Wednesday's Daily Liberal published an item which just goes to show how totally our generation has failed the children of today.

Parent Line NSW, which is funded by the state government, is the only 24-seven telephone counselling service in the state that provides support to parents with teenagers finishing high school.

The following words are attributed to Tarja Malone from Parent Line: " ...scoring poorly in the HSC could be a massive shock to young people and was often one of the first major disappointments they may experience in life.

"Receiving a low ATAR after working so hard and putting in so much effort can be absolutely devastating," she said. "But it's important that students, and parents, realise it's not the end of the world. If we can get young people to shift their thinking, and realise there are unlimited opportunities no matter where their strengths lie, it will make a huge difference."

She said it was critical that students weren't left behind as a consequence of disappointing HSC results.

"Parents and students often feel that if they haven't reached a certain benchmark then they've failed, but the truth is society needs everyone."

This stems from two things I believe, first, by allowing the kids to float through school, having a party in years 11 and 12 and then have to sit a host of exams and not perform, and second and most importantly, having a non-competitive society for our children; they get awards for playing sport - not winning, they get awards for turning up to school and such - not excelling, they don't get marked in tests only competent or not yet competent; they get praise for doing work and homework, when it is what is expected: And yet when they reach the real world and fail we need counselling services to get everyone through this tough time. How the hell can you face your first disappointment at 18? What have we become as a society? It seems like we pander to everyone and everything. No wonder we are going backwards at a great rate of knots...

We, as a society, need to prepare our children for the tasks ahead, we don't want them to grow up too soon, but we need them grow at a reasonable rate.

I believe many of the alcohol and drug problem stem from this wrapping our kids in cotton wool, not letting them climb trees, go to the park and kick a footy and such. I know there are reasons for some of this but we have gone way too far, the pendulum has swung so far to the left that we have no idea when or if, it may come back... Boof, Red and the rest of your crews take note we need leadership on this issue not just more political BS and spin, we need to toughen our kids (and their parents) up and real quick.

So on a bit of a lighter note but keeping within the tone of the above:-

To all my left-wing friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday for the northern hemisphere nations, and the summer solstice for the southern hemisphere nations, along with the confused nations within the equatorial belt, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2013, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Australia great. Not to imply that Australia is necessarily greater than any other country in the western hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, fiscal standing, criminal record, drinking habits, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To my right-wing friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

What do you think?

'Cause that's what I reckon.

Saulie

PS I'm having a few weeks off so I'll see you in 2013, Saulie