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Forget Gillard school halls - how about wellness centres?

Carrie Miller

by Carrie Miller

15 Apr 05:45am

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Filed under: Ber, Class Divides, Geelong Grammar, Positive Psychology, Satire

41 comments

Yet again, Mr Rudd has announced plans for his lame My School website in the name of lifting the standards of all Australian schools. And yet again, he’s missed the boat with his scheme to publicise next month’s National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. If he was really serious about improving the educational lot of all young people, he’d take the lead of Australia’s most prestigious learning institution: Geelong Grammar.

Or you could have one an expensive Covered Outdoor Learning Area like this one.

Doing its best in its quest to bridge the ever widening gap between the educational haves and have-nots, Grammar recently opened a $16 million ‘wellness’ facility - humbly described on the school’s website as “an exciting new direction in education, building confidence, optimism and success in young people”. Thank god. This sort of service couldn’t have come soon enough to some of the most advantaged elites in our community.

Students of Australia’s richest learning establishment finally have access to two indoor courts, a 25 metre heated pool, large gymnasium with a weights room, ergometers, aerobics and dance areas, teaching spaces, a café, health information areas with online resources, a nine-bed medical facility, and doctors’ consultation rooms.

The Handbury Centre is based on the field of “positive psychology” and, in particular, the philosophy of its principal authority, Professor Martin Seligman. He was hired as a paid consultant by Grammar to advise on the development of the new facility.

Seligman’s warm and toasty, middle-class view of psychology is that it should concentrate on building people’s strengths rather than “fixing people once they are sick”. What insight – helping the ‘worried well’ build on their already considerable advantage.

But apparently Seligman - philosopher king that he is - has had the radical idea that it’s not only elites that could benefit from having their optimism levels adjusted. The Professor’s utopian vision would hopefully see the ‘wellness’ model of psychology become universally available, especially to the less fortunate among us.

What if the Government adopted the idea of wellness facilities as part of its Education Revolution - a policy which they claim is also aimed at empowering the disadvantaged? After all, Seligman’s “visionary” approach is based on twenty years of rigorous research which revealed, among other paradigm-shifting insights, that people who are optimistic are – wait for it – “less depressed” and “have better relationships with other people”.

Now who would have guessed that people who are optimistic “perform better in work, school and sports”?

On that basis, it’s a no-brainer that people on the fringes of society who experience appalling rates of inter-generational poverty and violence, need their “success drivers” enhanced.

So instead of covered outdoor learning areas, let’s stick wellness centres in all our under-resourced public schools. Of course, the Government mightn’t be able to access the well-remunerated Seligman to oversee the implementation of this ambitious project, nor the money to fund it, which would leave our State schools to raise the majority of the necessary capital on their own.

But that’s just a minor point when we’re talking about the potential for achieving every democracy’s hope: for success and happiness to be within the reach of us all.

So some life advice to underprivileged pessimists: time you did your bit to improve your lot. Embrace the practice of positive psychology – because, let’s face it, you don’t have much to lose.

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41 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • acker says:

      07:01am | 15/04/10

      All those public school teachers in rich suburbs doing it pretty easy teaching well off kids getting paid the same money as those teachers in more challenging western suburbs or the outback applaud fools like you, who they continualy use to disguise the issue.

      Reply

    • Ginger says:

      07:52am | 15/04/10

      @WKH- there are a variety of reasons why so many staff have left in those two years. So many of those public servants would have worked for the Howard Government and would not have coped with the change in government- it happens all the time in change in governments in the public service. From being a public servant, (who left to work in the non profit sector- many public servants frequently move between the three spheres of government, non government and private sectors) only people in the top spheres are generally directly impacted on by Ministers or Prime Ministers, etc- there is no way all those people left because Kevin Rudd is a bad boss- the Director General is the boss of them anyways- and let me assure you not that many people left the Premier’s Department when Kevin Rudd was Director General of that in QLD Government.
      But thanks for trying to shift the debate. Nice one.

      Reply

    • Sherlock says:

      08:06am | 15/04/10

      Lefty journo writes article exploding with class envy. Big Yawn! Just one more thing on a long long list for the left to hate

      Reply

    • CSallen says:

      03:31pm | 15/04/10

      for someone that bangs on about the left hating a lot you sure hate the left!

    • iansand says:

      08:18am | 15/04/10

      Another blurt from Miss Carrie.  Could the editors instil in her the concept of making a point?

