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Tele tube baby
-Samantha Thompson

It seems reality television has been taking a downward spiral toward moral bankruptcy of late - assuming, of course, it ever had any credibility. A programme where contestants are told the man whose affections they are competing for is a millionaire, only to find out he is dirt poor; perhaps a social comment on our obsession with wealth. A programme where "average" contestants are pitted against impossibly good-looking ones, only to find out that, surprise surprise, the woman chooses the better looking one; perhaps a comment on our society's obsession with image. A programme where straight men compete for the heart of a beautiful woman only to find out that she is a he? Well that's pushing the envelope.

That pales in comparison, however, with Brighter Pictures' latest dose of reality (Brighter is the company that has brought us such classics as There's Something About Miriam, Gay, Straight or Taken and Get Your Kit Off). The programme, entitled Make Me A Mum, combines one childless woman, a thousand potential fathers and cutting edge technology.

The woman will take fertility drugs to produce eggs which will then be harvested, with one final egg being selected. The thousand men will be slowly whittled down to two. One is to be selected by the mother on the basis of sex appeal, wealth, fitness and personality. The second will be selected by a team of experts on genetic compatibility with the woman and quality of sperm.

The series will culminate in a sperm race to see which man's sperm can make it to the egg first. Thanks to some new technology, this survival of the fittest will be broadcast live on television. But of course it doesn't stop there. The newly fertilised egg will be implanted into the woman's womb so that she can produce a baby.

While most of us would call this sick, unethical, disgusting, repulsive television viewing, Brighter Pictures' creative director, Remy Blumenfeld, has defended the concept saying: "thereís a tremendous amount of science to this show. It's fascinating. It's much more about the rules of science than the rules of attraction. It's about what we don't know, what we can't see".

And what comes next for the created child? A life mirroring that of Jim Carrey in The Truman Show? Perhaps the cameras should follow the child throughout its entire life, at least then there wouldn't be tricky questions that would arise when the child grew old enough to comprehend how it had been created.

Perhaps Blumenfeld is right. There is a huge scientific element to this programme which is exactly what makes it so dangerous. Genetic research and embryonic science are ethical minefields, with those working in these areas struggling to come to terms with society's disapproval everyday. This is a programme that will polarise public opinion of this sort of work, trivialising the struggle for those for whom IVF and genetic engineering are the only real options of becoming parents.

Respect your child's gifts by giving time

Every child is a gift to the world. You must be prepared to give your child - and your child's gifts - plenty of time to grow, according to educational commentator, Adrian Glamorgan.

"It's tempting to rush your child into adulthood but anything worth growing takes time. You can't rush a seed into becoming a sturdy tree overnight." says Adrian.

"Children need to take each stage of childhood steadily. They find their own internal rhythm and determination that way. When a child finds their own self in encountering the world, it keeps their love of learning alive, and their inner strength grows."

Adrian works at one of the three Steiner primary schools in the Perth area. "At a Steiner primary school, you'll notice that beauty holds the child's learning," he says.

"A child needs a sense of calm and simplicity along with joy, so that their inner gifts are game to come out. It helps that Steiner school teachers often have plenty of life experience.

"A Steiner teacher has usually gone out there and embraced the world before coming back to teaching. There's been travelling, working in various occupations, encountering life. It gives the children a storehouse of wonder!"

The Steiner (Waldorf) system builds on the insights of the philosopher/educationalist, Rudolf Steiner, who devised a system of a sustained "main lesson" each morning, taught over three to five weeks, giving in-depth treatment to a significant theme or topic.

"A child can really get into a main lesson, and be immersed through stories, art, maths and writing, movement and song. You might do Ancient Greece, or explore geometry, Indian myths, or machines, or poetry. The child really gets to know the subject. The growth is thorough and steady. They grasp a subject well, then tuck it away to re-examine later. It helps build a child's inner stillness.

"We endeavour to educate all parts of the child: academic progress, artistic experience and practical skills in an integrated, unpressured way. This balanced approach develops studentsí clear thinking, sensitivity, and a willingness to work."

Teacher Julia Humphreys recalls her students protesting that they didn't want to go to recess. "After main lesson one day, they said 'Do we have to play? Can we write a story instead?'" Frere, a colleague, marvels at the bond that the long-term connection with each child brings. "After three years with the children, you can still hear them running down the path to get in the door. After three years!"

With Steiner education, time is an ally, not a problem. "We offer children the marvels of technology, but it starts simple and builds to modern-day wonders over a seven year span. In kindy each child learns to finger-knit and enjoys building cubbies. By third class theyíre doing complex crafts, even building kilns. By the time they get to computers at high school, they're standing on the shoulders of our human history. It means they can cope with what the world throws at them. It's an holistic approach that builds self-esteem early on."

