Pupils who get easy ride in tests must face real world

No one disagrees with helping people after a misadventure (“Claims for HSC exam aid double”,March 23) – broken arms,nasty diseases and life-changing events can happen at any time – but a quarter or more of all students getting extra time or similar from schools whose profits are affected by showing their students achieve higher marks? These kids are soon going to be out in the real world of deadlines and expectations,and someone else will have to carry them if they are unable to do their full load. Perhaps a solution is whenever an HSC mark is the result of a special consideration,it is marked with an asterisk and cannot be used for entry into a high-demand,high-responsibility course such as medicine or engineering.Allan Kreuiter,Roseville

Those privileged by their parental wealth to attend a private school,generously equipped and receiving the munificence of the taxpayer to ensure they miss out on nothing,can equally take advantage of a system that affords them extra privilege in HSC assistance through recognition of their individual disabilities. Yet it seems to be a well-accepted fact that wealthy private schools avoid catering to the disabled. There is something decidedly awry here and the assistance and privilege seems to be skewed towards the wealthy at the expense of the “unwealthy”.Chris Rivers,Port Macquarie

This is a reflection not only on the ethics of some parents and individual schools,but also of the ease of obtaining certification from some doctors. A better system would be to allocate a proportion of special provision allowances to all schools (say 5 per cent of candidates,if required). Schools claiming more than this allocation (particularly in cases of definite student disability or extraordinary events such as floods and accidents) would then need to submit an application for an enhanced allocation on a needs basis,verified by the principal.Trevor Taylor,Port Macquarie

The principal of high-fee paying college cites “a rise in psychosocial needs of students over recent years as teenagers missed out on developing critical exam skills during the pandemic-era school disruption”;this might be justified for her school having more than 44 per cent of the students granted provisions in last year’s HSC exams. But what about students in disadvantaged remote schools in NSW? Students in disadvantaged schools in the western suburbs of NSW? Students in schools where the majority of students have English as a second language in NSW? The students who lived through the pandemic in a two-bedroom unit unable to leave it to play with kids in the common areas of the block? The students trying to explain to their ESL parents how to navigate the school lessons during the pandemic? Are these students any less deserving of provisions than the students at The McDonald College or any other high-fee paying schools with the resources and the staff to be able to apply for provisions for their disadvantaged students? This is not a level playing field for all students in NSW.Helen Simpson,Curl Curl

It’s a pity we can’t exploit energy of nuclear debate

As former chief scientist Alan Finkel suggests,it’s a shame we can’t harness the energy generated from the renewed political debate about nuclear (“Yes,nuclear is an option,but let’s face its limitations”,March 23). Neither the ongoing discourse nor the genie that Peter Dutton thinks will make nuclear power in Australia magically appear will help Australia rapidly reduce our climate pollution this decade. As the World Meteorological Organisation is at pains to explain,we are teetering on climate catastrophe. The urgency for clean energy solutions is paramount. Allowing coal and gas to pollute our atmosphere while waiting for a nuclear panacea is a luxury we cannot afford.Amy Hiller,Kew (Vic)

Alan Finkel’s list of drawbacks for nuclear power should also include the fact that 95 per cent of all operating civilian reactors are water cooled. A single nuclear reactor requires billions of gallons a year to cool it,so it would need to be by the sea. This raises the problem of rising sea levels due to climate change as well as the likelihood of more extreme weather. In years to come,the cost of insurance for such installations could alone make them unviable.Peter Nash,Fairlight

Alan Finkel sets out the compulsory high-level view of any possible introduction of nuclear energy. Peter Dutton and co will no doubt seize upon the good things and ignore or discredit the dealbreakers,and Finkel himself may suffer demotion from “expert”. Interestingly,nuclear presents as quite a safe option,right up there with wind and solar,but a bit of digging into research indicates that there is still much uncertainty about the longer-term effects of uranium disposal and radiation on humans.Brian Jones,Leura

Alan Finkel rightly emphasises that establishing a nuclear industry in Australia would take too long to aid our transition to net-zero emissions,suggesting instead a combination of renewables and gas-fired generation for the medium term. Nonetheless,he highlights additional long-term environmental benefits of nuclear power beyond its provision of clean and reliable base load energy. These benefits include reduced power station footprints,diminished mining volumes and less need for recycling batteries and wind turbines. Given Australia’s ample uranium resources,existing grid infrastructure at to-be-decommissioned coal-fired power stations and extensive remote and stable geological sites for waste disposal,the government should consider lifting restrictions today.John Kempler,Rose Bay

Move needle on migration issue

Peter Hartcher rightly points to skilled immigration and housing as the keys to a just society (“If Hanson crows,we’re in strife”,March 23). It’s social housing that will give the best bang for the buck and be a remedy for the over-priced rental market. All levels of government must co-operate to achieve this.Andrew Macintosh,Cromer

