The Telegraph (yesterday) and the Sunday Times today are both running stories on Ms Birbalsingh’s departure (sacking) from St Michael and All Angels Academy after she had spoken out against ‘low standards and expecting the very least from the poor and disadvantaged’ at the Conservative Party conference a few weeks ago.Despite being given permission to… Continue reading Ms Birbalsingh departs
This one’s not about literacy but it’s certainly worth a comment. Yesterday’s Guardian newspaper has picked up on a report entitled ‘We’re trying to restore our kids’ freedom’ from the Sunday Times (04/07/2010) about a school in Dulwich, south London, which is threatening to report a couple to children’s services because they allow their two… Continue reading School stops child cyclists
After spending a huge amount of time training teachers and teaching on a children’s literature course for the OU, I’m back.The Sunday Times (27 06 10) and the Telegraph yesterday reported the chairman of BT Sir Mike Rake as saying that around a quarter of applicants (six out of twenty-six thousand applicants) for places on… Continue reading Illiteracy – the blight on the UK economy.
In the year’s last issue of the Sunday Times, Minette Marrin has some timely advice for us. Did I say, ‘for us’? I meant ‘on our behalf’. It addresses a number of important issues – get out of Afghanistan and Iraq – and a variety of people: to Peter Mandelson – ‘Stop talking’; to Harriet… Continue reading Above all, do no harm. And, if you are a primary teacher, teach the children to read!