1: Some people think that university graduates should earn a higher salary than less well-educated peers. What is your opinion?

The answer to this question depends on the kind of work involved and I don’t believe that a taxi driver with a degree should be paid more than other taxi drivers without degrees just because he went to university. But these cases I agree that a graduate should earn a higher salary than less well-educated peers. Such legal requirements have been by the government for a reason and the work involved is generally of a the position concerned is restricted to those with the appropriate qualifications.

2: Should the goal of college education be to ensure that the students find a good job or should it aim at cultivating the students’ overall abilities?

The two goals mentioned above need not be seen as incompatible in my environment than an approach which focuses too narrowly on one vocational area.

Contemporary society is characterised by a rapid rate of social and technological change and this is reflected in the workplace, where factors such as downsizing and the introduction of new technology make it necessary for workers to be highly flexible if they want to remain employable. Such flexibility might include a readiness to retrain or

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diversify into other areas and I think that students are best prepared for this through a multi-disciplinary education.

Another point concerns the rapid rise in graduate numbers that has taken place in recent years. In some countries this increase has occurred at a greater rate than the economy’s ability to generate new employment and under such conditions it’s not unusual to find 500 graduates applying for one position. Faced with having to choose between these applicants an employer will probably look for qualities other than basic technical competence and the right qualifications. These other qualities might include general knowledge, good communication skills, a creative

approach to problem solving and an ability to take initiative, all of which can be developed through a broad, multi-disciplinary approach to college education.

In conclusion, it could be argued that the same skills and qualities which have always been valued in the workplace will remain valued in the future, but perhaps even more so due to the ever-decreasing value of a college degree.

3: Some people believe that educating children of different abilities

together will benefit them. Others argue that children should be separated and treated differently according to their intelligence. Discuss both sides and give your opinions.

One argument in favour of mixed ability classes is based on the idea that they promote equality and social harmony among students of different backgrounds in and out of the classroom. Such an approach stems from studies that have shown that streamed or graded classes tend to consist, at the top level, of students who come from the dominant and wealthier cultural group, and at lower levels, of less affluent students from cultural minorities or immigrant families. Some say this leads to social

segregation and does not reflect the true abilities of some poorer students, who achieve low results merely because they are constantly grouped with low achievers.

Those in support of streamed classes say it’s better for all students to be surrounded by others of similar ability because it not only generates healthy competition but also helps to prevent the low self-esteem that is sometimes generated in mixed ability classes when low-achievers

compare their own results with the higher scores of top students. Another point concerns the negative effect that mixed ability classes have on good students, whose results have been shown to suffer when moved into classes with students of much lower ability than themselves.

My own experience in mixed ability classes while a student at high

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school was mostly negative and I definitely lost interest in doing well when no longer surrounded by other bright students as I had been in earlier years. My teachers also seemed to become less inspired when faced with the impossible challenge of dealing with students of highly mixed ability and for these reasons I presently think that mixed ability classes should be avoided whenever possible.

4: Some people say that parents should discipline their children’s

behaviours and tell them what is right and wrong, while others believe that schools should take the responsibility to do so. What is your opinion?

The essential foundations of language, belief and moral sensibility have already been laid down by the time a child is old enough to go to school, having been passed on by parents whose influence in these areas will remain paramount throughout life. For this reason I believe children will always look to their parents for moral guidance and parents will always serve as the final authority on issues concerning discipline and acceptable modes of behaviour. Whether or not this is how it “should” be is beside the point, because the primacy of this parent-child relationship is

accepted by almost every culture in the world and certain areas of belief and morality- religion and sexuality, for instance- are generally considered to lie within the family domain.

If one accepts that schools in many countries would be very hesitant to intrude into these areas of family business, then it follows that their mandate for imposing discipline and providing moral instruction is

strictly limited to certain areas that are considered by society to form part of a school’s responsibility. Examples of such areas are how a child performs academically, or whether or not his behaviour while at school conforms to socially accepted standards. However, even in these areas schools can only go so far and will have to, at a certain point, consult with parents in order to agree on a course of action that is acceptable to both parties.

