tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41501072710946598782023-11-16T12:10:52.262+00:00The Bolshie TeacherFinally a gentleman educator who says it how it is.BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-60160681019432516242010-09-15T01:44:00.006+01:002010-09-15T02:02:27.426+01:00The Bolshie Tweet Award<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v5pw0JVF66NM3Y4xKMO0oerv9E0Qw6Gox19U-TNpNP83ghpm0v_4iEld3sFO2UK_bjH2GcNj1-EgjuwjcU738fVz1CgugsgkZbjCcIQ07XikB69cqq2Aiff9Ib3zIqixuboxWxPpG_G4/s1600/bolshie_tweet_award.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v5pw0JVF66NM3Y4xKMO0oerv9E0Qw6Gox19U-TNpNP83ghpm0v_4iEld3sFO2UK_bjH2GcNj1-EgjuwjcU738fVz1CgugsgkZbjCcIQ07XikB69cqq2Aiff9Ib3zIqixuboxWxPpG_G4/s400/bolshie_tweet_award.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516935200847544546" border="0" /></a>Welcome to my first every Bolshie Tweet Award.<br /><br />As yet the judging criteria are fluid and evolving. However I feel this tweet is imbued with the, 'spirit of bolshieness' and is deserving of an award.<br /><br />So without further ado, the first ever Bolshie Teacher Award goes to this little gem.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodYT9bFvIxNn6QRq4DagbHHUhov6oMRr-1I2_n6j3L71x2zfPveMf1EPdAuIRTPvEz2qXrofnINVZyzzJdJvXUvAqmncEUDfIxpZsGlGFR6oo5rxwE0oN5a2DESMd-8vk0B5G9jF3qkn-/s1600/bolshie_award_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodYT9bFvIxNn6QRq4DagbHHUhov6oMRr-1I2_n6j3L71x2zfPveMf1EPdAuIRTPvEz2qXrofnINVZyzzJdJvXUvAqmncEUDfIxpZsGlGFR6oo5rxwE0oN5a2DESMd-8vk0B5G9jF3qkn-/s400/bolshie_award_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516937225246672946" border="0" /></a><br />dear #flagstaffhill teacher threatening to flunk B<br />student proud of her project cuz her video wouldn't<br />play on school computer - u r a knob<br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-37953858039746457122010-07-05T05:49:00.005+01:002010-07-05T06:38:45.571+01:00I'll Try Being Nicer If...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF6PNKyn-466FwMt2-0HWiO4GEg0gsBVTsWRWTPqresqeQITQkag01j1ddtagaRv0nWkTH8mofB6KyYtIW_GgafeE8ye9r7fANXpXhUWcWliHxHcyV4gidHj9Za92C4am7QOo3xXkCBBp/s1600/the_thinker.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF6PNKyn-466FwMt2-0HWiO4GEg0gsBVTsWRWTPqresqeQITQkag01j1ddtagaRv0nWkTH8mofB6KyYtIW_GgafeE8ye9r7fANXpXhUWcWliHxHcyV4gidHj9Za92C4am7QOo3xXkCBBp/s400/the_thinker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490287563842318594" border="0" /></a>On arrival at tonight's 'Twilight Session' Ms Flaccid (the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">flaccid</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"></span>-it-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ator</span> of the proceedings) beckoned me over with a knowing smile and a toss of her hair.<br />'Oh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BT</span>, so nice of you to drop by. We haven't seen you for a while?'<br />'Yes... let's just say the slight misunderstanding with the Tax Department is now firmly behind me.'<br />'Right?... So before tonight's session starts, do you mind if we have a quiet word?'<br />'Not at all my dear lady', I replied in my usual <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">condescending</span> tone.<br />'Now don't take this the wrong way, I love your sense of humour. I also love your somewhat controversial input to the sessions, but a couple of the ladies are uncomfortable with your constant challenges to the course content. Would you mind just toning down the vitriol a bit for the sake of peace?'<br />To which I responded, 'I hear what you're saying Ms Flaccid but, with all due respect, <span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll try being nicer if they try being smarter!</span>' and returned to my seat.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I find it amusing, in a world of political correctness, that a request to control one's emotion is seen as socially acceptable. However an overt challenge to engage deeply with academic concepts and content is seen as aggressive.</span><br /><br />Bah h<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ar</span>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-68273800035129649982010-03-31T23:27:00.003+01:002010-03-31T23:48:42.733+01:00April Fools DayIn the world of high stakes testing school more often than not resembles a drill <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sergeant</span> barking orders at the ranks than a place that creates beautiful minds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWluOn4b5TVRpEvEADtdW1Qq0bKtFUMLmLLLXdyFZ7cl2QO2L7zhyphenhyphenP2awbthp-1kOg4mv5YX4KjGvqXtudMecnhmodBRlF_29BBpTGlAsZVvcgKAlV6nmiwIRPSVTJH78W9iL67WgSXkF/s1600/laugh.