So Much to Learn...So Little Time

Sport, Role Models and Responsibility

Where is the sense of responsibility?

We now live in a society which is obsessed by the vagaries of celebrity and we are dazzled by fame and bling . For those people lucky enough to be showered with talent, gifts and money do they ever feel a sense of responsibility to society and themselves?

I want to take in point this weekends sporting action. My elation at Ronaldo's last minute stunner on Saturday at craven cottage was swiftly followed by despair at England's frankly poor performance against Ireland. The coverage of this event was dominated by the historical background to this match, yet the anthems particularly that of England were observed with an outstanding dignity by a crowd who could have (rightly?) chosen to be more disrespectful. Later in the match a big hulking giant of a forward, Danny Grewcock, was given a telling off and sin binned by a diminutive ref. He was obviously annoyed at this but off he went.

On Friday in the Rugby League World Club Challenge the ref berated 2 players for foul play, as they started to complain he simply explained who was in charge and the sanctions which would ensue for their teams if they continued. They desisted forthwith.

Fast forward to The Millen nium Stadium and the Carling Cup Final yesterday. It was a great match until the last few minutes...then what was a case of handbags turned into all out war. These things sometimes happen in sport when trophies are at stake and it's not the fighting that I find frustrating it is the aftermath.

First of all everybody blames the ref. Did he start the thing? Second of all no one but no one accepts any kind of responsibility for what goes on on the pitch in football. Chelsea and Arsenal are both contesting the red cards that were handed out...why?  Both players were involved in violent conduct...witnessed by thousands although you wouldn't think so judging by the reaction on 606 by Arsenal fans.

What I am trying to get at is that there are a section of our more iconic celebrities who seem to think that they as they are immune from the consequences of their actions, that violent conduct on the field of play does not merit punishment.

What example does this set our youngsters who are more and more sucked in by the celebrity lifestyle? It shows them that they don't need to accept responsibility for their actions. The Curriculum for Excellence has for one of it's capacities that all students should be Responsible Citizens. Its going to be a long and difficult task for us educators if todays role models in society do not show the way.


End of incoherent rant!@$%^

An apt title

The dawn of realisation.

This next month will see me realise just how apt my blog title is. I'm beginning to wonder if I haven't got too much on my plate...and my daughter isn't well.

Let's just take a look at things chronologically:

1. rehearsals every lunchtime next week for Rencontres Théâtrales, then performance on 7th March, plus the whole day to organise, which should be interesting considering some of the ridiculous questions I have had to answer. I thought teachers were capable of rational thought.
2. two filmmaking workshops one 27th Feb and 8th March
3. S4 speaking tests to do
4. S1 multimedia project about school
5. S2 presentations to mark
6. British Council Connecting Classrooms project
7. Cultural Xtra Day
8. to cap it all I have two hour long presentations to give at Communicate 07

So quite a lot to do then. Although I have a lot on this is the way I like things as I seem to work better when I am busy. I can focus in for short periods each day and get quite a lot done, including prepping lessons and marking.
One thing that seriously annoys me though are please takes. Come on...I have no free lunchtimes in most weeks and then I get 2 out of 5 free periods taken by please takes...usually guidance as well. On Friday I was told there was no one else to do a cover when I had calls to make and loads of stuff to do. There were 3 other members of staff having coffee in the staff room...hmmm! Something not right.

 

Ride the bandwagon

Something else for free.

Thanks again to Ewan i have found something for free again. I am just away to back up my iTunes library via bandwagon..and i should get a whole years free subscription.

An interview with Joe Dale

My first interview...other than for a job.

Last Saturday I was interviewed via Skype, by Joe Dale. Joe Lives at the other end of the UK on the Isle of Wight. He teaches languages at Nodehill Middle School  and is a bit of a Guru where the use of ICT in language teaching is concerned.
We spoke for about an hour in all, which he edited down to about 40 mins worth of me talking about what I've been up to in the last year or so. At first I found the idea quite daunting but Joe was a kindly interviewer.
Rather than go over everything we discussed here I think it is better to direct you to Joe's post which contains the interview as he has done an amazing job of putting together notes from the interview including links which cropped up in conversation.
Thanks Joe, you did a great job. I wish I had smiled in the photo.
If you do happen to have a listen, the screaming in the background is my 2 year old daughter, Aïcha, wanting to watch her Dora the Explorer DVD for the millionth time...it teaches her some Spanish (well thats my excuse)

Download interview_with_adam_sutcliffe1.mp3

The Book

First there was the book.

