Harmony Day at playgroup

[village_person]

IF you don’t think that multiculturalism and the politics of identity have become instruments of division in Australia, then you need to hear Tara Coverdale’s story.

Like most mothers with young children, Coverdale enjoys opportunities to socialise with other mothers of children the same age while on maternity leave, especially in her neighbourhood in inner-city Sydney.

So when a Russian-born friend mentioned a playgroup on Thursdays, at the Alexandria Park Community Centre, she was enthusiastic.

Two weeks ago, on a humid Thursday morning, she bundled her eight-month-old baby in the pram and walked with her four-year-old son the short distance to the community centre.

When she arrived, her red-haired son raced off to play while she looked around for her friend.

That was when a staff member approached and asked if it was her first day. Coverdale thought how nice that she was so attentive.

“I’m sorry you can’t come here. It’s a multicultural playgroup.”

But then the woman said: “Can I ask what your cultural background is?”

Taken aback, Coverdale, who has blonde hair and freckles, said: “I’m Australian”.

Immediately, the woman said: “I’m sorry, you can’t come here. It’s for multicultural families and people who speak languages other than English at home.”

[...]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/miranda-devine-reverse-racism-is-now-acceptable-in-austr...

The facilitator's name was Jo Fletcher and with a name like that I wonder what the hell she was doing at the 'multicultural playgroup'.

[amalan11]

That was a shamefull situation, shows how crazy some policies are in regards to race. I really hope she files a complaint of racial discrimination  so it will not happen again. I live in the inner city  area and that kind of thing is not isolated.  A childs playgroup is one of the areas where it is most vital to display racial tollerance 

absolutely shamefull....

[lyndal1838]

Yes, it is shameful.

You would have thought that they would welcome the Australian lady with open arms if the others were from families where their first language is not English.  It would be an ideal opportunity for the children to interact with Australian speaking children.

[gem-boy-g]

she should file a complaint under the 18c anti discrimination act, she was offended and humiliated because of her race

[springyzone]

And doesn't that story just highlight what is wrong with their policy.

Okay, you have a bunch of mums who don't speak English at home. But I bet they don't all speak the same foreign language at home.

Which means that at playgroup, they will need a common language to communicate. Maybe they will just find another mum of the same cultural background, but wouldn't it be useful  for them all to mix with a few aussies who speak English?

Wouldn't speaking English help them?

Wouldn't mixing with each other help promote friendship?

How does it help to isolate the 'multicultural' from the mainstream & why would you want to do that?

integration is not a dirty word.

Forget the mums for a moment though-wouldn't mixing with some English speaking children also help the foreign children?

[lyndal1838]

This brings to mind the story of our new Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.  She was born here in Sydney of immigrant parents and spoke no English till she was 5 and presumably going to school.

She seems proud of the fact....I think it is a disgrace. 

[springyzone]

Lyndal, that is very common.

I used to teach and one of the things we did was test children as they entered school.

I happen to live in a highly multicultural area & quite a few of the children had poor English.

But... because they were born here, the government didn't recognise them as newcomers etc and there was no extra funding.

[lyndal1838]

Surely a multicultural playgroup would have been ideal for children like her.....she would have had the chance to learn English as would her mother.

I really don't think there is any excuse for the children of migrants who were born here not to speak English before they start school.