Wholeheartedly agree:there is an urgent need for males in our society,particularly fathers,to step up and be positive role models when it comes to gender violence (“”,April 28). Furthermore,meaningful,targeted and timely action by governments,community leaders,plus the media,is crucial to cleanse Australia of this scourge. Indeed,it behoves all of us to respect others at all times,for the sake of our collective futures.Mervyn Cross,Mosman
How?Cathy Wilcox
I agree that parents and peers are the strongest influence on misogynistic behaviours of teenage boys and it’s important to identify this (“”,April 28). And I agree that “consent” classes and other “boys to men” programs in schools,while helpful,only go so far in changing attitudes. However,from my experience as a teacher in boys’ schools,I believe there is much more these schools can do to model respectful relationships towards women. This starts with supporting female teachers when they experience disrespectful behaviour from students – not by taking control,but by giving female staff members agency to handle situations and be involved in decisions on appropriate consequences. It is also about developing a culture in which teachers can speak up about mistreatment without fear of detrimental action being taken against them. And it’s about ensuring that schools do not simply bow to the pressure of influential parents or “dinosaur dads”,but back their teachers first and foremost. It might also be time to see more female principals of boys only schools – now there’s a radical idea.Fiona Richards,Mosman
Ban surcharges
The article ignores the fact that payments by cash also cost retailers and service providers time and money to collect,sort,count,balance,and bank (“”,April 28). The fact that we are charged surcharges for digital payments is ridiculous as the administration involved in these compared to cash payments must be considerably less. The logic of the ACCC in approving these surcharges in the first place was fatally flawed. Don’t ask me about the 5 per cent taxi surcharge! When will they all be banned?Piers Brogan,North Curl Curl
In some instances,the extra charged is not a small amount. I recently confirmed a holiday booking over the telephone and paid the deposit using a debit card. There was a $22 additional charge for doing this. Needless to say the balance was paid using BPAY. While on holiday my wife and I had lunch with the family at a local club and ordered the meal using the QR code on the table. There was a $6 charge for using this service,even though it failed to work and our order had to be made again at the counter. Extra charges on card transactions need to be better regulated. They are too easily added and not always recognised or understood.Philip Scott,Thornleigh
Cathedral blighted
As a paid-up member of the Catholic Church,I am appalled by the idea of a six-storey office block next to the cathedral (“”,April 28). What the hell were they thinking! The wealth of the church has long been under fire,and this proposed multi-storey building smacks of materialism and would be a blight on the environment to boot.Graham Lum,North Rocks
The worst thing about the plan isn’t that it might be “hideous” or “ugly”,or that it “would lead to overcrowding and overdevelopment on the site”;it’s the fact that the $39 million the church is happy to spend on the building could’ve done so much good for those in such desperate need in our city.Kerrie Wehbe,Blacktown
Advertising devalues
A spokesperson for Lord Mayor Clover Moore states that the income from 700 digital advertising screens helps sustain the city’s extensive public art program (“”,April 28). Millions flock to Paris,Venice,Bath,etc,because they are beautiful and inspiring urban environments,the essence of public art. Unnecessary advertising devalues the street,reduces our emotional response to the city and compromises the sense of place. Public art is not an antidote for a flawed policy.
Robin Boyd,in his book The Australian Ugliness,said,“Australians are more prepared even than Americans to allow anyone with something to sell to take control of the appearance of their country”. That was more than 60 years ago;nothing has changed.John Spatchurst,Surry Hills