On the 15th June
2014 I wrote a blog named Swimming against the tide. This is an extract from
it:
“I decided I wanted my
children to understand the importance of struggle, of community, of what is
right and wrong and most of all about respect. Most days I am swimming against
the tide but nevertheless I still swim. I still swim because I would like my boys
to be strong individual men that respect themselves and have respect for all
others. I hope their greatest attributes will be respect, honesty,
integrity, justice, decent morals and tolerance. Just imagine what sort of a
world we would have then. If you don’t invest the time in children, how on
earth can you expect them to turn into decent human beings? I can’t be doing
too bad a job when my son is giving my advice out and asking if I would help
his friends if they need it!!” (full blog here).
For too many years I have
received criticism for the way I have raised the boys, but I knew my plan and I
was sticking to it, not out of arrogance but because I knew that my way of
raising them would allow them to develop their own skills in many areas they
need to have a successful life. These skills include communication, problem
solving and the key skill of all critical analysis. I have taught them politics
from any early age… all spectrums…for them to be armed with the tools to think
for themselves and not be easily influenced by ignorance and bigotry. They can
make their own minds up and if they make a mistake they have problem solving
skills to put things right. Despite the criticism, it has been the best thing I
have ever done… by a mile. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not a perfect parent and
often gets things wrong. I do, however, own my mistakes, admit to the boys when
I am wrong and apologise to them. They know we are all only human and all make
mistakes.
I am so pleased I stood my
ground because these invaluable skills are being denied to our children in the English
school system. The World Economic Forum,
UNESCO and OECD have all published reports into what skills our children will
need to be successful in the changing world of work. These are:
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
- Agility and adaptability
- Initiative and entrepreneurialism
- Effective oral and written communication
- Accessing and analysing information
- Curiosity and imagination.
Yet, the English education
system, under the Tories, has been turned into an examination factory where the
only concern is to teach children to pass examinations. The system is sucking
the life, the imagination, the creativity and independent thinking out of our
children. Teachers are powerless to prevent it. This is solely down to this
horrendous Government. You would have thought; the Education policy would
centre around these seven essential skills. The reality is, it is having the
opposite effect on our children. Add to that the draconian disciplinary regimes
and we are heading for a generation of adults who have had opinions oppressed
and been denied a voice on top of being denied the skills required to succeed
in a changing world. It is time we faced up to it… Education is NOT educating
our children.
Changes in the Computer
Science curriculum and the withdrawal of ICT this year will result in some of
our children not being provided with any digital skills. This is a subject very
close to my heart and I am furious the Government refuse to address the skills
deficit. There are pockets of good practice, but this is outweighed by the vast
number of children being deprived of essential skills training. WE SHOULD ALL
BE CONCERNED.
Therefore, my PhD is so important
to me. It focuses on the delivery of Computer Science in the secondary schools.
I believe our children deserve so much better than is being delivered but the
system requires a radical change including substantial investment. I am doing
my bit. We need a Government committed to providing skills for our children to
truly succeed in life.
Writing
Today I finally submitted
the manuscript of Beyond the Lies to the publishers. I apologise to everyone
who is waiting for it but in true self-doubt style, I can not submit it until I
am 99.9999% happy with it. I’ll keep you updated.
Meniere’s Disease
Finally, an update on the dreaded
M word… Meniere’s of course. Last week, during the storm, was horrendous. I
lost four days to vertigo, sickness, tinnitus and the dreaded brain fog. Today,
I still have the same symptoms, but they are bearable although the boys have
laughed at me mixing my words up… I’m sure Yoda was based upon a Meniere’s
sufferer.
Have a fun week. I intend
to. I am fighting and will continue to fight. Keep the faith
Much love