Was this how people first viewed the book?

Podcasting in the snow

Not Literally of course.

Classes decimated by snow today. Collapsed 3 S2 German classes into one today...great teacher pupil ratio. In one period in groups of 5 they manged to produce a radio show including news, weather and sport. One group even had time to record their show. Its sometimes amazing waht our students can produce when they put their mind to it.

I suspect they wouldn't have done half as much if we'd asked them to write a letter to an imaginary penfriend.

The shows will apppear on Rate My Mates and those lucky people who got to go sledging today will have to rate them in an AiFL stylee. Hopefully we will get to finish the recordings tomorrow.

I have officially classified that as a good lesson..thanks Mrs K and Judith.

Fon and la Fonera

I love things for free... but I love the idea of sharing my good fortune.
Thanks to ewan I have just found out about fon, free wifi access, as long as you share your connection with those around you. Rather than me trying to explain what I only vaguely understand click on the fon link to find out more.
Here's a little tip as well, until 31st March they have 2500 free wifi routers to give away. Find out more via the english blog.
I have signed up but will have to wait 3 weeks now to become wifi.

Cameroonian Comedy

This is a must see.

I discovered this on You Tube whilst looking for Cameroonian music vids. Its typical Cameroonian humour. Not as dodgy as it looks at first sight.
See if you like it.

My first time

Just had my first skype call. I wondered what kind of a noise my computer was making. Scared me half to death. Anyway it was Joe Dale who wanted to have a wee chat about our forthcoming interview via skype about my activities with new web technology. I am hoping to record it and post it here. I am sure garageband will let me do it.

Busy busy busy

I thought things were going to calm down after inspection.

For other colleagues maybe but the radio show still needs to be organised, drama for "Les rencontres Théâtrales" to rehearse, film club to help organise, choir to sing in, blogs to write, classes to teach and also try to think up (I think) innovative ways of working with students in class...oh I was forgetting the presentation to prepare for Communicate 07 and witness statements to put together for the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal!!!!!! Jeez.

• TGSi is on a slow down this week as seniors are on prelims, but has lead me to think that lots of short specific progs could be a good idea. Bang them out regularly to give our subscriber(s) more to listen to.
• The French Institut's "Rencontres Théâtrales are not far off. My guys are not really all that ready but hopefully they will get there. Once again I am basing my direction technique on a total lack of knowledge...just imagination how I think I should do it. We were robbed last year.
• Film club is moving again thanks to Bob and Andrew throwing their oar in. Donald at ATP Huntly has offered some cash to help fund a training day and some more gear. Could do with good mic, boom and a light. There is also a proposal for funding a film project for targeted NEET's (Not in Education, Employment or Training after school). This is not PC I know, but why can't there be an exciting interesting project targeting those pupils who turn up to school day in and day out, and who work their socks off all the time. Last year a bunch of our NEETS got to swan off on outdoor activity days and such like to no discernible difference in the classroom.

• my wiki project has started and of course the pupils have asked me all kinds of questions that I hadn't even considered. I'm trying to get 2 things out of them:i) rigour in their writing in French, ii) research into a country in west Africa which interests them, mainly to try to get them to develop their knowledge other regions of the world where French is spoken.
• with my S1 German class I am going to try and develop the next unit (Meine Schule) through independent group work with one group preparing and online guide to the school, one group prpeparing a brochure, one preparing a film guide and another doing something with radio. Aims are to produce a variety of ways of passing on information about the school to prospective German speaking visitors, and not just pretend.
• finally my presentation at communicate 07. Started to think about it but not put anything to paper. Hopefully my up coming skype chat with Joe Dale will help concentrate my thoughts.
• in and amongst all that I still have to prepare for my wife's appearance at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on behalf of her sister.