Peter Novotny, Portland

Explicit signs of racism

I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted because I spent the night lying in bed distressed about all the stories of racism occurring in our streets. Exhausted because I worry about my friends and my family. A few weeks ago, I read a story about racist graffiti scrawled against the hoarding of a construction site. Recently I happened to pass the site. The graffiti had been covered, but I could feel the hatred seeping from the dried paint. It had originally read "Shame on China. Go Home Yellow Dogs". As soon as I realised it was the site, I felt terrified and that's not normal for me. Parking around the corner, and getting out of my car, I felt nervous and scared. That's what happens when you are fearful for your safety based on your appearance. I should never have to feel that way. Not in Hawthorn – where I grew up, going to school and hanging out with my friends – actually, not anywhere. Now, we hear of racist attacks against international students, and doctors and people waiting in line for takeaway food.

I've been trying to work out where this all stems from, and why are people so misguided in their frustration and anger. A good example of what seems to be harmless commentary but actually has racist undertones is how people now say, "Don't buy Chinese, buy Australian". We don't need to say "Don't Buy Chinese". We just need to say "Support Australian Business". I love Australia and Melbourne. I know how blessed I am to have been born in such a privileged country. I ask that the next time a friend or someone in your company makes a racist remark, think twice about the ramifications of that comment being shared publicly.

It's hard to ask someone who hasn't experienced it to fully understand. If you don't believe it exists, you will never understand. And if someone believes it exists but doesn't do anything to stop it, they are just as much a part of the problem. A minority standing up for themselves is powerful, but the majority taking a stand for the better is unbeatable.

Dean Christopher Ung, Collingwood

Despicable racist attacks

I've travelled to China and many parts of Asia. I love the culture and people. It saddens me when I hear stories of Asians in Australia being attacked, verbally abused and their properties vandalised just because COVID-19 originated in China. Would those people do the same if such a virus originated in the US or Europe?

David Charles, Newtown

THE FORUM

Clusters in schools

The Commonwealth health advice says there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission in schools and childcare centres. However, it is clear this happens. The second largest cluster in New Zealand is at Marist College in Auckland, including students and teachers. In NSW, one of the largest clusters has been at the Rose of Sharon childcare centre in Blacktown, with 25 cases including children, staff and parents.

Hamish Meffin, Reservoir

The magic of school

Dear PM, I am confused. You say there is no reason that schools cannot reopen. Children cannot play in playgrounds, they cannot visit their grandparents, they cannot skate in a skate park, they cannot meet their friends to play footy or have sleepovers. But somehow, they can squeeze 25-30 children into a classroom and that is OK. Is it that the classroom provides some magical protection against coronavirus?

Marg D'Arcy, Rye

Student help

Why, during this pandemic, are teachers being told we may not be online with one student at a time? Pre-shutdown, students often stayed back after class to ask for help. We can't do that now, even though it is more necessary than ever. Now, we have internet issues, sound problems, microphone fails – whatever the reason, they may have missed something. But if they ask for help after class, we have to say: "Sorry, I'm not allowed to talk to you without another person present." Normally I would simply be offended that my professionalism is being questioned and that my Working With Children check means nothing. But now I am worried about the students who trust me and rely on me to help them. I am worried about how much support our students will miss because of it.

Yvie Bolton, Thornbury

Social benefits

I am an English teacher now teaching "remotely" and also have two children learning "remotely". Does it feel like real teaching? The answer is yes. Technology allows me to deliver the curriculum across all of my classes from year 7 to year 12. Are the students learning? The early indications are that they are. This is based on observations of my own children and the assessment of the work being sent to me by my students. Remote schooling includes benefits for students, teachers and society and I can see a possibility for secondary schools retaining part-time remote schooling. Schools could implement remote schooling one day a fortnight. They could rotate the days. Schools could establish consequences for students who do not participate and students would learn to become more independent. Teachers would have more time for preparation, marking and collaboration. Society would benefit from 10 per cent of secondary school populations not having to commute on any given day.

Louis Scacciante, Brunswick East

Driver schedules

It's not just driver training that's an issue around truck accidents ("Truck licensing shake-up looms after spike in crashes", 26/4). It is also unrealistic schedules, inadequate regulation and lenient enforcement. It's not uncommon to hear of truck drivers driving for more than 24 hours non-stop. The only way many of them get through their employer's demands is to use drugs. It doesn't matter how well trained a driver is, a combination of fatigue and drugs is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Urgently needed are much tighter, properly enforced regulation of driver hours as well as mandatory monthly drug tests.

John Laurie, Newport

Fleeting remembrance

We need to ensure that the "special feeling" ("'Special feeling': dawn service lights up a suburban street", 26/4) emanating from a socially distancing Anzac Day does not come from a false sentimentality generated by haunting trumpets and the emotion of families gathering around the feel-good warmth of flickering morning flames of remembrance. It wasn't so long ago that servicemen returning from Vietnam were shunned, while returning soldiers' mental health and other issues appear to remain at least partly unacknowledged, so some of the increasing popularity of Anzac Day must come down to fashion. Similarly, the renewal of community spirit amid the lockdown and in response to last week's tragic police deaths are also admirable, properly motivated, but let's make sure all these have continuing meaning and are not forgotten once the moment passes.

