A pupil asked me last week what changes I would make to the education system if I had the power to reform it. First I need to express just how thrilled I was that he had asked the question in the first place. It means that not only has he been allowed to develop critical... Continue Reading →
On Humility
Some of those who know me well may see the irony in the fact that I am choosing to write a post on humility. Still, I think humility is a much underrated virtue, and one that seems largely to have been lost in the modern world, where it is misconstrued as weakness. Because capitalist society... Continue Reading →
The Necessity Of Leaving Room For Doubt
One of my pupils recently asked me to list my ten favourite books. It is an unfair question to ask an English teacher. I have read literally thousands of books and to ask me to narrow the list down to a mere ten seems a tad cruel. And what criteria should I use to make... Continue Reading →
Making Our Children More Human
Our country is facing a real crisis of leadership. It seems that nowadays leaders refuse to take responsibility for their actions; there is little remorse shown when they are caught engaging in morally dubious behaviour, and instead find ways to justify themselves and blame others. And it is not just a political predicament either. Our... Continue Reading →
Why I teach
When people find out that I am a teacher, they often look at me in the way one would look at somebody who had just confessed to being a substance abuser - vaguely distrustful, slightly embarrassed for having asked, and possibly possessing a morbid curiosity about what on earth it was that compelled me to... Continue Reading →
Unlearning – Part 1
You can lead a man to knowledge, but you cannot make him think. Every teacher eventually learns the truth of this. Those who can survive this revelation and still find a sense of purpose in what they do, often manage to stay in teaching. Many others drop out when they realise the futility of much... Continue Reading →
Just my opinion
There is a disturbing trend developing in society. When confronted with a logically superior argument, one simply has to say: “Well, that’s my opinion.” The idea is that these simple words trump all other arguments. They entirely dismiss years of experience in the field, they disdainfully disregard relevant learning, they have the power to override... Continue Reading →
Teaching for Transformation
I became a teacher because I wanted to change the world. I'm not so different from most other teachers in that regard. Where I am different, though, is that the burning desire to "make a difference" has become a lot less nebulous for me over time. I think for too many educators that desire gets... Continue Reading →
Vapors In The Wind 