-
The explorer, Katherine Rundell
“What if I crash?” said Fred. “You will have to refrain from doing so.” “You have not, I noticed, said you won’t. You have only said that you can’t. I say you can.” “I’m scared, alright?” said Fred. “Then you will make the decision to steer towards fear. I think you can. I think you…
-
Panic over youth disorder is nothing new
Hooligans first described in 1898, when hundreds ended up in court on charges of drunkenness after an English August bank holiday weekend. “Manners of children are deteriorating,” said the magistrate for Brighton. The original hooligan “dress code” was donkey fringe, bell bottom trousers, neck scarves – every generation needs its style. In the 20s and…
-
Creativity
Not just originality – needs to be task appropriate. 4 levels – mini C is interpretive, the first stage of working something out for yourself, little C is everyday, introducing your own spin on it, Pro C is expert, the work of someone who is skilled and practiced, Big C is legendary, where a radical new idea is produced. You…
-
Polar lands
Winter animals Warning – before you begin reading. In this book you will find animals who live around the South pole and the North pole of our Earth. They do like sun, but they only ever get a luke warm one.The kind that makes the hairs on your skin stand on end. So: if…
-
Chinese parenting in the UK
Although the influence of Confucian values has waned in recent years, certain values such as clearly defined gender roles, responsibilities and obligations of the individual, children’s deference to parental authority, as well as reverence and respect for fathers still exerted a considerable influence on contemporary British Chinese parenting beliefs. However in contrast to parents’ childhoods,…
-
Character vs Intellect
Martin Seligman and Paul Tough have written about how “success” is often as much a product of optimism, grit, curiosity, conscientiousness etc as it is of cognitive ability. Measures of self-control can be better predictors of grades than IQ. A short list includes zest, grit, self-control, social intelligence, gratitude, optimism and curiosity (Duckworth). Some schools have…
-
Bribing your kids
Rewards undermine kids’ intrinsic interest in an activity by convincing them that they are doing it for the reward and not becase the task is enjoyable in itself. Better to offer incentives strong enough to get children to perform the desired activity, but not so strong that they see the rewards as the only reason…
-
Concerted cultivation
“A child that has been concertedly cultivated will often express greater social prowess in social situations involving formality or structure, attributed to their increased experience and engagement in organized clubs, sports, musical groups as well as increased experience with adults and power structure. “While this pattern of child rearing holds no innate positive qualities, it has…
-
Neds rule
Neds (self identified) more widespread than might be expected for what is usually a perjorative term. In fact, often perceive themselves as popular and respected in schools! Disengagement from education is more important than class – middle class Neds not uncommon! Although minority groups may reclaim perjorative term eg queer, negro as a means of…