Obviously, every child should be given the best possible opportunity to acquire literacy skills. Hugh Mackay acquirechildliteracy Change image and share on social
The copycat effects of media violence, similar to those previously attributed to westerns, radio serials and comic books, are easy to exaggerate. Hugh Mackay attributebookcomic Change image and share on social
I wish we didn't have to own up to a policy deliberately designed to inflict suffering on people who have already been traumatised in the countries from which they've fled. Hugh Mackay countrydeliberatelydesign Change image and share on social
On average, Australians watch more than three hours of television a day, compared with 12 minutes a day spent by the average couple talking to each other. Hugh Mackay australianaveragecompare Change image and share on social
Some researchers sensibly suggest that rather than worrying too much about which programs our children are watching, we should concentrate on trying to reduce the total amount of time they spend in front of the screen. Hugh Mackay amountchildconcentrate share on social
Is it possible that literacy standards are falling because young Australians are growing up in a culture in which they can be entertained and informed, and in which they can communicate effectively, without having to master any but the most rudimentary literacy skills? Hugh Mackay australiancommunicateculture share on social
It's Australian to do such things because, however uncivilised they may seem, it's human to do them. Hugh Mackay australianhumanthing Change image and share on social
A strangely reflective, even melancholy day. Is that because, unlike our cousins in the northern hemisphere, Easter is not associated with the energy and vitality of spring but with the more subdued spirit of autumn? Hugh Mackay autumncousinday share on social
But the rule seems to be that the bigger and more life-changing the decision, the less it will seem like a decision at all. Hugh Mackay bigchangedecision Change image and share on social
Still, most of those effects occur in the context of harmless play and it is patently obvious that children are not normally turned into aggressive little monsters by TV or video games, since most children do not become aggressive little monsters. Hugh Mackay aggressivechildcontext share on social