Marish Mackowiak, Caulfield South

Bushfire priorities

Bushfire prevention is certainly needed but it is not about clearing undergrowth (Letters, 25/4). Undisturbed areas of forest are now known to hold moisture, cool temperature and be less flammable. What is needed are resources to put out fires in remote bushland rather than letting them burn out, and expanded and professionalised country fire brigades and equipment to achieve this. We also need organised support for native animals that survive bushfires. Both initiatives would create much-needed jobs. Finally, we need to urgently address climate change – plant trees, protect forests and stop using fossil fuel – to mitigate these extreme events.

Nola Firth, Murwillumbah, NSW

Trust undermined

Continued community support for social distancing depends on trust that our leaders are being straight and sensible. Glaring inconsistencies by them jeopardise public health. Why is it safe for kids to go to school, but not to visit their grandparents? Why can the rugby league resume, but I can't play golf on my own? Why were masks discouraged, but now seem on the cusp of being a good idea?

Ian Cunliffe, Princes Hill

Quieter times revisited

Lockdown reminds me of growing up in the '50s – quiet local streets, uncrowded public transport, home-based leisure time, shops open fewer hours. And I smile when I recall my mother's gentle chiding, "There's no such thing as being bored, only boring people – there's plenty to do!" She was right.

Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton

School funding

I see Toorak College has invested in a state-of-the-art STEM building with "super labs" and "breakout spaces", as well as access to a boardroom with a spectacular view so the girls from affluent families "can know how it feels to occupy a space that's not always readily accessible". I'm sure it's a beautiful place. I just hope Toorak College doesn't expect me to contribute even more of my taxes to ensure they stay afloat. Perhaps this is the perfect time to take stock of just how we can justify government spending on the biggest and best of everything for some schools while disadvantaged kids continue to go without.

Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North

Fine memorials

Simon Clegg (Letters, 26/4) suggests an Avenue of Honour for those police and emergency workers killed in the line of duty. We already have two fine memorials is Melbourne – a beautiful sculpture garden bed in Treasury Gardens for emergency workers, and the Police Memorial in the Domain on St Kilda Road.

Olga Abrahams, Southbank

Cull unnecessary

The debate about culling bats (Letters, 23/4) misses a crucial point. Substantially reducing their numbers – even if such a thing was possible – would deprive us of the chance to study them. How bats live with viruses, how these viruses mutate and why they jump to other species are questions we can't afford to ignore.

Let's stop the fear-mongering and give the only advice needed: If you come across a bat, give it a wide berth. Like spiders and snakes, bats can't hurt anyone who keeps their distance.

Debbie Lustig, Elsternwick

Political industry

How dare political parties register for the JobKeeper program for their staff. We were told the program was to enable industry to survive the lockdown. Political parties will survive regardless. Supporting them is feathering their own nests. In recent political vernacular, it does not pass "the pub test".

David Jones, Essendon

Reform disease

Scott Morrison has talked about the economy after the virus. He has suggested that great "reforms" are needed and it cannot be business as usual. First of all, just because a politician calls something a reform does not make it so. A reform is, by definition, something that is an improvement, not just an idea that fits a political ideology. One such "reform" mentioned is removing environmental restrictions for business. This a dangerous idea. We have spent years cleaning our environment on the back of relatively moderate environmental controls. We do not need the cure to be worse than the disease.

Ross Hudson, Camberwell

Hopeful future crucial

What a timely essay by Michael Tanner ("Youth shouldn't pay the price", 26/4). Tanner counters the Prime Minister's "snapback" comment by pointing out that " ... The solution will not be to cut spending from where it is needed most." He cites Finland, Germany, Japan and Sweden as countries that rejected austerity measures following the GFC. These countries " ... experienced the best health outcomes and the greatest economic growth in subsequent years." Job creation must be high on the government's list following an easing of restrictions. One way is to expand the welfare budget. It is a way of increasing employment through creating revenue for recipients to spend, thereby helping to provide the confidence needed for investment in the manufacturing and service industries. Every opportunity must be taken to provide young people with a hopeful and secure future.

Bob Northey, Melbourne

AND ANOTHER THING

Schools debate

Let's have an independent medical body to decide whether schools should be open. Don't leave it to politicians to make such important decisions.

Diana Goetz, Mornington

The need of the Liberals to be seen to be relevant is understandable, but at the expense of the health of teaching and support staff is not.

Tony Delaney, Warrnambool

I hope the PM is applying as much pressure on private schools to re-open as he seems to be applying to public schools.

Graham Williams, Glen Waverley

It is astonishing that the recommendation for children to return to school appears to be based on a single study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed.

Doug Bryan, Sandringham

JobKeeper

JobKeeper will become the Coalition's pink batts.

Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn

The Liberal party seeks the JobKeeper allowance for staff ("Libs, ALP to seek wage subsidies", 26/4). Wouldn't that be the dead hand of socialism at work?

Max Nankervis, Middle Park

US politics

It's surreal, but we are witnessing the disintegration of the American empire.

Bill Gray, Albert Park

Perhaps Trump should try disinfectant as a mouthwash.

Annie Wilson, Inverloch

Transport

Maybe Angus Taylor has not noticed that buying anything from the US can look attractive until you check out the delivery costs.

Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach

The time has come for the Andrews government to reconsider the East West Link. Scrap the North East Link and build the cheaper, equally urgent East West Link instead.

Christian Grawe, Essendon

Furthermore

Curtis Stone is advertising how Coles is helping us with butchers and bakers during tough times. I'm struggling with electricity costs. Does Coles have a candlestick-maker?

Frank Stipic, Mentone

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