So Much to Learn...So Little Time

My Eclipse photo

Don't give up the day job.

Here's my rather rubbish attempt to capture the majesty of last nights lunar eclipse.

Sharing Knowlege

A question.

How many of us know what goes on in our own schools, in other classrooms?

I ask it because I've just been thinking about what someone asked me on friday. I've been rehearsing with students our entry to Rencontres Theatrales for about 3 months and wednesday sees the competition come to school. A colleague came into the hall and asked about all the noise!

Last inset there was a great session where 6 teachers shared examples of good practice in their classrooms...ok I was one of them. And by majority decision it was the most effective part of the day.

Why do we only leave these things to inset? I have a theory. We are British (Scottish, English or whatever) and we hate blowing our own trumpets. Whether we like to admit it or not we know which areas of our practice are good and which need a tweak or two.

We should be more ready to promote our own work AND SHARE IT. We shouldn't keep these things to ourselves. Education is about spreading knowledge, imparting wisdom. If we are be lifelong learners and to encourage lifelong learning we should start close to home.

Maybe that's why I like blogs. I can share my thoughts and work with others without forcing folk to listen. People can access it if they want to AND pass comment...hopefully constructive.

If ACfE is to live up to it's (lofty) expectations we should be given far more opportunity to SHARE and LEARN from our peers.

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!@$%^