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWluOn4b5TVRpEvEADtdW1Qq0bKtFUMLmLLLXdyFZ7cl2QO2L7zhyphenhyphenP2awbthp-1kOg4mv5YX4KjGvqXtudMecnhmodBRlF_29BBpTGlAsZVvcgKAlV6nmiwIRPSVTJH78W9iL67WgSXkF/s400/laugh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454932584425391858" border="0" /></a><br />When was the last time you made space in your timetable to have a good laugh with your students? Just do it!BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-60956873958407175522010-03-02T23:41:00.004+00:002010-03-03T00:05:45.997+00:00The Pursuit of Happiness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarhIrXZ6PsRMlqfH04nLk3enegKwYAl7WokeZOp6Pos8air7RTeCnhKCgD-CDKNJRk9K3cnz3BplFMijBulsB5AsqQBtRPvkQ8r17i6m9PNN04sbSZKNEiJKR3nXvQS2mohU5DZ4djIfl/s1600-h/standardized_testing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarhIrXZ6PsRMlqfH04nLk3enegKwYAl7WokeZOp6Pos8air7RTeCnhKCgD-CDKNJRk9K3cnz3BplFMijBulsB5AsqQBtRPvkQ8r17i6m9PNN04sbSZKNEiJKR3nXvQS2mohU5DZ4djIfl/s400/standardized_testing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444186624278282722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I believe one day the children of this nation will stand up and say,<br />"!@#$ testing! We Want to Be Educated."<br />I believe one day the parents of this nation will stand up and say,<br />"!@#$ testing! We Want Our Children to Have Beautiful Minds!"<br />I believe one day the teachers of this country will stand up and say,<br />"!@#$ testing! We're here to Educate!"<br />I believe one day politicians will say,<br />"!@#$ testing! We no longer want a dumbed down public."<br />I believe one day the president will stand before Congress and say,<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"!@#$ TESTING!!! </span><br />Let's work on the pursuit of happiness for ALL!"<br /></div><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-70561524491872144312010-01-30T21:54:00.001+00:002010-01-30T21:55:49.385+00:00A Handbook for Change or 'Happy Talk'<div style="width: 425px; text-align: left;" id="__ss_3035598"><a style="margin: 12px 0pt 3px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecleversheep/field-guide-for-change-agents-3035598" title="Field Guide For Change Agents">Field Guide For Change Agents</a><object style="margin: 0px;" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fieldguideforchangeagents-100130150816-phpapp02&stripped_title=field-guide-for-change-agents-3035598"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=fieldguideforchangeagents-100130150816-phpapp02&stripped_title=field-guide-for-change-agents-3035598" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,arial; height: 26px; padding-top: 2px;">View more <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecleversheep">Rodd Lucier</a>.</div></div>Seems to me that without action this is just a lot of 'happy talk'.BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-56860291721915710572009-11-09T08:16:00.001+00:002010-01-25T00:22:19.850+00:00Leadership - What Are Your Doing For Your Staff?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnziSKG6IFbWhN94qVkmGRlV6ZVEui51TKKHIVhkDYODk9Tf-QEBPcoUNgTuNSJNCVjwgY59DicjKDJKwPYJIGV5e_OMe4ghbdhoLV08iG-jduYu0O-_88R9OH5xSAhIvpO3fFDPSJ79bh/s1600-h/leadership.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnziSKG6IFbWhN94qVkmGRlV6ZVEui51TKKHIVhkDYODk9Tf-QEBPcoUNgTuNSJNCVjwgY59DicjKDJKwPYJIGV5e_OMe4ghbdhoLV08iG-jduYu0O-_88R9OH5xSAhIvpO3fFDPSJ79bh/s320/leadership.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402025712486385362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(You can click on this image for a full size wallpaper to motivate your staff)</span><br /></div><br />Every year a principal I know releases all the female members of staff for the culminating activity of the, 'People in Our Neighbourhood' Social Studies Unit.<br /><br />As part of the firefighters' visit she has a 'quiet word' to the station master & makes it clear that the emergency workers are to perform a series of well choreographed moves. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">These moves are strictly</span> for 'educational purposes' <span>but are required if the crew are to be invited back to the staffroom for drinks after school.</span><br /><br />Firstly, a mock rescue of a teacher dressed only in pyjamas is performed for the delight and titillation of all present. Next, the uniformed gentlemen select a 'volunteer' to gently caress the lever that it extends the massive ladder. Often the fireman needs to stand behind the teacher and guide her hand. It is at this point that the echos of much clapping & cheering can be heard by the male members of staff who are 'covering' classes.<br /><br />After the erection of the ladder, the firefighters must scale it, hose held firmly in hand and then spray foam all over the car park. Needless to say, this is a sight to behold for teachers & students alike but it is enjoyed on completely different levels :-) It is at this point that a couple of the teachers invariably feel the need to reach for a tissue to clean any stray foam out of their hair.<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong, I can see the this visit does wonders for the morale of the female staff. But I feel a true leader would recognise that a few male members of staff that would eagerly jump at the opportunity to attend an educational demonstration of this caliber. Especially those who secretly hold onto desires of being rescued from the jaws of death by a rugged man in uniform grasping his huge hose.