Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe
13 February 2025
Post
14 October 2009
4 minute(s) read
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Took my English class to the Globe a few weeks ago. They had a great time, and learned a lot. The renovation has been a terrific success
My vote goes to the plan to get parents and teachers out of cars. I live in North London, not far from you, and the traffic jams of bloody Volvos and 4 by 4s around Hampstead at schooltimes morning and early evening are awful. Why can’t their little darlings walk or get a bus? I know it is harder in rural areas but there is no excuse in big cities like London. We are going to have to give up our addiction to the motor car some time soon.
‘believe you can and you’re half way there’ — like it. So did Obama! Yes he did!!
I 99.9% of the time agree with you Alastair, but just a point, and one to Patsy too about teachers in cars. As one, I always lived out of the area of any school I have taught at, and frequently started my days by 7.30 am and finished frequently after 5. This would mean I would have to used public transport, in the dark, for a journey which would take over an hour, whereas in my car I am safre and the journey is shorter. Plus I could carry my crate – yes -crate of marking home in a much more comfortable way!
What about lots of teachers who have children? Quite often they have to use the services of a child minder so they can arrive at school in time to receive everyone else children! Using public transport would make this impossible.
I am a big supporter of cutting down cars around schools, especially primary schools as the pupils tend to live nearer, but give the teachers a little bit of a break here!!
Alastair-I do believe that there is an inherent contradiction in your attack on Andrew Marr for asking whether there was truth in rumours that the PM was suffering from a mental health problems AND your support last night at N0 10 for a mental health charity. On the one hand you feel mental health should be disccussed on a level with physical health, but then you decry a journalist asking a perfectly valid question about mental health. Where is the logic? Surely the real crime was that the journalist had to use the word “painkiller” rather than”anti-depressant”. As you have often stated, mental health should be talked about openly and confronted head on. So let journalists do their job.
Isn’t there a danger that the “freedom” brigade, who are so fond of misinterpreting Eric Arthur Blair’s fiction, claim that this is just part of an Orwellian plot to get children to do the state’s evil work?!
Hi Alastair
Yes,it is always always always great to come into contact with our young – especially on a productive day like you just enjoyed. I have been taking out son to university open days and these are often managed by student volunteers. They are great, enthusiastic and knowledgable young people and makes me feel the world is in safe hands.
By the way,can I say don’t like it when people are using the’ post a comment’ on one of your blogs to comment on a previous blog. I am sure i am not the only one who thinks of something later but that moment has passed an you are on a new subject now so let’s start over each time. The mental health question from Andrew Marr was on a previous blog and has nothing to do with this blog about your wonderful day,and thank you for investing your time,at the Globe.
best wishes
gary (and Son!)
Hi,
I’ve just read your blog on ‘inspired by kid’s green passion’….I would really like to know why our children are no longer taught traditional crafts within the school curriculum. What used to be called. Woodwork. Needlework. Metalwork etc now all comes under the heading of DTI…because it’s no longer PC to discriminate among the sexes..Can I just say that in my experience…boys will be boys and girls will be girls and the girls are about as interested in metalwork as the boys are in knitting…totally zero… causing chaos within the classroom…..I’m a knitwear designer…next year will be 40 years in the fashion industry as a designer/ lecturer in fashion..currently designing and writing baby patterns for for the UK Handknitting association..who in turn are trying to promote hand knitting back into schools (unsuccessfully due to health and safety legislation….. boys & knitting needles…lethal weapon)…possibly the most eco friendly and eco productive occupation (no machinery, electricity etc involved)I occasionally teach textiles in schools to 14 year old boys who have absolutley no desire to learn how to sew (why should they)..Can we not teach our children the skills they need to survive………Boys need to bash things…girls need to make things.
Would like to hear your thoughts