Oh dear, I seem to be in the midst of a bit of things-aren’t-what-they-used-to-be grump. Not regarding the current political omnishambles (or rather, I have plenty to say about that too, but I’m not going to put you through it just at the moment). But about a concept that I
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. And I want to begin with a question. How would you define ‘education’? Think about it for a moment, and jot down some stuff. Done that? Good. Next question. What would you therefore define as ‘educational’? I’m thinking activities, projects, participatory things, events
One of the great delights of working in so many different roles, in combination with reading a completely all-over-the-place, whatever-comes-off-the-shelf-first sort of collection of books, is that sometimes connections emerge between multiple strands of my activities and leisure reading which make for rather interesting alignments. This week has most definitely
After a couple of months of relatively regular driving (well, at least a few times a week, depending on how much time I’m actually at home), I reached a sort of milestone this weekend. Whilst I’ve been happily pottering to and from the supermarket without much trouble, this weekend marked
Last week, the psychologist and author Steven Pinker published a lengthy article in The Chronicle of Higher Education called ‘The Intellectual War on Science’. In it, he discusses at some length the vilification of science in the popular press, and indeed in university training (he’s primarily talking about the USA,
It’s halfway through January, the sky is grey and decidedly damp, and after a wonderful week on holiday, I’m now back at work. And rather enjoying being in the thick of it, I must say. But there was one thing about my holiday that I feel I must share with
A few days ago, a friend directed me to a fascinating article on the ever thought-provoking Aeon magazine site, about stupidity at work. Not the sit-on-the-photocopier-with-your-pants-down kind of stupidity – nor indeed the stupidity of getting something catastrophically wrong and landing your superiors in hot water. This is about the
For centuries, and for a host of different reasons, it has been traditional practice in many countries for a new bride to be carried over the threshold of her new home by her husband. Whether a symbol of ownership, avoiding bad spirits, or the public marking of a new life
It’s taken me a while to write this piece. Don’t think, from my radio silence on the subject, that I haven’t been thinking a lot about the various debates, campaigns and speeches that have emerged for and against the so-called EBacc (English Baccalaureate). But there’s a lot to read, a
Anyone who has ever organised an event will know that, however carefully and lovingly you plan it, someone will complain about something. You might have booked one of the greatest living artists to give a concert; or found the ideal combination of teachers for a course; even taken the time
