers in their off duty hours and a lot of them marry other teachers or academics.

In a nutshell they lack worldliness, they remain somewhat childlike in their deeper motivations.
This is not to say all are like this entirely but that it does apply to a large proportion. That is from an ex teachers mouth.

She also describes the Education Dept's of Vic' and Qld' administration as appalling with no genuine concern for the students, simply a desire to have their ever-changing agendas adhered to. Does that sound like most Govt' Dept's?

She left teaching about 10 years ago to help her husband establish a new business and describes that as a steep relearning curve which her previous work experience as a teacher was no help at all and something of a hindrance. I can well imagine that.

Bet you cant find much in this worthy of printing.

Regards Bob

Maybe there is a place for a "gap year" where young people get a chance to experience life outside of "going to school". I know the previous government was keen to get people into the Armed Forces to give them "life's experience". However, if you believe what we read in the press, the Armed Forces also have an issue with bullies.


And the last word ( for now ) I give to Dot Lenthall author of  Don’t Just Stand There 5 Steps to protect your child from school bullying who dropped me a line yesterday:

Hi Wayne
Thank you for  your mention of the book - many thanks! Will let you know how it goes. I was interested that you thought it was “disturbing” – sadly, the reality is much worse, which is why I am so passionate about getting it stopped.

Thanks again,

Dr Dorothy Lenthall

Registered Psychologist
Doctor of Communication