      Reply

    • joshn says:

      10:51am | 15/04/10

      I too got to the end of the article and felt like I’d grabbed half a stick, both were misisng a point

    • Adam Diver says:

      11:32am | 15/04/10

      I am confused as well. I think she is bagging the class differences in education. But she does have a point about a “wellness” area. A happy, fun environment is also conductive to better learning outcomes. Why we destroy the souls of children with our outdated, archaic learning models is beyond me.

    • Carrie Miller says:

      06:49pm | 15/04/10

      @iansand. They could try but I don’t fancy their chances.

    • Darryl says:

      08:39am | 15/04/10

      @Ginger: Well said. There has been a seismic shift from the previous government and many departments have been radically restructured. I note that Housing and Aboriginal Affairs had low turnover rates. These are probably two of the departments where public servants are more likely to be long-serving. I suspect there might be a few more similar departments (Transport, Treasury?). Defence has also been quiet of late so their rate is probably stable.
      Also, the nature of employment has changed with many more people on fixed term contracts rather than life tenure.

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      02:32pm | 15/04/10

      Why would anyone leave the Department of Defence? It’s the best gravy train out there apart from being an MP. Lots of taxpayer funds and almost no responsibility.

    • Craig Lambie says:

      08:31am | 15/04/10

      Carrie,
      Not sure if you are being sarcastic or what you really want here.
      Of course the richest institution in Australia (if it indeed is) would invest in the best opportunities for its students.  It is a private institution and competes in a market place, so adding a “wellness” centre is a great “marketing” ploy to get more students in paying $20k+ a year to use the facilities.
      As you point out “Now who would have guessed that people who are optimistic “perform better in work, school and sports”?”
      I have to agree with your stance here….. of course, you would have to be an idiot to not see this.

      So I ask you this;
      are you trying to get wellness centres into schools?
      are you maybe trying to give Rudd a hard time over the outdoor covered areas?
      are you maybe trying to point out the inequalities in our “democratic” society?

      Success and hope are well within reach of everyone in Australia, that is why so many people want to come live here… not just for the beautiful beaches.
      We have a stable political environment with opportunity and resources galore.  Most schools do a fair to average job at educating people, some need more help than others, hence the MySchools rating system.

      I really am lost after reading your piece, maybe you could be a little more succinct in making your point, as this is just a bunch of ideas thrown out in random chaotic order.

      Reply

    • Freeman says:

      02:03pm | 15/04/10

      Craig,
      thanks for putting some of the pieces in the puzzle, I was reading everyones comments trying to work out who Carrie was really most critical of, or if it was just an advertisment for Geelong grammar.
      I think there are a two main points to her rant.
      1) Carrie feels that Gillard has come under unfair scrutiny over wasted stimulus funds on school projects while private schools, in her opinion,
      can waste money while no one cares.  (or maybe that Rudd has wasted an opportunity to close the gap?)
      2) it is just a general sneer at private schooling and rich kids and the advantages they have and a cry about the state of public schools.
      on the first point (if it was carries point) i’d like to point out that public money spent or wasted is in the public interest while private spending is no one else’s business. (sounds like they got a lot for their $16 mil though, Gillard would be flat out getting a garden shed built for $16 mil)

      On the second point, so rich kids can get better schooling and a more comfortable eviroment. they can also get better clothes, better cars.
      i’ve never understood peoples dislike of private schools, did it start when they were teased by private school kids or they were jealous of their uniform? money will get you the best of anything and private schooling takes some burden off public schooling. The quality of teaching is not just about money either. it’s not like private school kids get better text books!

    • Cedric says:

      08:49am | 15/04/10

      I completely disagree Carrie,
      If public school students began to perform better, then where am I supposed to find cleaners and garbage collectors for my company?

      Reply

    • Andrew says:

      09:21am | 15/04/10

      And who would fill the prisons?

    • acker says:

      11:21am | 15/04/10

      @Cedric ..they will be called hygieneologists and garbologists (possibly renamed recycle scientists) both groups will probably need to attain Bachelor level to qualify for employment. Most likely the 10 hour working week will be standard by then.

    • stephen says:

      01:21pm | 15/04/10

      And the selection process takes 2 weeks, 4 return phone calls a suit’n'black shoes and a letter of introduction from Marie Bashir.
      (Who the bloody hell do these garbage-collectors think they are ? Seriously.)

    • Carrie Miller says:

      04:16pm | 15/04/10

      @Cedric - and Andrew forgot to mention those handy people that wash your windscreens for a couple of bucks.

