I was listening to Michael McIntyre on Radio 4's Desert Islands Discs recently and was particularly moved by something he said about the vitriol aimed at him by some other comedians at an award ceremony he attended. He recalled how awful it was to have snide comments made about him in front of his … [Read more...]
Where do children learn to reason?
Several years ago, I watched a fly-on-the wall television documentary that followed public school pupils through their daily school experience and I remember desperately wishing that just one element could be transferred to the state system: the opportunities that were offered to these pupils to … [Read more...]
Interview with Rt.Hon Alan Johnson MP
I interviewed the Rt.Hon Alan Johnson MP for our new page to celebrate people who have changed their destination: people who, despite unconventional or difficult beginnings, have flourished and determined a different life. Having long been an admirer of his, I asked Alan to be the first person to … [Read more...]
“In Recovery” a forever state of mind?
I met with a very interesting man this week whose name we have changed of course. "Callum" was struggling with his stress levels and is frightened of this as he considers that not managing them well could lead him back to his old habits of Class A Drug use of nine years earlier. During our … [Read more...]
Struggling to find a window for the euthanasia plan……
I couldn't help but think about Bill O'Hanlon (the founder of Solution Orientated thinking) when I read about the writer and director, Terry Pratchett's plan to sign up for Dignitas, the euthanasia clinic. Terry was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2008. The story Bill O'Hanlon tells about himself is … [Read more...]
Popstar to Opera Star – the wider benefit for us all
Despite the formulaic "nice judge, nasty judge, professional judge" panel structure that hasn't changed since "New Faces" of the 1970s - ITV's Popstar to Opera Star is of wider benefit than just to the contestants. It provides an introduction classical music, wrapped up in a glitzy competition - a … [Read more...]
We’re not all going to the Zoo tomorrow
There is a Children's Zoo at Battersea Park. I had visited this zoo as a child, as a moody teenager and as a young parent. I hadn't been back for 20 years until this week. As I walked around with my grandson, I was aware that something was missing: the staff in green wellies were still there; the … [Read more...]
Congratulations to all the pupils at Impington Village College
How proud the parents of school children at Impington Village College, Cambridge must be. This is the school where the heroic 12 year old Chris Whitehead wore a skirt to school in protest at the school policy that did not allow for the wearing of short trousers in the hot weather. I know that Chris … [Read more...]
Dept of Health to reclaim the streets
I have to congratulate the Dept of Health for putting forward a new plan to close certain streets in built up areas so that children can play outside. The idea is not new of course - we all did that in the 1960s (and before that and indeed after that!) - but due to societal changes; more cars, tower … [Read more...]
£50 well spent
I found a yellowed, curled up newspaper this morning in a file I had marked "interesting education stuff". I searched the whole newspaper to see exactly what it was that I had found so interesting that I created a file in its honour and this was it: "In February, 2010, Paul Dix went into a staff … [Read more...]
