Wednesday 23 November 2011

Friday 18 November 2011

Another about school visits

Don't assume that everyone knows how to get round the school - mention that there will be guides for visitors. Comments like "Come and find my office, it's where the old library used to be" don't help at all.

Talk to him not me. He's a young adult and while he might appear to struggle with spoken English he's your customer, not me. I might be an influencer but if you've ignored him and told me what you do in your lessons you've lost him. I won't understand (or care) and he'll think that you are rude - as will I. Perhaps from there you can work out what direction my influence might take?  

Allowing teachers to threaten students during visits probably won't help. Last night I heard a teacher ask someone their name and he then told the young man that he'd be "out of the school" if he continued to talk to his friend. I've no idea if this was justified but it was not appropriate in front of that young man's peers or visitors. Teaching isn't about the power trip and publicly humiliating young adults is distasteful.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Physics

2011-11-17_20

A 'Wave" pendulum in the physics lab at St Simon Stock school. Another Sixth Form visit.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Sunday 13 November 2011

In Memoriam

Rememberance Sunday photos at Sessions House, Maidstone

Thursday 10 November 2011

Top tip!

As you might have picked up we're trawling round looking at Sixth Forms with Cal. Tonight he and I visited Maidstone Girls Grammar School. Impressive as it stands but if anyone wants to convince 16 year old boys to change schools having 17 year old girls acting as guides will usually work.

Calum is interested in Physics so we went to the physics lab. While Cal was talking to some students the teacher approached me and started chatting. Speaking to him I remembered what physicists use as contraception..........

I hope this is readable

2011-11-10_19

It's a broken-down lorry

2011-11-10_08

Today on the M26

2011-11-10_08

Monday 7 November 2011

Folkestone in November

It was much colder and windier than it appears here

Saturday 5 November 2011

Wednesday 2 November 2011

So.............

The Greek state, which until the latest bailout wasn't able to pay civil servants because it couldn't borrow any more brass, wants its citizens to vote for tighter fiscal control. Not a bad plan given that they will likely go on strike otherwise and they also seem to have the Euro zone over a barrel - if Greece falls over it could drag down Italy and Spain. At the same time some of our MPs think that this is a good time to ask that we are given preferential treatment by the EU even though we're not chipping in to help maintain the single currency. Funny old world innit?