In conclusion, schools certainly have a part to play in reinforcing and exemplifying moral codes, but ultimately parents are responsible for discipline and guidance in these areas.

5: More and more children’s writing and math ability are affected by computers and calculators. What are the advantages and disadvantages of limiting the use of those tools?

In all developed and some developing countries, computers and

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calculators have become such commonplace items that it would actually be very difficult to limit their use. However, it might be possible to limit their use in the classroom, especially during primary school years when children are taught to write by hand and solve mathematical problems on paper. By keeping these tasks a mandatory, regularly assessed part of the primary school curriculum, while simultaneously keeping computers and calculators out of the classroom, children could at least be taught basic competence in these areas. Beyond this one advantage, however, I think it would be a mistake to limit their use, for the advantages of these tools far outweigh their disadvantages and being able to operate them is nowadays skills is through the familiarity that comes from having unlimited access to computers. It would be a serious disadvantage indeed to not be able to use a computer upon finishing school and entering the workplace.

Regarding calculators, I don’t believe they have any negative effect on a child’s mathematical ability at all, given that maths is primarily a

conceptual subject in which the concepts involved need to be understood when using a calculator or solving problems on paper. In fact, the time- saving qualities of calculators can be seen as an aid to mathematical progress and the same is true for any subjects in which computers play a part.

6: Some people say that it is inhuman to transplant organs and give birth to test tube babies. To what extent do you agree of disagree with this statement?

People who hold these kinds of convictions tend to be religious

fundamentalists who believe that medical procedures such as transplants and artificial fertilisation are transgressions of God’s laws as set down in the bible and other religious texts. According to this philosophy, only God has the right to give and take life and it is unacceptable for doctors and other humans to interfere with the natural processes that form part of his creation.

Personally, I reject ideas of this kind on several levels. Firstly, I have no religious convictions of my own and think that religious dogma should play no part in the law-making processes of modern societies. Secondly, such ideas rest on a distinction between what is natural and what is not that in my view cannot be supported on logical grounds. Humankind began to interfere with so-called “natural” processes long before

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scientific advances made it possible to transplant body organs, and if one is going to object to such life-saving procedures on the grounds that they are unnatural then one must also object to the first time one of our distant ancestors sharpened a stick to defend himself against a hungry lion. Finally, I think that the medical procedures under discussion here are just two recent examples of technological advances that over the last century have vastly improved and prolonged the lives of billions of people. If one accepts that science should be used for the benefit of

humankind and that everyone has a right to live, then one cannot object to any medical innovation that makes it possible to save lives or bring new lives into being.

7: People find it hard to gain traditional foods nowadays. They believe it has been dramatically changed. Find out the possible reasons and give your opinion.

Industrial processing, synthetic additives, chemical pesticides and genetic engineering are just a few of the reasons why it’s difficult these days to find food in a purely natural state. However, I don’t believe most people care a great deal about such change, and indeed they probably support it if the consequence is that food remains plentiful, inexpensive and easy to obtain. In regard to this point, one can see that consumer demand has also played a part in the disappearance of traditional or organic food, in that consumers these days are largely urban dwellers with regular jobs that are generally unwilling to take the time required to find or prepare traditional food if it means going out of their way or interrupting the smooth running of their daily routine. And even when they choose a traditional dish like Chinese dumplings for dinner, they are more likely to buy it frozen and ready-made from the supermarket than make it themselves. The end result of this dietary change is that traditional products have become harder to find because the market for them has grown smaller.

This change may not be permanent, however, for there is a growing preference in many western countries for “whole food” that has been produced under strict organic conditions and has not been altered or contaminated in any way. New shops and manufacturers have opened to cater for this demand and even family supermarkets stock a range of organic vegetables alongside the regular varieties.

Personally, I am sceptical about the claims of organic producers and doubt their products are as pure as they say. My main concerns with food are affordability and convenience and in this sense I am typically modern.