In my 100-year-old mother’s nursing home,most staff,from cleaners to nurses,are immigrants,and I’m pleased to say that these wonderful people are to get a well-deserved pay rise. This small nursing home is a very happy place where smiles are abundant thanks to the kindness and care of the staff,whose nationalities are as diverse as the United Nations. If the Pauline Hansons and Peter Duttons of parliament had their way regarding immigration,things in my mother’s nursing home may be a little different – understaffed and not such a happy,vibrant place. It saddens me that politicians from Queensland stand out as the most strident against immigration while we have a huge population of people from other countries who contribute greatly.Christine Tiley,Albany Creek (Qld)

Cancer is no battle

So many times post-cancer treatment is described as a battle,and it is happening now with the Princess of Wales (“Princess of Wales announces chemotherapy treatment for cancer”,smh.com.au,March 23). The extension of this metaphor leads to the battle being either won or lost,and from either of these results we are invited to infer that the cancer patient was either weak or strong. In reality,a patient can be compliant and stoical but hardly combative. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be trying,but the medical support one receives is as strong as the treatment. It’s undeniable that cancer still takes many lives,but that is not a battle lost nor is it the result of a patient or doctor not fighting strongly enough. It’s a natural outcome that can occur no matter how compliant the patient nor how brilliant the medical staff. Cancer is not a war,rather it’s a seamless co-operative effort between patient and doctor.Trevor Somerville,Illawong

The Princess of Wales is receiving treatment for cancer and the King and Prince William are in dire need of the support of the family. Prince Harry has always struggled to feel relevant – now his time has come. This is destiny! Travel via Australia,if you like. We always give you,our prince,a big welcome.Barry Willis,Beecroft

Faster pussycat,krill krill

Even the sustainable “harvesting” of wild species (“Whales lose food source to pets,pills,fish farms”,March 23) means that the wild predators of those species have less to eat,and therefore their populations must become smaller. If humans take half the annual production of a species,there is half as much to sustain other species reliant on that same species. And if we took all the sustainable production of a species,there could be none left for other species. The conversion of wild species into humans will only get worse as the human population and affluence grows.Allen Greer,Sydney

Listen to the science

Nick O’Malley’s excellent summary of the debate between climate scientists (“Scientists struggle to explain spike in world temperatures”,March 23) on the reasons for last year’s spike in global temperatures begs the obvious questions:what risks does this pose for humanity? What are we doing to avoid them? The indifference of global leaders to repeated scientific warnings means we are now headed towards a 3-4 degree average global surface temperature increase,possibly by mid-century. Emergency solutions are essential – fully inform the community about the risks,stop fossil fuel expansion immediately,cut emissions rapidly,massively expand renewables,cut energy demand with efficiency improvements,draw down carbon from atmosphere,ignore the lunatic nuclear fringe. And stop starting wars.Ian Dunlop,Gordon

Curse of ‘the best’

In the conversation about public and private education,the necessity of giving our children “the best” keeps raising its ugly head (Letters,March 23). Why do we think we need to give our children the best? Why are we happy that other people’s children receive second or third best? Why isn’t “pretty good” good enough for our kids along with everyone else’s? Why can’t we be happy for our children to muck in with everyone else’s kids and learn more about equality and justice than about privilege and entitlement?Prue Nelson,Cremorne Point

Heavy duty

The “fun” for ute drivers extends to towing large offshore fishing boats (Letters,March 23),usually from far away. During the last fishing competition,we noticed there were more truck-like RAMs,Chevies and GMCs than previous comps,and they were being used to tow larger boats on triple-axle (not just double-axle) trailers all the way from Victoria and ACT. Add to that the same-sized vehicles towing ever bigger caravans and we have serious traffic,safety and pollution problems that need to be addressed immediately.Karen Joynes,Bermagui

Respectfully disagree

I’ll willingly “discuss” your correspondent’s exam poser (Letters,March 23):“Religious leaders want society to respect their beliefs,but they will not respect the laws governing society.” This falsely suggests all man-made “laws governing society” are morally correct and everyone “must respect” them. Long live conscientious objection,I say.Barry Lamb,Eastwood

Choc horror

Forget the housing crisis,forget unemployment and forget interest rates. What is the Albanese government doing to keep the price of chocolate down (“Prepare for a price choc as rain expected to fall on bunnies’ parade”,March 23)?Peter Miniutti,Ashbury

Lady’s first

She leaneth on a velvet bed/Full royally apparelled/The Lady of Camelot (“Lady Of Camelot seals Golden Slipper win with a twist for Waterhouse,Bott”,smh.com.au,March 23).Rosemary O’Brien,Ashfield

Home and dry

Recently,our Herald became wet in the rain. Came up with a great quick,safe solution – our heated bathroom towel rack. No time at all,then a letter to the editor.Brian McDonald,Willoughby