<br /><br />So all this begs the question, 'What are you doing for the well being of your staff?'BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-19959362524072475752010-01-12T07:26:00.006+00:002010-01-12T07:53:20.436+00:00The Shallow End<div id="yass_top_edge_dummy" style="border-width: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; display: block;"></div><div id="yass_top_edge" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; background-image: url(chrome://yass/content/edgebgtop.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-position: center bottom; height: 0px; display: block; width: 1px;"></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5hdlbliCYWUK-fWnTlNbaTL3KtGKUeQiF-ncyYa82xvb33iBG60YJYSwiIHMgpahWuEHBmVAOedmmNeiUxnUFjhcq1EbBQh8x7kwNK6pf25o76yEZ-SOWAJsR63YxRcCr7-WxvuYbocs/s1600-h/Natural_Selection.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5hdlbliCYWUK-fWnTlNbaTL3KtGKUeQiF-ncyYa82xvb33iBG60YJYSwiIHMgpahWuEHBmVAOedmmNeiUxnUFjhcq1EbBQh8x7kwNK6pf25o76yEZ-SOWAJsR63YxRcCr7-WxvuYbocs/s400/Natural_Selection.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425752174977505218" border="0" /></a><br />Brandine the Redneck had her chance to shine during 'circle time' tonight. She spent her moment of fame banging on about how the parent body of her school drew from the shallow end of the gene pool and how she was struggling to cope on so many levels. Blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />Anyway, to her credit Brandine did propose a very practical and innovative solution. She put forward the idea, 'All people would be sterilised at birth and would only be granted the right to procreate after passing a very thorough state administered examination'.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Selflessly I volunteered myself to spearhead the drive to develop the standards and that way people with ideas like Brandine would never be allowed to breed.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div id="yass_bottom_edge" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: url(chrome://yass/content/edgebgbot.png); background-position: 0px 0px; position: absolute; height: 0px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100%; display: block;"></div><div id="yass_bottom_edge" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: url(chrome://yass/content/edgebgbot.png); background-position: 0px 0px; position: absolute; height: 0px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100%; display: block;"></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-24133884523048768102010-01-03T08:20:00.002+00:002010-01-04T00:34:18.583+00:00The True Face of Education<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYU2MvZfko819eltgprIublfjxbi4686PnxPp3Q7lTy1l_LR_2oIt19ftUkHtob-wvnEOpfklUrbVcS3cHYY9vHf56hRZJ5jGotdmxU5YVRG0ZeZbHt0_jBKSQ4NODLnzVjRcOmJvvGNc/s1600-h/true-face-of-education.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYU2MvZfko819eltgprIublfjxbi4686PnxPp3Q7lTy1l_LR_2oIt19ftUkHtob-wvnEOpfklUrbVcS3cHYY9vHf56hRZJ5jGotdmxU5YVRG0ZeZbHt0_jBKSQ4NODLnzVjRcOmJvvGNc/s400/true-face-of-education.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422428538187814226" border="0" /></a>I had to endure a 'staff meeting' today where there was not a single item on the agenda which dealt with the education of students. The meeting consisted only of 'administrivia', 'empire building' and circular arguments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh where oh where are all the smart people in Education? </span><br /><br />Oh that's right... I do believe they buggered off before the system sapped their will to live.<br /><br />BTBThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-67848385375602026572009-12-12T05:56:00.001+00:002009-12-12T06:02:38.307+00:00Student Motivation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8URrah3ldEBDlUxsjwshL6LuDAJ7hewQYObC64m4dAYc5iNZC96LAGZ7miNbwNz3tyikI6-h828Nr5FRjvfwJTtkgqgOjb2LAmVgeymJVM8vkpxKwf65Iobpk3C2QFHCPZuOr37DYsqz/s1600-h/motivation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8URrah3ldEBDlUxsjwshL6LuDAJ7hewQYObC64m4dAYc5iNZC96LAGZ7miNbwNz3tyikI6-h828Nr5FRjvfwJTtkgqgOjb2LAmVgeymJVM8vkpxKwf65Iobpk3C2QFHCPZuOr37DYsqz/s320/motivation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414224715894711714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Being intelligent is oh so very over rated!</span><br /><br />In my younger days back at an Eton soiree I was introduced to a beautiful young woman as, 'The guy who understands Structural Functionalism'. Needless to say I didn't get lucky. <span style="font-weight: bold;">QED</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BT</span><br /><br />BTW To all those advocating Web 2.0 tools in the classroom who get upset when students are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">'off task', </span>the social will always take <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">precedent</span> over the academic!