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8: The media nowadays provides a diverse range of real and false

information. Some people say that information about real subjects is the only kind that deserves to be read, heard or watched. Do you agree or disagree?

My first area of disagreement with this statement concerns the problem of defining what exactly is meant by “real” and “false” in regard to information presented in the media. Most TV drama, for instance, is completely fictional, and in this sense one could say it is false, yet sometimes it can truthfully reflect the universal reality of human

relationships even when not based on real people. Print and broadcast versions of the news, on the other hand, claim to be solely concerned with reporting real facts about real subjects but are often guilty of editing and manipulating the facts in such a way that they give a less than truthful account of the story at hand.

Another problem I have with this insistence on “real” information is the limited understanding it shows of the media’s diverse functions. One of these functions is indeed to report the news and provide information about the real world. But another function of equal importance is the role the media plays as a source of entertainment, which by its very nature is often fictional and meant to provide an imaginative escape from the

pressures of the real world. The last thing many workers want to do after a busy day in the office is go home and watch a factual documentary about people who work in an office. Some would prefer to watch a TV comedy or read a romantic story in a magazine, and if such an experience helps them to relax it has surely served a useful purpose, for the real world will still be waiting in the morning.

9: The media had published news about celebrities’ private lives

constantly to attract readers or viewers. Some people hold that this kind of news should be banned. What is your opinion?

Personally I have no objection to this kind of news but there are also several reasons why I think a ban like this would be impossible to implement.

Firstly, many countries have laws which guarantee free speech and the media in these countries would never relinquish its legal right to publish celebrity gossip because it sells millions of magazines and newspapers every week.

Secondly, the entertainment industry in a country like the US

contributes billions of dollars to the economy and has a vested interest in maintaining public interest in the private lives of the stars. The gossip 6

columns are free publicity in this sense and the big movie studios among others would almost surely object to the kind of ban in question. The third point concerns the huge public demand for this kind of

information. Whether it’s about Tom Cruise or a scandalous neighbour, people the world over seem to have an unquenchable curiosity about the private lives of other people. A ban on publishing such information would merely push it underground, but it would still be there to be bought because there will always be a market for it.

Many celebrities who have willingly sought fame like to paint themselves as the victims of prying journalists, but in my view they should have chosen another career if they didn’t want this kind of

personal scrutiny. It is part of the price one pays for fame and those who want to become famous cannot possibly claim ignorance in this regard.

10: Some people claim that censorship is necessary because there are too many undesirable contents in the mass media while others argue that it will hinder information freedom. Discuss both sides and give your opinion?

Those in support of censorship are generally concerned with maintaining a certain level of decency in the media, especially in regard to images and text with content that is explicitly violent or erotic in nature. Such content, it is argued, not only erodes public morals but can also harm the minds of young people and encourage anti-social acts. In some countries there are also those who argue in favour of political censorship, which can be used to suppress criticism of the government or views which are considered harmful to the state.

Among those who argue against censorship there are some who want it abolished altogether and others who take a more moderate approach, saying that some standards must be kept- especially in regard to the kind of images children are allowed to see- but that people must be allowed to freely express opinions on any topic and should be kept informed by a media which provides a balanced coverage of important events and is free to express anti-government sentiments if it sees fit. The public can make up its own mind, according to this view, and no one should have the right to control what it sees or hears.

This last argument I’ve just described basically expresses my own

opinion on this matter. The problem with a high degree of censorship, as I see it, is that once it has been enabled through legislation it can all too easily be used in the unethical service of one interest at the expense of another or to withhold information the public has the right to know.

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11: With the process of globalization and interaction among different nations, a variety of native languages and cultures have been lost. What are the main reasons for and effects of this phenomenon? And what can countries do to save the great loss?