There are three Steiner primary schools in Perth. "We're especially pleased that one of our primary schools is working on extending into high school, soon," Adrian adds.

Interested in how your child might benefit from Steiner education? For information contact the Perth Waldorf School at Bibra Lake on 9417 3638, the Hills Silver Tree Steiner School on 9295 4787, or the northern suburbs West Coast Steiner School on 9440 1771. There are also schools in Denmark and Yallingup.

Arrange your personal visit, or come to one of the fun open days in August and September, and see the beauty and grace of this style of education for yourself.

Oral hygiene: looking beyond teeth

August is Dental Awareness Month and the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) is urging the Australian public to pay more attention to their oral health when visiting their dentists. All oral health issues, not just those related to teeth should be discussed with the dentists.

Oral health conditions are often best detected and managed by a dentist, and the ADA encourages Australians to discuss with their dentist symptoms such as unusual ulcers, sores or lumps that don't heal, symptoms of a dry mouth and bleeding gums which might be indicative of other health conditions.

Australian statistics show that tooth decay is the most prevalent health problem, more common than cancer or heart disease. There are 19 million decayed teeth in Australia with 11 million newly decayed teeth added each year. In 1998, a report entitled 'Child Dental Health Survey: Trends Across the 1990s' showed an increase in the number of decayed, missing or filled deciduous (baby) teeth in Australian children.

Parents are advised to take their child to the dentist at an early age to help prevent any problems that may occur as the child grows and develops. A child's first visit to the dentist should take place as early as possible with adequate cooperation, usually from around the age of one and no later than three years. Children who visit the dentist regularly from an early age are much less likely to experience dental problems during their childhood and are unlikely to experience a future fear of dentists.

It is important for parents to make dental visits enjoyable for their children. Parents can help their child feel comfortable by making sure he or she doesnít hear scary stories about dental visits. Don't let them know if you feel any anxiety about going to the dentist yourself.

A child's diet is likely to assert the most significant influence on whether they get decay or not. The worst foods are those that are high in sugar and are released slowly into the mouth. These include lollies that are sucked slowly, drinks that are consumed slowly over long periods (eg juice in a nursing bottle) and chewable Vitamin C tablets (grinding ascorbic acid powder into the teeth).

Sugars in the mouth feed bacteria, which produce acid, which eats away the tooth. Some soft drinks and fruits (lemons) are acidic so acid can also be introduced into the mouth as well as produced by the bacteria. They may also contain caffeine which dries the mouth.

Begin tooth cleaning as soon as baby teeth erupt. This can be done with a moist cloth. A toothbrush can be used as soon as it is tolerated, usually between one and two years, but without toothpaste. Toothpaste can be introduced from around two years of age or as directed by your dentist.

Children usually require assistance and encouragement with cleaning teeth up to six or seven years of age. This can be done by standing or sitting behind the child and leaning over - the same way a dentist works. Both manual and electric toothbrushes are good for children as long as the right type of brush is used based on the child's age and mouth size.

The basic principles that parents or carers of babies/toddlers/children need to follow in order to help maintain the child's good oral health include:

ï Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods, especially those rich in calcium and low in acids and sugars.
ï Enjoy healthy snacks, with cheese and fruit being ideal after-school choices.
ï Drink plenty of tap water -- especially if fluoridated.
ï Brush gently and thoroughly, with a fluoride toothpaste from age two onwards (with a low concentration for children up to seven years).
ï Use a soft compact head toothbrush.
ï Clean teeth at least twice a day, after breakfast and last thing before bedtime.
ï Have regular dental checkups ñ don't wait for a problem to occur.
ï Dental checkups start with toddlers.

The ADA will be driving awareness of good oral health during August as part of Dental Awareness Month. However, in 2004, the focus will move from the teeth to include the whole mouth. In particular, issues including oral cancer, diabetes, periodontal disease linked to cardiovascular disease, ulcers, eating disorders, Dry Mouth Syndrome and snoring.

For a weekend filled with fun and information come to the forest chase on Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd of August. Dr. Rabbit and the tooth fairies will be greeting the children and will have prizes to give away. As usual, the dentists will be in the dental van onsite to check your mouth and teeth and there will be a marquee full of information for all ages .

The ADA website www.ada.org.au contains important messages that will be delivered to the public during the campaign. Alternatively you can contact the ADA on (08) 9211 5600.