<br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-78865297602785437602009-12-08T23:18:00.001+00:002009-12-08T23:52:16.858+00:00Die Political Correctness Die!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1M6uZh9ZW_VrJvGoQbwyKqtAK8KZOdF_P0MElfKJUkXJmGXeDkMorQ8RuEOvfZKe2VaVvpjAAI9MnSQw7hDEZI8CfiNXau1RFaJ7LtJWxZ67pnskE-g77l5gWOO2PV3Sk6IDV4o_TgHs/s1600-h/retards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1M6uZh9ZW_VrJvGoQbwyKqtAK8KZOdF_P0MElfKJUkXJmGXeDkMorQ8RuEOvfZKe2VaVvpjAAI9MnSQw7hDEZI8CfiNXau1RFaJ7LtJWxZ67pnskE-g77l5gWOO2PV3Sk6IDV4o_TgHs/s320/retards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413009037389744818" border="0" /></a><br />I find the world of political correctness farcical. People of higher stations such as myself are now forbidden from speaking our minds the way God intended of an English gentlemen. It is an intolerable crime that plebes object to a man of my stature putting commoners and cripples in their place at the bottom of the social heap. I mean realistically, how can these pinko lefty do gooders expect 'authentic' or 'transparent' communication if they gag the gentry by limiting access to vocabulary. Can't they see this is social engineering?<br /><br />Bloody retards!!!<br /><br />BT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.demotivateus.com/retards-we-all-know-one-demotivater/">Photo Credit</a><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a href="http://www.motivatedphotos.com/?id=12017"></a></span>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-24354502012782037972009-11-27T00:56:00.000+00:002009-11-27T01:55:30.845+00:00Make an Example of Tautology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPyRibSQBnBsMdjdg5B1nHDx-vK6IFqXOCf71WdfYIfUYZc62oHrBcrnetiNJv-IFlc8T2HqL_pEdjv_Fh_E6LZCgPbcDYi5RrKLmMfq7dky7SRObsI5Dfu9Nd6JFZXoakmwonUOHRmvd/s1600/tautology.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPyRibSQBnBsMdjdg5B1nHDx-vK6IFqXOCf71WdfYIfUYZc62oHrBcrnetiNJv-IFlc8T2HqL_pEdjv_Fh_E6LZCgPbcDYi5RrKLmMfq7dky7SRObsI5Dfu9Nd6JFZXoakmwonUOHRmvd/s320/tautology.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408596092310608146" border="0" /></a><br />As I was putting my PIN number into one of those accursed ATM machines yesterday it struck me that I had forgotten to return back to my initial first thoughts on eliminating tautology.<br /><br />I believe teachers could eradicate the needless repetition of words wonderfully well if they put their minds to it ;-)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BT</span>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-35070612918131111442009-10-03T07:28:00.001+01:002009-10-03T07:41:44.995+01:00Bring Back A Good Thrashing for Errors in Maths<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P3-X_dw5JR2Xoy2NzllGkYVq6KR50gl9_pw_3gqmOMA_PBQc9u1yQ7mofIxxu_9DLuCAKk9sPeAk-qYZ3NGkcLLL4X8owgk5ZGoIl2cbgkNn0rCMfjvhQYxYK_Q8GWTr3gow50xTgKLV/s1600-h/maths_joke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P3-X_dw5JR2Xoy2NzllGkYVq6KR50gl9_pw_3gqmOMA_PBQc9u1yQ7mofIxxu_9DLuCAKk9sPeAk-qYZ3NGkcLLL4X8owgk5ZGoIl2cbgkNn0rCMfjvhQYxYK_Q8GWTr3gow50xTgKLV/s320/maths_joke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388257017978028338" border="0" /></a> In my day this little miscreant would have been thrashed to within an inch of his life for his reprehensible ignorance. I mean realistically, how will this degenerate<span></span> ever succeed in life without a thorough understanding of the geometry of Ancient Greece?<br /><br />BT<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-27742723932595778432009-09-17T11:17:00.000+01:002009-09-17T11:29:09.988+01:00Engagement in Learning<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7__RyDZXJZ7tNAiux80EiKDG80aRzJG2YSPwiXM-KY9ODllZd8PX-1OlAka341hMHlLgix5Le2-Qdf7yh6sMRLYlbffs-e6dgU90yh3U2zDKcdpm7KQP52DiBW-jNe1-K0f3VOCnQCbt/s1600-h/engaged_learners.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7__RyDZXJZ7tNAiux80EiKDG80aRzJG2YSPwiXM-KY9ODllZd8PX-1OlAka341hMHlLgix5Le2-Qdf7yh6sMRLYlbffs-e6dgU90yh3U2zDKcdpm7KQP52DiBW-jNe1-K0f3VOCnQCbt/s320/engaged_learners.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382378920935680578" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">(Feel free to click the image to print it out for your staffroom)</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yet again I return home from my 'Twilight Session' a little over the jargon and in need of a stiff brandy.<br /><br />Tonight's fashionable word (which was bandied about with gay abandon I might add) was 'engagement'. Well... !<span style="font-weight: bold;">@#$ engagement I say! </span>A student can be engaged in digging a hole in the ground or throwing stones through windows but doesn't mean they are learning anything. Let's see some rigor people! Let's see some <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> learning like when we were young!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hurumphhhhhhh</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BT</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-8080693988362051092009-07-10T23:02:00.000+01:002009-09-11T07:18:55.125+01:00Interactive Whiteboard Ideas<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtn09FJyr1c45bf94IBK8cKEdx4DByyScKH6JoEeoFLXCAAz6uW-Er_vhChrQtGdZ_MIGQAYVYWYYxH4CGXu-0EYVIYbajkSKBtzA5fHgp5AT1wvpIRBtsojKy9Xi5jGFLypmrngkaglx/s1600-h/gary_stager.