Ignored rules are pointless

OUR report on a Year 10 student receiving detention for leaving her school locker unlocked has sparked widespread debate.

The student’s upset mother said it was the latest in a series of what she described as a “never-ending list” of “tiny rules” in crackdowns by Southern Cross Catholic College.

She said last term students wearing hair bands on their wrists were the focus of attention.

The school defended its stance by saying it did not think its “policies and procedures” were burdening parents.

And the school’s strong position has received the support of other parents.

They have pointed out that children are given the option to fall into line with the school’s policies before receiving detention. One parent also pointed out the rules prepared the children for adulthood, where following rules is an important life skill.

Students being given detention for minor breaches may seem harsh.

However, if a school sets rules about uniforms and other practices, they are pointless if not enforced.

Celebration of seniors

TOWNSVILLE’S seniors are showing they are still a force to be reckoned with.

More than 1000 seniors, aged 60 and above, attended a lunch as part of Queensland Seniors Week yesterday and a similar number will attend another function today.

The highlight of yesterday’s lunch was the naming of Townsville’s male and female Senior of the Year award winners.

The deserved recipients were Robyn Moore, who has been influential in raising awareness for suicide prevention, and Alfred Smallwood, for his work keeping indigenous men out of trouble.

Both are great examples of how our seniors are continuing to have an influence on making our city a better place.

Their achievements and those of their contemporaries doing similar good deeds deserve to be celebrated.