One line of thought on this issue concerns the free trade agreements that have been adopted globally over the last half century. Such agreements require participating nations to reduce or abolish subsidies to domestic producers, remove currency restrictions and consolidate their industries in order to compete on an international level. Inflation and unemployment typically result from this kind of radical change and the economic

adversity which follows is most difficult for those near the poverty line, as they struggle to pay for basic commodities that are no longer affordable and are forced to leave their own villages or countries in search of work they can no longer find at home. This process of forced migration can lead to a devastating loss of language and culture when those who leave belong to a cultural minority with a low population base, for many will never return and their own children will grow up speaking another language elsewhere. It only takes two generations for a language to be lost entirely.

Another factor concerns the global spread of TV and other forms of mass-media into regions that were once isolated. Such exposure to

external influence can have a profound effect on native cultures, dragging people away from their traditional activities and inspiring the young to leave in search of the glittering world they have seen on TV.

Government policies aimed at promoting native language and identity are one way to deal with this problem, but many of the world’s threatened cultural groups do not have the resources for affirmative action and in

such cases the negative effects of globalisation are probably irreversible.

12: Many stores and families install surveillance cameras but many people go against the practise. What is your opinion?

Surveillance cameras are sometimes used as a kind of proxy security guard by shop-keepers and home-owners who can’t afford to hire a real one, in the understanding that they may not be able to stop a crime in progress but can nonetheless act as a deterrent. For this reason they are especially common in shops where it’s not possible for the attendants on duty to monitor all areas at once. In some cases the cameras are not even real: cheap, non-functioning replicas are installed in their place but the hope remains that some burglars or shoplifters will think twice before 8

committing a crime if there is a chance they are being watched.

Those who argue against the widespread use of these devices do not necessarily object to their crime-fighting abilities but say they are part of a broader campaign of increased surveillance which is ultimately

designed to limit our personal freedom and make us more accountable to the state. In my view we have nothing to fear in this regard because it’s simply not possible to view the millions of hours of security footage that are generated in a big city every week.

I also have no objection to security cameras being used in shops and family homes but am dubious of their value as a deterrent. Criminals often act on impulse and don’t care whether they are being watched or not, and I believe that placing cameras outside your house merely advertises that there is something worth stealing inside. Professional burglars are capable of disabling or circumventing almost any kind of security system and cameras are no exception.

13: The crime rate among young women is rising in today’s society. What are the possible reasons and how can this problem be solved?

In many societies the position of women has changed considerably over the last 50 years. Traditional roles are no longer so binding and they now have much greater freedom to pursue careers and live according to their own choices. This new-found independence is one possible factor in the rising crime rate among young women and it could also be related to a general breakdown in family structures and long-term marriages which once provided life-long economic support.

Beyond these areas I think the general social conditions which lead to crime are much the same for women as they for men. In both cases,

poverty, unemployment and low educational achievement are significant factors in the adoption of a criminal lifestyle and the best way to tackle such problems remains a controversial issue to this day. Some commentators say that adverse social conditions are no excuse for

criminal behaviour while others maintain that crime can only be reduced through a long-term commitment to education, work training and job creation. Another area that deserves attention in my view is the status of single mothers, who require special assistance through welfare payments if they are to cope with the economic hardship of their situation. Such payments are easily justified in my view by considering the much greater cost incurred when the state if forced to care for children whose mothers have been imprisoned. And the cost doesn’t end there, for having grown up without close adult supervision these children are much more likely to 9

become criminals themselves.

14: Some people believe that all majors in universities should be equally open for men and women. Others think that men and women are suitable for different majors. What is your opinion?

In the past it was definitely the case that some majors were considered suitable for men and some for women. And even today, men tend to gravitate towards some careers and women to others. But in many countries the sexist attitudes which once held such gender divisions in place have long since broken down and these days it’s common to see men working as nurses and women as police officers.

In my country of Australia these changes in attitude are now manifested in law and it would be seen as discriminatory to propose a separation of majors according to their perceived suitability for either gender. Such an idea is now understood to be a relic of earlier times, based on notions of biological difference in the temperament and intellect of men and women that science has shown to be insupportable. The common consensus on this issue is that any differences that may seem to exist are the result of social conditioning rather than biology and therefore should not be used to determine what area of study or work men and women are best suited for. In other words, it only takes one generation of male nursing graduates to show that men can be just as capable in this area as their female counterparts.