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtn09FJyr1c45bf94IBK8cKEdx4DByyScKH6JoEeoFLXCAAz6uW-Er_vhChrQtGdZ_MIGQAYVYWYYxH4CGXu-0EYVIYbajkSKBtzA5fHgp5AT1wvpIRBtsojKy9Xi5jGFLypmrngkaglx/s320/gary_stager.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356955796506807666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(click the image for a better look)</span></span><br /><br /></div>Tonight as I cast my all seeing eye across the 'Twilight Session's' rabble it struck me that I am surrounded by a bunch of cripples.<br /><br />Now I'll be the first to admit that I have a few anger management issues<span style="font-style: italic;"> (as illustrated by that unfortunate incident with the tub of yogurt, the kitten and the Bunsen burner)</span> but sometimes we have to get angry to show our disapproval of the status quo. Alas... I digress again. Stay focused! Breathe! Breathe!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ahhhh</span>.... So tonight's <span style="font-style: italic;">'facilitator'</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(which I quietly suspect has her own issues)</span> asks in her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">condescending</span> tone...<br /><br />'So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BT</span>, what do <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> feel is the place of interactive whiteboards in 21st Century schools?'<br /><br />'Overpriced toys,' I exclaim, 'I believe they have <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO</span> place in schools what so ever!!!'<br /><br />'Thank you for sharing your novel & interesting perspective with us' she says and proceeds to ask the same question of the next cripple.<br /><br />'No...' I interject, 'I'm serious! The sooner this fad that raises the most mundane elements of curriculum to sacred cow status passes the better!'<br /><br />Not wanting to hear me out she quietly ignores me with a roll of her eyes and a flick of her hair and proceeds to tell the whole group why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">IWBs</span> are fantastic. NB Her finest point was that you can project your Powerpoint notes onto the screen and have the students copy them down while you do some marking.<br /><br />So, my loyal fans, why did she ask my opinion in the first place if once she had it she then went on to ignore it? Is this the face of twenty first century learning? Only question if the vendor says it is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ok</span>?<br /><br />Next thing you know I'm getting in touch with my inner mongrel and I just have to be heard.<br /><br />'I hear what you are saying Ms Facilitator <span style="font-style: italic;"> (I feel so cheap for using here <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">flaccid</span> words)</span> but if I asked you which one of these does not belong? Constructivism? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Vygotski</span>? or Interactive Whiteboards? Which one would you pick?'<br /><br />She laughed knowingly and continued on her merry way. She had no idea what I was alluding to.<br /><br />Cripples!!! I'm surrounded by <span style="font-weight: bold;">CRIPPLES</span>!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BT</span><br /><br />PS Sincere thanks to that other, 'voice in the wilderness' <a href="http://stager.tv/blog/?p=493">Gary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Stager</span></a> for being such a good sport about me including his wonderful quote in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">this</span> little opinion piece. Hip hip hurrah!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-68452621312374682662009-08-07T11:21:00.000+01:002009-08-07T11:58:05.119+01:00Income Protection & Mr Molotov<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ARQ5TpOMVQis02m8C0SYyXPmyfJMbDLBH2DZKvUyFghLCv9F1Of3ZFwurv1iut-OHzFsbgkiOpQS6fucrMeU_aeyQrXo2fMzApj17Y77-EEv3GA4yRU0fLTGJv0-uVKa7BOhUXv3v-ZO/s1600-h/revenge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ARQ5TpOMVQis02m8C0SYyXPmyfJMbDLBH2DZKvUyFghLCv9F1Of3ZFwurv1iut-OHzFsbgkiOpQS6fucrMeU_aeyQrXo2fMzApj17Y77-EEv3GA4yRU0fLTGJv0-uVKa7BOhUXv3v-ZO/s400/revenge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367172156832896546" border="0" /></a>Let's just say in these uncertain financial times unscrupulous people will try to take advantage of you under the guise of 'economic' <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">necessity</span>. In 'normal' times these people would have a snow flake's chance of 'making you redundant' but today it is a different story. So if you haven't already, secure some income protection and then take a leaf out of Father's good friend Vyacheslav<b> </b>Molotov's book <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">and embrace