I see a real irony here. Australian society is a very bigotted scene. However it is not Pauline who presents the most bigotted views. Rather it is those who preach from their self righteous, politically correct, ivory towers about how their views on any given subject are correct and anybody who presents a differing view is condemned as some sort of depraved moron who must be mocked with venom and shut down promtly.
This time Pauline has been crucified by many media commentators for suggesting that children may be served better at school if those who are autistic or require special attention were to spend some learning time in separate rooms with special teachers. However instead of treating such a suggestion with any respect, her critics have taken their default position of attacking her as a retrograde with contempt.
In fact however, she has a valid point that is backed by many parents and teachers. The point deserves at least some mature concideration without all the hatred and emotional hyperbole.
How bad is it really to suggest that children with different needs may have those needs more effectively met with some form of separation from the mainstream students?
Despite the militancy of those who support the fantastic belief in total inclusion without due distiction between normal and autistic kids, the reality in the class room is often not so fluffy. (As an aside, the use of the word 'normal' is to be avoided as it may be deemed offensive by insinuating that autistic children are not normal. However is that not the whole point? Aren't autistic and special needs children in some way abnormal? How should children without a disorder be referred to if not as normal? They don't even get a label. A forgotten majority in the classroom.)
I am the father of seven normal kids. Four of them in primary school. A number of years ago an autistic child started attending their school. It was soon obvious that he could not integrate into the classroom environment without causing constant disruption and upheaval. The regular 'meltdowns' and disruptions to the classroom meant that he often spent time removed from the class under special supervision of the principal. The upheaval was so great that a number of parents removed their children from the school. It is hard to see how the educational needs of any of the students were properly met in this attempt at inclusive integrated learning.
Despite this, in the minds of many outspoken biggotted social commentators in this community, the only acceptable opinion a person is permitted to have is one that is in line with their own inclusive idealism. Anybody who dares to publically voice any other persective will soon come under heavy fire for being so non-conformist. So too is the case for many other issues that Pauline has had the guts to address publically by voicing the 'wrong' opinion.
RE: Pauline Hanson and Pauline Hanson's One Nation (PHON) represent the worst elements in Australian Society.