Re: Where's the consensus?
Yes...we aren't allowed to participate in any of the important decisions. However, it's only recently that I realised I'm not allowed to participate in the seemingly small decisions either.
Point in case....I live in a little country town. My son goes to a little country school. I'm uncomfortable with the changes around me. Firstly, a school uniform was introduced, with much discussion from families, apparently most parents desired this. They wanted the children to all dress the same, they wanted same-ness or I guess they felt it would be cheaper. Still, the school community was asked for their input. That was fair.
Then a tall, unattractive, metal fence was put around the school. Apparently we have a runner in our midst (a child of special needs keeps escaping and needs to be contained for his own safety). I guess that's fair too. But it's ugly.
Following this my son's Teacher pulled me aside advising when I ring the school to say my son won't be attending that day I can't say he's not coming because he's exhausted. Parent's who do this will be contacted by the Headmaster. She was embarrassed to tell me this but her hands were tied. Apparently exhaustion is only acceptable when they first start school, following that illness is the 'requirement'. Now I wish to point out here this is the first time all year I kept him home. It would not have been a great idea to send him to school that day (mum's can tell this sort of thing).
Following on from the uniform, the fence and the threat of a call from the principal, I arrived one day with my son's guitar he had forgotton to take with him that morning. To be told I now had to sign in, be given a visitors badge, and then sign out again. Alternatively there was a student sitting at the information desk waiting for situations such as this and she could deliver the guitar. I'm really quite harmless, however, my son's school no longer trusts me.
So last week I needed to collect my son early to go to an appointment and wouldn't be back in time to collect him from school. I thought he could spend some time with his Nana - but what to tell the school?? I'm sure 'visiting Nana' is not acceptable either. My son decided we should say he was going to a specialist and when I asked "what specialist", he pointed to his bum and laughing hysterically at his own humour announced "specialist of the Bum". I really didn't want to make him tell a lie, and told him he can just tell the teacher to ask me. But oh no, he thought 'specialist of the bum' was the way to go since they were in effect forcing us lie. So 'specialist of the bum' it was....and quite frankly, who is going to question that!
So time marches on and our rights as parents are continuously and methodically eroded. These seem like little things individually but more and more of these little things are being introduced around me.
Lately, I have spent some time notifying people I know that in order to coerce parents into vaccinating their children, our government is planning to link family support payments to the vaccination program. Now I'm lucky enough not to be in a position where I need this support but there are plenty of families that do and imo this is just plain wrong. Also, you will have to show your vaccination certificate to your child's pre school or school. Giving them the choice to turn away children that aren't vaccinated. I received very little response from the people i sent this info to.
It's all stacking up around us.
So, yes chiccodoodoo...where's the consensus?? Where I live it appears to be a consensus for more of the same and sadly allowing an escalation? I hate to see the term 'sheeple' splashed around. To me it's an arrogant statement. I feel we are all inter-connected...a human family and this is a numbers game.
I wonder....how far is this going to go before enough people are awakened??
Warm wishes....
Lee
(apologies for the rant, it's 1.30am here)