cocktails</span>.BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-76244139094809917352009-08-02T09:06:00.000+01:002009-08-03T22:51:39.100+01:00The 't' in 'often'<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFuZ3eTeoRnkiMlyqWqMUXYlsl9O6waU42EgFRJDKCO05iCNzdN8qlFFCX4ZVz6WL5O8P13_Thgkg79ObF0dl9v-eMTWPZCrUl4hGrP0JCK8CUHp-irjM-Oe1Gt8waXHX3P-d6mTyke1B/s1600-h/pronunciation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFuZ3eTeoRnkiMlyqWqMUXYlsl9O6waU42EgFRJDKCO05iCNzdN8qlFFCX4ZVz6WL5O8P13_Thgkg79ObF0dl9v-eMTWPZCrUl4hGrP0JCK8CUHp-irjM-Oe1Gt8waXHX3P-d6mTyke1B/s400/pronunciation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365278255491365442" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Now I'm all for the provincials holding on to their quaint working class grammar as it makes it so much easier to distinguish between us and them. However, my educated ear cannot abide those in the aspirational classes who insist on pronouncing the <span style="font-style: italic;">'t'</span> in 'often'.<br /><br />As Father's good friend H.W. Fowler wrote in the 1920s, 'The sounding of the <span style="font-style: italic;">t</span> is practised by two oddly consorted classes - the academic speakers who affect a more precise enunciation than their neighbours... & the uneasy half-literates who like to prove they can spell...'<br /><br />Life your game people!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-11881363586708533832009-07-01T07:06:00.001+01:002009-07-01T07:34:26.130+01:00'An' Authority Vs 'In' Authority<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGFwmFzjXQp03fa0Rx5IxTCFTZD1MdolIQCHwpR99t91MdJfeqlpvOe_lGWooantzbTy-wOTjvaNkPuWp4TbRKJEtSf638grwJXCORUPL1gu6YAZNAHdXwkdMG-2Id8VJV46rljILlPnr/s1600-h/authority.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGFwmFzjXQp03fa0Rx5IxTCFTZD1MdolIQCHwpR99t91MdJfeqlpvOe_lGWooantzbTy-wOTjvaNkPuWp4TbRKJEtSf638grwJXCORUPL1gu6YAZNAHdXwkdMG-2Id8VJV46rljILlPnr/s320/authority.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353369494507240258" border="0" /></a>Yesterday I received an absolute tirade of an email accusing my fine self of, 'having a problem with authority'. What a load of bollocks!!! My problem lies with people who are in positions of 'authority' but are NOT actually 'authorities' in the field.<br /><br />Let's take for instance the rugby player who at the end of his career goes on to become a Physical Education teacher. He then climbs the executive ladder by jumping through all the right hoops and kissing all the right butts so that by the age of thirty-seven he becomes the principal of a rather large private school. Yes the lad is in a position of 'authority' yet is not 'an authority' in anything other than the skills of rugby. Not curriculum. Not leadership. Not management. Not pedagogy. Not staff relationships.... and the list can go on & on.<br /><br />So the next time you find yourself saying, <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">'Management just DON'T get it!'</span> take a look at the path they took to their position of authority and you will soon understand why. It is not rocket science people!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-47824637121002148102009-06-30T00:57:00.000+01:002009-06-30T06:28:53.975+01:00Micromanage this Baby!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHf5MYVBTFZJfrb_cwt6uLvRh_vTTXu2cdpAkyGXnimDQPgwodUEGKv1rVId6wC-u0EmSD6QHHOCKZvnoXVE_IFO5AO65l-7Xr9a-hlu5V470I-BuNvqF9ses882IfcWQWUkvjJgy_olB/s1600-h/micromanagement.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHf5MYVBTFZJfrb_cwt6uLvRh_vTTXu2cdpAkyGXnimDQPgwodUEGKv1rVId6wC-u0EmSD6QHHOCKZvnoXVE_IFO5AO65l-7Xr9a-hlu5V470I-BuNvqF9ses882IfcWQWUkvjJgy_olB/s320/micromanagement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352905427263673666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Micromanaging principals & executives are like pythons who slowly suffocate their victims. They gradually suck the will to live from their staff and leave them discontent, depressed, unwilling to take initiative, sapped of creativity, frustrated, unable to sleep, reliant on alcohol & completely burnt out. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is an example from a friend who attends the same 'back to work' program as I do. She is a little stressed, to say the least, as a result of working in such a toxic workplace.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >It is almost the end of term. Student reports have been handed back for rewriting, teaching programs and registers are due (each minute of the day is to be accounted for, each page to be submitted in a plastic sleeve and decorations to be in watercolor pencil only), projected budgets for 2012 are due, the sports carnival software has crashed without a backup, the school concert is in two weeks and her illustrious leader has just set out an email demanding a database for how the students would like their fundraiser <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hot dogs</span>... White roll? whole meal? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gluten</span> free? margarine? butter? mustard? ketchup? pickle relish? