Embryos at risk of disease can pass clinic tests, parents warned
Sydney Morning Herald January 22, 2008 THE genetic testing of embryos at risk of developing deadly diseases is not foolproof, and all parents should be extensively counselled on the risks, experts say. The warning yesterday came after a couple declared that they were suing a Melbourne fertility clinic because pre-implantation genetic testing had failed to [...]
Anti-smacking worries push foster parents out
NZ Herald January 21, 2008 A South Auckland foster care group says a quarter of its foster parents have quit because of the “anti-smacking” law passed last year. South Auckland Caregivers Association chairwoman Allysa Carberry said the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act, which allowed caregivers to use reasonable force to “correct” children, [...]
Take fee complaints to schools parents told
The Dominion Post 19 January 2008 The Government is advising angry parents who are charged too much in voluntary school fees to complain to principals and school boards. But principals say the Government should admit that schools are underfunded and that the free education system is only subsidised. Education Minister Chris Carter said schools could [...]
MySpace makes site safer for kids
SeattlePI.com 19 January 2008 MySpace agreed Monday to make the nation’s largest social-networking site safer for children by checking ages more carefully, granting parents greater control and building higher walls between its adult and younger users. MySpace remains at the front of Internet-based social networks, and as networking became popular in recent years — MySpace [...]
Kindy sex lesson anger
Mercury (Tasmania – Australia) January 18, 2008 A PARENT has complained her five-year-old daughter was taught sex education at a school in Hobart and revealed she was assaulted by two boys in her class just after the visit from Family Planning. The claims have prompted calls for the course only to be taught with parental [...]
Schools ‘should let’ children change gender
The Press 18 January 2008 A ground-breaking inquiry by the Human Rights Commission is calling for law changes to recognise the rights of transgender people, including allowing children to change gender at school. Its report, released today, recommends the Human Rights Act be amended, adding “gender” to the grounds of discrimination to reinforce that transgenders are [...]
Parents urged to boycott sexy-slogan T-shirts
The Press 17 January 2008 A family group has called on parents to boycott shops that stock a line of T-shirts, carrying sexually suggestive slogans, for children as young as 10. Family First New Zealand is also calling for a national debate on the “sexualisation” of children and teenagers. Retailer Jay Jays is selling the [...]
‘Loser’ T-shirts removed from display
Sydney Morning Herald January 17, 2008 Fashion retailer Jays Jays will remove its Miss B**ch and Mr Well-hung T-Shirts from window displays after a New Zealand lobby group complained they were being marketed to children. The Family First New Zealand lobby group claimed the shirts – which carry slogans including Miss B**ch, Miss Wasted, Miss Floozy, Mr [...]
Father warned for disciplining boy, 3
The Press 14 January 2008 A Christchurch father is fuming after he received a police warning for hitting a child after he flicked his son’s ear in public as a reprimand. Professional musician Jimmy Mason flicked the ear of his son, Seth, at the Bridge of Remembrance just before Christmas after the three-year-old disobeyed his [...]
We can work it out
AAP 14 January 2008 Couples who try to sort out their relationship difficulties on their own are only half as likely to make improvements than those who enter therapy, Australian research has found. An extensive review of Australian and international relationship therapy research has concluded that couples who worked on their relationship together with a [...]