    • acker says:

      07:07pm | 15/04/10

      @ Penbo re @Carrie re @ Cedric ...can I have a go at writing a topic here….Lets get Martin Ferguson to develop a major Solar Flagships scheme in south west NSW revitalising numerous Riverina communities.

    • Andrew says:

      09:11am | 15/04/10

      @Daryyl/@Ginger perhaps you need a wellness centre to help you understand KRudd. Let’s not forget this nastly little man has a track record of abusing his power and the people around him. For a man rooted to the Union movement, his treatment of staff is laughable, if a private enterprise business demanded from his staff what he asks it would quickly be front some form of judicial authority - his claim there is a lot to be done just doesn’t stick.
      He is a workplace bully!
      As for this article, I simplt don’t understand. I know there is sarcasm in there, I can feel it in the mere mention of the woeful waste of money known as My School. But to suggest a Labor Government couldn’t afford an expensive consultant is absurd - how else would they spend our money?

      Reply

    • Darryl says:

      09:52am | 15/04/10

      @Andrew: I was not apologising for Rudd. I have no doubt that he is a demanding boss and the public persona might be significantly different from the behind closed doors man. I come from a career in Defence so I know all about bullying and working long hours.
      @Carrie: I think your sarcasm might have been too subtle for some.

    • P T Barnum says:

      07:53pm | 15/04/10

      Andrew,
      if Kevin Rudd is a ‘nasty little man’ what does that make the failed Methodist Howard, or lunatic Catholic Abbott et al? Kevin Rudd hasn’t used the techniques (and support) of American evangelical christians to make racism, disadvantaging the disadvantaged and shameless self interest ‘moderate’,‘sensible’, ‘mainstream’ positions. Which of the numerous ‘christian’ front organisations or right wing ‘think tanks’ do you work for:  H R Nicholls Society, Samuel Griffiths Society, Centre for Independant Studies, the Galatians Group, the Tasman Institue, the Institute for Public Affairs, blah, blah, blah ,blah, blah… that boat has sailed pal; we’re onto you and your kind: we don’t want evangelical christian lunacy influencing our public affairs. Tried that, didn’t like it. Pack up your Hillsong song books and clear off back to cultural irrelevancy, where you belong. The demographics have changed and the youth of Australia aren’t buying your shtick. Try it on Americans: they fall for your brand of crap. What do you think of Obama? He must be the devil incarnate: have you noticed the olour of his skin?

    • iansand says:

      09:50am | 15/04/10

      When was Mr Rudd promoted to Principal of Geelong Grammar?  The things that happen when you go away for a couple of weeks.

      Reply

    • Sally says:

      10:48am | 15/04/10

      Australia’s most prestigious learning institution: Geelong Grammar????

      Maybe most expensive. Is that b/c Prince Charles went there for a month a zillion years ago?

      I’ll take any one of the GPS schools in Sydney that are more prestigious.

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      11:53am | 15/04/10

      @Sally… You might want to scratch Sydney High off that list.

      ...And Scots

    • CSallen says:

      03:21pm | 15/04/10

      And Joeys too.

    • Cuthbert Barnstaple says:

      06:57pm | 15/04/10

      So Sally,
      you perfectly pretentious prat… your taste is superior to HRH QEII’s and Phil the Greek’s, is it?  Wherever you were schooled obviously didn’t offer critical thinking as an option. Wanker.

    • Basil says:

      11:04am | 15/04/10

      Oh geez Carrie good to see your well, oh how am I you ask, Oh I’m really wellness, thank you…. Wellness, what a buffoon of a word, right up there with “unworry and “unfriend”, I dare any one to use this stupid, senseless irriating word in a proper sentence…. Oh Basil, the Headmaster would like to see you in his office now….

      Reply

    • Grumbles says:

      11:34am | 15/04/10

      One day schools will teach compulsory martial arts, students will be disiplined and respectful, brimming with confidence, fitter, faster and smarter.

      At a young age martial arts teaches all those lessons that reading, riting and rithmatic just don’t include, it empowers those who feel weak and inspires confidence in the shy. It is good for fitness and flexibility. Finally, it should be run by class teachers themselves as it builds a relationship of respect between student and teacher, and regular schooling will benefit greatly.

      Reply

    • Rob says:

      11:35am | 15/04/10

      Geelong Grammar the most prestigious learning institution in Australia?