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cole</span>slaw? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sauerkraut</span>? onion? mayonnaise? lettuce? tomato? cheese? chili peppers? or any combination of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">afore</span>mentioned!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Needless to say, staff morale is at an all time low. Many people are considering leaving and children are not being educated to the best of the teachers' ability as they deal with petty obsessions and administrivia. School has become a boring and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">unstimulating</span> place for the teachers as well as the students.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">So what can we do?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">According to the literature the best way to deal with this type of person is to see them as an escaped psychiatric patient. Then join a gym, eat out, skydive, minimize the amount of time you spend at school, go swimming, watch a movie, go for a long walk and ask yourself, 'What am I doing to look after my mental health and well being in this environment?'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My answer in a nutshell is..."MICROMANAGE THIS BABY!!!"</span><br /><br />BT<br /><br />PS If you click on the image I've made it big enough for desktop wallpaper :-)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-86461095580500182842009-06-24T08:44:00.000+01:002009-06-24T09:40:02.836+01:00Inspired Leadership<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8FgHHEIKrA1e-mdlPsccO-tcH7veSvjLYpB7r-tAxn8cSnTcstObZ8kh2MDTmbkhaI1NV-LaWW_Gk6LXK6vJGUVMYIA2uiAbncE6W71YkaTPUnYLX7aYZ0gU7UnufmO3brJyeWbx3Y9e/s1600-h/our-past.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350807493550806850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8FgHHEIKrA1e-mdlPsccO-tcH7veSvjLYpB7r-tAxn8cSnTcstObZ8kh2MDTmbkhaI1NV-LaWW_Gk6LXK6vJGUVMYIA2uiAbncE6W71YkaTPUnYLX7aYZ0gU7UnufmO3brJyeWbx3Y9e/s320/our-past.jpg" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">At tonight's 'twilight session' yet another flavour of the month, fly by night, 'educational guru' shared the priceless catch cry, <strong>'We are preparing them for their future not our past'</strong> on her interactive whiteboard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Have you ever heard such drivel?</span></strong> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This misinformed pseudo intellectual needs to take a leaf from the inspired leadership of a school in my local district. In this 'cutting edge' school the children are forbidden from logging into the computer system until they are in Year 3. This visionary policy ensures the, 'little vessels' have ample time to be 'filled' with all the skills that will equip them to experience success in the schooling system. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The little inhereters of the world can: work through their phonics colouring books, learn their sums, complete title pages, learn to use bubble writing, master glitter pens, colour in the lines and leave no white spaces, line up outside the classroom, march into class single file, put their hands up to answer questions and learn that their is no place in true education system for individualism or critical thinking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">As I drove the Bentley home tonight passed the bus stops where the plebs were waiting for public transport, I arrived at the conclusion that these 'education gurus' are of the opinion that education' is something more than a sorting mechanism for society. <strong>WAKE UP PEOPLE! It is not!</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">We <strong>MUST</strong> perpetuate the status quo in the schooling system so we can ensure adequate supply of CEOs, lawyers, kitchen hands and garbage workers. If we actually 'educated' the masses, people would realise that what we call 'democracy' is merely a facade and on a more serious note, there would not be enough Pimms or brioche to go around!<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Sincerely </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The Bolshie Teacher </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">PS Do you think I use 'inverted commas' a little too freely?</span></p>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-8100946394683976132009-06-15T09:50:00.001+01:002009-06-15T10:24:21.177+01:00Staff Morale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDGR3s66GEQ6kskvU6Y0nZDyCotAhvqb4k8rX48JNB5n5bxdn5pkvAf2oaoHQZfcJadPf0owihX7-4h-dBVa-G3ZVbqNubtmLGCosQh8zHboljVpMkkuKdAOKL3CM44BSwTFrnKGxbYPy/s1600-h/beatings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDGR3s66GEQ6kskvU6Y0nZDyCotAhvqb4k8rX48JNB5n5bxdn5pkvAf2oaoHQZfcJadPf0owihX7-4h-dBVa-G3ZVbqNubtmLGCosQh8zHboljVpMkkuKdAOKL3CM44BSwTFrnKGxbYPy/s320/beatings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347474333629058626" border="0" /></a>You know I'm all for having Saturday detention for the miscrents who constantly have their shirts untucked as well as for those who fail to hand in homework on time. I'm also all for failing students who do not achieve a minimum 85% on their exams or fail to put adequate effort into their Latin assignments. The students need these incentives to serve as a reminder that the real world does not tolerate failure.