It remains difficult for women to find acceptance in certain fields of endeavour but this stems more from prejudice than from any real

limitations in the capability of women themselves. Such prejudices are slowly dissolving, however, and in time I believe that university majors of all kinds will be studied equally by members of both genders.

15: Housing shortage in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I agree that the consequences of this problem can indeed be severe, especially when those affected are forced to live in over-crowded slum conditions or sleep outside in a harsh climate, and I also agree that only government action can solve the problem. The solution, however, is not as simple as building more housing and various other factors must be looked at in attempting to understand how the problem develops in the first place and how it might be solved or prevented.

One major cause of housing shortages is the damage wrought by natural 10

disasters such as fires, hurricanes and earthquakes. Thousands can be left homeless for sometimes years after such events and the responsibility falls to the government to not only provide emergency shelter but also take the lead in financing and organizing reconstruction.

Another key factor concerns the rapid growth in urban populations that has taken place in countries such as Mexico and China as people move from rural areas in search of work. This process occurs on such a huge scale in some cases that it is impossible for the construction industry to keep pace with the demand for new housing. In these situations it is common for slum areas to spring up in and around the city and it’s up to the government to make sure such areas are adequately serviced with basic utilities such as water, electricity and waste disposal. The price of negligence in this regard can be very high indeed, ranging from the

outbreak of epidemics such as typhoid and cholera to fires that engulf an entire city. And the responsibility to provide these services remains with the government simply because no one else has the resources to do what is required.

16: Some people say that the government shouldn’t put money into

building theatres and sports stadiums. It should be spent on medical care and education. What do you think?

In my opinion, health care and education should receive as much larger share of government funding than sport and the arts because healthy, well-educated people are any nation’s most important asset and the one vital component on which everything else depends. At the same time, however, one of the government’s primary roles is to represent a diversity of interests within society and funding must be directed into a broad range of areas if this role is to be performed effectively. Big construction projects such as theatres and sports stadiums make the government’s job easier in this regard because they are public venues which can satisfy many interests at once.

Another reason for building theatres and sports stadiums concerns their role as symbols of economic stability and government competence which can not only inspire a nation’s self-confidence but also attract foreign investment through the positive image they present to the world. In this sense they are not a waste of public money because they can help generate the economic growth needed to pay for the health care and education of the future. However, a high degree of care needs to be exercised in the way this money is spent because public opinion can easily turn against such infrastructure projects if there is any suggestion of money not being spent honestly or wisely. To prevent this, the process 11

involved in awarding contracts should be fair and transparent and a

determined effort must be made to complete construction on time and on budget.

17: People can no longer expect a job for life. What should individuals and governments do to get the current and future environment prepared for different working conditions?

Broadly speaking, there are two ways individuals can approach this

problem. The first is to choose a career that will surely remain important in the future. Examples include law and the teaching profession or trades such as building and electrical engineering. Otherwise the key is

flexibility and a constant readiness to retrain should it become necessary. It would also help to stay informed about changes in the economic, political and technological landscape, and perhaps a multi-disciplinary approach to study in the first place would be beneficial in enabling one to switch focus later in life.

A strategy some governments pursue in preparing for future uncertainty is to diversify industry as much as possible so that the national economy is less dependent on one or two key industries. The Australian economy, for example, remains far too reliant on mining and agricultural exports and the economy suffers every time there is a downturn in global demand. The government has responded to this situation by encouraging the

development of expertise in scientific and technological areas, reasoning that the intellectual capital thus created can help establish new fields of endeavour. This idea remains problematic, however, because most of the experts leave for better paid jobs in other countries.

Another more practical approach that has been pursued successfully by the Chinese government in recent years is to simply save as much money as possible during years of economic growth and then use these reserves to stimulate the economy or generate employment in less prosperous times. This is a very effective strategy in my view because the security it generates allows for a higher degree of flexibility in the way that any government responds to change.

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