      What utter and complete rubbish. By which measure can the author make such a dubious claim? Not to mention that ‘learning institution’ by definition also includes universities. Carrie Miller needs the sack for writing such fiction.

      Reply

    • SalC says:

      11:43am | 15/04/10

      Wow, I saw it as a really good idea!  Institute the concept of wellness centres to low SES schools, use a well-defined model that can be easily adapted to each individual school.  One consultation fee, and it doesn’t have to be as grandiose as Grammar’s, just use the same principles.  If kids can’t get peace and stability at home, at least they will have a safe space to chill out at school, in conjunction with their education.  Or we could just leave the downtrodden to swim out of their own sticky myres.  You’re choice!

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      11:55am | 15/04/10

      Bugger, not only is Carrie bitter, but also jealous today. Where’s the fun?

      Reply

    • Sir Codrington III says:

      12:20pm | 15/04/10

      Acutally Carrie, perhaps you should better try to understand Seligman’s work. If you read through his ideas on Positive Psychology or are lucky enough to have him as a lecturer, as I have been, then you may understand that he does not emphasise the splurging of money on frivolous infrastructure at all.

      His ideas concern promoting individuals exploring their passions in life, as well as enjoying their personal quirks (so long as these quirks are not pathological). He proposes models for helping people achieve their self and social esteem pre-emptively of mental illness; rather than waiting for mental illness to set in by which time the problem is far more complex and expensive to deal with.

      So please stop rubbishing Seligman. He didn’t create this splurge, which is really nothing more than the latest splurge by an overfunded private school. It is nothing new, and you are certainly completely wrong in trying to claim that this splurge is somehow Seligman’s doing.

      Seligman’s ideas contribute practicably to an area, mental health, where by and large our society fails people increasingly as the years go by. Rubbish Geelong Grammar all you like, but do steer clear of sinking your fangs into an individual who is guilty of no folly and who ought to be commended for the revolutionary work he is doing on the mental health front.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      01:41pm | 15/04/10

      And did he write a booooook and make a zillion bucks out of it ?
      That’s what i call wellness.

    • The Shaking Head says:

      02:35pm | 15/04/10

      Our local state school (40k from Brisbane) is getting $300,000 for a hall this for a school of 900 pupils, there is no airconditioning in classrooms, parade and meetings are held outdoors and the few computers they have never work.  Australia is no longer an shiny new fair society giving reward for effort but now gives reward for being priviledged, welcome to the old world, we got there in the end.

      Reply

    • Catharine Lumby says:

      07:44pm | 15/04/10

      We send our children to a public school where they are learning life’s most important lessons a) If you fall over on asphalt it will seriously hurt and you’‘ll have interesting marks on your legs forever; b) Sitting in a crowded classroom is good practice for sitting on public transport c) Developing neat handwriting is far more important than learning how to navigate the internet and d) At some point you will be asked to do ‘old-fashioned sucky dancing’ with a member of the opposite sex who will inevitably have warts which you will catch.

      If you don’t understand how important these sterling learning objectives are I have to question whether you’ve written this column in good faith -  as someone who really “cares” about children - or whether you are an enemy of children.

      PS. I hope this column is not another one of those ‘satirical’ columns. Education is something we all need to take seriously for the sake of future generations.

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      11:43pm | 15/04/10

      If private schools were privately funded, no one would give a stuff how they spent their money. But since private schools are sucking on the public teat, and rather hard at that, the least they could do is open their books to government audit, to show how the taxpayer money is spent. Taxpayer money = government audit, no exceptions.

      Reply

    • acker says:

      11:35am | 16/04/10

      @shane ...the private school parents are taxpayers too, they deserve something for helping pay for some others kids public education. They also top that up with a bit more money they pay for junior. Some others prefer to shoot their spare cash up thier arms

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      12:56pm | 16/04/10

      Bunch of crap. The State is only obligated to provide you with the option of sending your child to a public school. If a private school parent wants to send their kid to a private school they should pay for it entirely, for making that lifestyle choice. The taxpayer shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s lifestyle choice. End of story.

    • anna says:

      12:00pm | 18/04/10

      i work at schools which have all this already except the gym and they’re all public schools. They would be better encouraged to do after school or weekend activities handing out brochures that really targets what they want to do not a pool a cafe a gym which is going to magically make them happy.

      Reply

    • matt says:

      12:31am | 19/04/10

      or you could make a well BEING center which is an actual word

      Reply
 
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