Arson could be the hidden cause of many bushfires

Only 6 per cent of bushfires were likely to have natural causes, according to a 2008 analysis by the Australian Institute of Criminology. About 13 per cent were probably caused by arson; 37 per cent were highly suspicious.

If bushfire arson were classified as terrorism, Australia would be in a state of emergency. But the research points not to any political motivation but to adolescents with social and psychological problems.

Arson research units are baffled at the lack of interest by governments. If ever there was a project worth a billion dollars, this is it. Let’s have a national effort involving the whole country. Arson is everyone’s problem.

James McDonald, Annandale, NSW

Final episode of the split

Labor’s report on why it lost the last election is evidence that we are seeing the final episode of the 1954 Labor split. Moderate, mainly Catholic Labor stalwarts and their political descendants who have stuck with the ALP after the split, have battled for 65 years to keep sanity in Labor policies. Today, with its climate and tax-spend religion, the green-left’s grip on the unions and MPs will ensure the change in direction is irrevocable.

We are seeing the split’s descendants’ last hurrah. With the rising influence of the green-left in the ALP over the past three to four decades, the moderates have been a shrinking rump. The few voices speaking up today for policy sanity are being shouted down. The takeover by the green-left seems complete

John Miller, Latham, ACT

Odd science assignment

My daughter, a Year 7 student, was recently handed a science assignment in the field of Earth and space science. The assignment was to prepare a report on the accepted hypothesis that explains the creation of the moon. The report was to include an explanation not only of the hypothesis but an analysis of a disproved hypothesis, as well as a summary of a moon creation myth from an ancient culture.

Why is the study of myths and legends part of an Australian science curriculum? Study these myths as part of history, if you must, but we should leave the science curriculum to science.

Perhaps next year, my daughter can look forward to the thrill of discussing the pedagogical learnings of lunar creation hypotheses in relation to the anti-patriarchal neo-feminist models of non-Western indigenous-identifying non-binary-genderised creation songlines.

Todd Winks, Gordon Park, Qld

Teachers ignored

We have now had more than a decade of NAPLAN testing which has forced schools into fragmented literacy teaching. Some intensive spelling here, systematic phonics there, and regular grammar lessons everywhere. Yet the standards continue to fall. Perhaps these solutions are actually the problem.

Meanwhile many schools lack decent functioning libraries, trained librarians, reading programs, interest- based reading programs, reading support staff and the like. Many schools in the most at-risk parts of Australia have none of these.

Experienced teachers know these are essential to create a reading culture in schools. But experienced teachers are being ignored.

Tim Mahar, Fitzroy North, Vic

Try saying that in Egypt

Mona Eltahawy and her clutch of feminist warriors are exposing the male patriarchy as being the perpetrators of domestic violence and rape in our society all aided and abetted by the colonisation by said white males more than 200 years ago.

I would like these ladies to travel to Egypt and repeat their hateful vitriol in a society that really has a serious problem with women.

Lynda Morrison, Bicton, WA