'The Country is us'

Paris, France (Pictured).

The people of France don't appear to be giving their permission for their pension age to be raised. This may be a lesson to us all in democracy and the balance of power.

Demonstration 10th November

As 3 million French citizens demonstrated against austerity measures and pension reform at the weekend, teachers, students and lecturers unions are organising a march to protest against cuts to the University sector and measures on student fees in the U.K. It will be in London on November 10th. Students and lecturers will march together.

Rory Kinnear as Hamlet

Rory Kinnear is one of the best Hamlets I have seen (pictured). Hamlet is playing at the National Theatre and goes on tour after that. Similar to Mark Rylance's 1980s RSC Hamlet in some ways, I thought. Hamlet is a very likable fellow in both. He is also, like Rylance's, very funny at times. The soliloquies by Hamlet are breath-taking in this production, quite astonishing - Kinnear is outstanding.

The show is in modern dress and the director suggests that Ophelia is murdered in this version. Not sure about that, but it fits with the kind of political system that this production depicts. Go and see it.

Mina

I'm reading David Almond's new book. Mina, the main character, is 'home-schooled' because of an incident at her school over a SATs test. There is a disturbing section in the book that describes this incident. Although there is plenty of humour in this section, it is also depicts the tragedy of the demise of a great profession.

From the opening, the prominent theme of the book is clear: the disjunction between childhood imagination and the crushing nature of modern education, with its prescription and reductionist approach to learning and assessment.

Here is a passage:

'When I was at school - at St Bede's Middle - I was told by my teacher Mrs Scullery that I should not write anything until I had planned what I would write. What nonsense!

Do I plan a sentence before I speak it?

OF COURSE I DO NOT!

Does a bird plan its song before it sings?

OF COURSE IT DOES NOT!

It opens its beak and it

SINGS SO I WILL SING!

Almond speaks through Mina's writing in her journal. It's an interesting book for children which, amongst other things, reveals Almond's beliefs about childhood, the imagination and education.

New Article in 'Power and Education'

I have a new article published in the Journal 'Power and Education' called 'Class-Consciousness,Power, Identity and the Motivation to Teach'. You can find it here:http://www.wwwords.co.uk/power/content/pdfs/2/issue2_2.asp Volume 2 No. 2 2010

The Future

Michael Gove gave his speech today in Birmingham at the Conservative Party Conference. He said he was passionate about his determination to improve the education of the poorest in the country.

Before he took to the podium Dan Moynihan spoke for Harris Academies (schools sponsored by Lord Harris). He criticised Local Education Authorities for their 'poverty of ambition' and announced that there would be another 20 Harris Academies starting in the near future. He spoke of the 'freedom' they had found from being released from the grip of local authority control. Patricia Sowter a Head from a Primary Academy, called the Cuckoo Hall Primary, also spoke of her school's success without Local authority control. Both declared themselves accountable to parents and the children. Patricia said that the schools could 'define our own future and control'. 'Freedom' from local authority was central to all these people's thesis on why they were successful.

A few questions to consider:

Why should local authorities have this 'poverty of ambition' compared to those working in the schools? Is there something intrinsic to local authorities that makes them unhelpful in supporting schools?

Is accountability to central government, sponsors, parents and children of the schools enough?

Should there be a wider local democracy that involves the democratic vote for control and support of schools which, after all, is the basis for the establishment of local authorities?

What is the nature of the accountability that these speakers claim they have to parents and children?

Discuss

David Almond's new book

David Almond has a new book out. It's called 'My name is Mina'. He talks about it here: http://www.writeaway.org.uk/content/interview-david-almond

Looks good