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We need more Dads who will advocate for our children, promote fathers and encourage families.  That’s what I call a “Dadvocate”. Senator Alex Antic from South Australia is one such brave dad and father of a two-year-old son.

Alex is not afraid to go against the politically correct direction of the day and make a stand for our children.  He well knows the wisdom of Edmund Burke’s words, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Recently, he made a courageous short speech in parliament called “The War on Men”. Perhaps his speech should be more appropriately called the war on our children and specifically our boys. Watch this powerful parliamentary 2-minute speech below.

Read Senator Alex Antic’s short story behind the speech, “A recent article in The West Australian was titled ‘School DV lessons: How we STOP this kid becoming a monster’, featuring a photo of a young boy.

It reads,

“The relentless scourge of domestic violence in WA has led to many suggestions for solutions. Experts with actual lived experience claim the most promising chance at ending the crisis lies within our schools.”

The implication is that without the “experts” and their “lived experience,” boys in W.A. schools will inevitably become violent monsters. Apparently, we need the wisdom of these anointed ones to save us.

Such headlines and emotional literacy programs are often a Trojan Horse for smuggling progressive talking points into children’s education. In this case, moralising about “the patriarchy” and “toxic masculinity.”

The “Experts” are Letting Boys Down

“Experts” love imposing “solutions” to address the “root causes” of crime. These “solutions” usually reflect the progressive ideology of said experts rather than what works.

Is there any evidence that finger-wagging innocent young boys in school reduces domestic violence? Perhaps our education system ought to focus on achievement, academic excellence, and discipline, and our justice system on punishing violent offenders.

When boys are provided the opportunity to accomplish something and do well in school, rather than being nagged about things they haven’t done, their character will develop.

Fundamentally, it is the duty of parents to raise and educate their children. Leaving it to the public schools and government “experts” is not a good idea.

How We Can Stop Letting Boys Down

Our nation’s literacy and numeracy standards continue to fall. Earlier this year, the Productivity Commission (the government’s research and advisory body) published a report saying, “tens of thousands of students do not achieve basic levels of literacy and numeracy each year.”

Could it have anything to do with the fact that students spend too much time on emotional topics, designed to make them more politically correct, rather than on real learning?

I am often contacted by parents who are concerned about the progressive material being imposed on their children in schools. Parents expect their children to be learning reading, writing, and arithmetic, not to be moralised about toxic masculinity.

We must return to a classical standard of education that focuses on learning and achievement. That will help to instil the character we hope to see in boys and men, which will benefit everyone in our nation.”

Sadly, common sense is not very common these days. That’s why we as fathers are very thankful for brave ‘Dadvocates’ like Senator Alex Antic. The simple truth is, we need more of them.

So how do we become a ‘Dadvocate?’ Never thought you would ask.

Here we go!

Four Keys to Becoming a ‘DadVocate’

1. As Mahatma Gandhi articulated, “We must become the change we seek.” Do fatherhood courses, marriage courses, read books, watch videos, attend a men’s summit, join a men’s group, attend family-friendly men’s events and choose your friends wisely. Keep the saw sharp! Work at becoming a better version of you, because your children (and the world for that matter) will become what you are, more than what you say!
2. Speak up for children, mothers, fathers and families. If you don’t, who will? Billy Graham summed it up, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
3. Connect with other organisations or charities that do the same. Thankfully, you are already connected to Dads4Kids. There are too many to list, but here are a few:

• Smart Loving
• Focus on the Family
• Family Voice Australia

4. Help, teach and encourage other Dads to become ‘Dadvocates’ like yourself.  Frank Oppenheimer said, “The best way to learn is to teach.” —You will put a smile on more children’s faces as you do.

Lovework

Be inspired to make a stand for our children and our families. Let’s make common sense common again. Let’s put more smiles on our children’s faces.

Yours for More Dadvocates,
Warwick Marsh

PS: Good news. I have persuaded Nathaniel to extend the registration period for our Courageous Zoom Fathering course until midnight this coming Wednesday, 27 September. The course starts on Tuesday night, 3 October 2023. Become a ‘Dadvocate’ and tell other dads about this course. Get course info here; register here.

Watch the video below to see what other men have to say. If you have not done the Courageous Fathering Zoom Course yourself, gather a few men together and do it with them.  Remember, as the man said, “Courage is contagious!”   

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Originally published at Dads4Kids. Photo by Anna Shvets.