<br /><br />Teachers on the other hand have 'done their time'! It is a completely different kettle of fish if we don't have time to explore a new piece of software or 'do group work'. When will the executive learn that I get great results in the standardised tests so I don't need to change any part of my teaching practise. Besides, all my lesson plans are laminated and have been for 25 years.BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-57992302189529441542009-06-07T09:32:00.000+01:002009-06-15T09:20:51.290+01:00Team Meetings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfe32m5SOUiIRPWEMMNx8Kfm5Tg1DKbkv4OzNvkfeK1kCrbpjxx1jR44kY1msbPW7kpotq6L0jRHPPIT1oNekKszHfcSiE74ge0hmGAUKQMIxRCNc54SazvVTHSVfIYNasmRXKBwQbcrH/s1600-h/rome.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfe32m5SOUiIRPWEMMNx8Kfm5Tg1DKbkv4OzNvkfeK1kCrbpjxx1jR44kY1msbPW7kpotq6L0jRHPPIT1oNekKszHfcSiE74ge0hmGAUKQMIxRCNc54SazvVTHSVfIYNasmRXKBwQbcrH/s320/rome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344501121000438562" border="0" /></a><br />'Rome did not create a great empire by having team meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh God I hate 'team meetings'!!!</span><br /><br />BTBThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-33512438648803188302009-06-13T23:49:00.000+01:002009-06-14T08:13:08.517+01:00Succeed Despite Management<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFD5ItcguDD8Yg2BmNVTvOx3_H7Wn6T8lbQ1aKcnMJubdXGdoWgwgGUqtj0CADpVEGQTKylFEGcKfuDevc5z3h20RZGfFH0HvV5qKWB9Z37wKHBm4e2JRn2EkDYmGRQvWOToczbdNx_5Bs/s1600-h/learn_to_succeed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFD5ItcguDD8Yg2BmNVTvOx3_H7Wn6T8lbQ1aKcnMJubdXGdoWgwgGUqtj0CADpVEGQTKylFEGcKfuDevc5z3h20RZGfFH0HvV5qKWB9Z37wKHBm4e2JRn2EkDYmGRQvWOToczbdNx_5Bs/s320/learn_to_succeed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346948528254064978" border="0" /></a>The core business of schools is to educate children. Anything that keeps people from doing this task is 'one step removed' from the core business of the school. So once management <span style="font-style: italic;">(notice I refrain from calling it leadership)</span> start: renaming departments, restructuring, writing vision statements, holding workshops on school marketing and any other form of 'administriva' then they are neglecting their core business!<br /><br />Try taking the agenda of your next staff meeting and put a dot next to any item that is not associated with educating children. Next, put another dot next to any item that could have been achieved with a memo or email.<br /><br />What can we learn from the above activity? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn to succeed despite management!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-3439803771404224102009-06-11T08:38:00.001+01:002009-06-11T09:14:29.525+01:00Butchers Paper & my Inner ADHD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgnBOe9Gtq_2PSg1EgPLmSkEevEGb83SN4l-JyYj6TLwNT0xOSxmSkKJpjnlIE8CMjz6QX_Flo8CkjdbLe7BnmJbDXkih3pqLn2M98_X9Cstrt6QcuGASITXkXmG-6NF0pkrbQ_GGBTgZ/s1600-h/butchers_paper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgnBOe9Gtq_2PSg1EgPLmSkEevEGb83SN4l-JyYj6TLwNT0xOSxmSkKJpjnlIE8CMjz6QX_Flo8CkjdbLe7BnmJbDXkih3pqLn2M98_X9Cstrt6QcuGASITXkXmG-6NF0pkrbQ_GGBTgZ/s320/butchers_paper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345971425469908226" border="0" /></a>As part of the 'back to work' program I'm on, I have to attend quiet a few 'twilight professional development sessions'. And let me just say that the methods they use are enough to have the little woman pour me a contreau or four so I can bare it.<br /><br />Once seated I have learned to 'phase out' when the presenters use words like: pedagogy, metacognition & 21st Century Skillset however the one thing I cannot abide is the butchers' paper! I have come to abhor it! NOTHING gets me more in touch with my inner ADHD than arriving fashionably late to see 'groups' of people 'scribing' their inane ideas onto large sheets of paper and then 'sharing'. I mean realistically... my school have paid for me to learn from experts! I do not want to explore the thoughts of common people! Especially when the best the activity can possibly achieve is the intellect of the smartest person in the room.<br /><br />Please use the technology to find out what others who matter think and spare me the facade of you caring what I think!<br /><br />BTBThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4150107271094659878.post-51560667785962866042009-05-15T12:16:00.000+01:002009-05-15T12:21:29.306+01:00You Want Me to What?Look young man, I have no intention of blogging! I haven't got time! I've got to get through the text book by the end of the year.<br /><br />BTBThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16509384395249620016noreply@blogger.com0