Hugh Mackay Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“On average, Australians watch more than three hours of television a day, compared with 12 minutes a day spent by the average couple talking to each other.”

“The underlying message of the Lancet article is that if you want to understand aggressive behaviour in children, look to the social and emotional environment in which they are growing up, and the values they bring to the viewing experience.”

“But the rule seems to be that the bigger and more life-changing the decision, the less it will seem like a decision at all.”

“Obviously, every child should be given the best possible opportunity to acquire literacy skills.”

“It seems inevitable that the magic of the written word will fade.”

“It's Australian to do such things because, however uncivilised they may seem, it's human to do them.”

“Reading is a huge effort for many people, a bore for others, and, believe it or not, many people prefer watching TV.”

“Parents should be encouraged to read to their children, and teachers should be equipped with all available techniques for teaching literacy, so the varying needs and capacities of individual kids can be taken into account.”

“Indeed, in the present climate of mistrust of institutions, many people who yearn for a more meaningful and fulfilling life would regard the church as an unlikely place to go for guidance.”

“Universal literacy was a 20th-century goal. Before then, reading and writing were skills largely confined to a small, highly educated class of professional people.”