Ceilidh
I'm a busy grandmother with 5 grandkids to love and spoil.
My working life was as a teacher. I trained in Northern Ireland. Now i work with teachers.
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Ceilidh ∙ 24 weeks ago
Hey Ho, Another day of traffic jams.
Can't believe the victims of phone hacking will not have at least some hint of improvement following Leverson.!
I know free speech is important, but I do remember the power of the investigation into Watergate by two journalists. They investigated properly. It's the publishing of gossip and innuendo without any journalistic investigation that has disgraced our papers.
Just look at how they're lionising David Cameron. They think he's on their side...is he?
Ceilidh ∙ 25 weeks ago
I'm feeling really low. I have no objection to high standards in education. I've fought all my working life for them, usually in challenging circumstances. I agree completely with all those asking for the best for our children. So why the felling of despair that's eating away at me?
I don't believe that standards will raise unless the teaching profession feels valued.
Having just read an article on why Finnish education is so good, according to international comparisons, I,ve noted the following
1) Finnish teachers are trusted to do the best for the children in their care - different to the route successive governments have taken us.
2) One comment in the article said, 'If you only measure the statistics, you miss the human aspect' Timo Heikkenen. yet we are result, not child driven!
3) There are no mandated national tests in Finland - we seem to live and die by them
4) Education in Finland is run by educators, not business people, military men or career politicains - how I yearn for a secretary of state who has taught children and understands the process.
5) Another quote, 'Equality is the most important word in Finnish education' Yet here the disparity grows ever wider.
6) A quote from Finland's Minister of Education: 'We prepare children to learn how to learn, not how to take a test.' How I wish that's the way we felt as I watch year after year while the curriculum grows narrower and narrower, and child after child has to sit interminable practice tests. Where are the real champions of what our children need to learn?
7) Homework is minimal - wow wouldn't that make a change here
8) Pupils have the option to sit a district wide exam in grade six. results are NOT publicised. Wow
9) Although pre school, play orientated, is available earlier pupils don't have to start school until they are 7. What a difference!
10) Inspections stopped in the early 90s. Accountability and inspection was turned over to teachers. A quote from the article: 'We have our own motivation to succeed beacuse we love the work.' Now where have I heard that before? Oh I remember. It was a younger me sharing my passion for a job I lved with my family. That passion gets harder and harder to find
So reader you can see why the despair. By every measure OFSTED and the DFE use to improve our schools system we should surely out perform Finland. Nothing could be further from the truth. So... just one simple question: Who's got it wrong?
Ceilidh ∙ 25 weeks ago
Just one of those days; heavy rain and roads full of potholes. Whydo we bother?
Ceilidh ∙ 30 weeks ago
Have had a busy weekend finishing work on some courses I'm writing.
Saw my grandchildren over the lastb few days. The younger ones are growing so quickly I'm sure their mum stands them in grow bags. I'm hoping to take three of them to Ireland at Easter to see their Great Nan. It should be a great time.
We had a lovely time in Ireland earlier this month. Good company, great food, fabulous weather and the most fantastic wildlife. Even better was a white cat with bi coloured eyes who made himself totally at home and I have a wonderful snap of him trying to get at Dave's salmon.
I really must get in the habit of posting more regularly.
Ceilidh ∙ 37 weeks ago
just watched David weir in the 1500 race. What a star. He raced brilliantly and intelligently. Go Team GB and NI
Ceilidh ∙ 4 Apr, 12
Wonderful sunshine - it really lifts the spirit. Or maybe it's the fact that I don't have to drive on Essex roads for the next two weeks. I'm enjoying driving less and less. I think that is because there are so many idiots out there behind the wheels of their cars. I just want to say to them - If you're in a hurry leave earlier and don't put yourself and everyone else at risk of an accident. It's not worth it.
Just some of the idiocies I've witnessed recently. A foggy morning on the 414 on my way to Harlow... grey cars with no lights on, or was it the dirty white van stopped just round a blind bend! Every day at least once a car pulls out of a side road forcing me to brake. What was it my driving instructor said all those years ago, "Courtesy cost nothing Ceilidh. You wouldn't have caused an accident but you forced the oncoming driver to brake and slow down."
Ive just read through this. Am I turning into a grumpy old woman?
Ceilidh ∙ 13 Mar, 12
Just noted the date on my wall. 03/13/12. What? There is no thirteenth month! Maybe I live in an alternative universe.
Ceilidh ∙ 13 Mar, 12
One day I will get used to this new fangled way of sharing my thoughts! I've just lost my original writing. Where the heck did it disappear to? I only moved to a different page to check in a dictionary and when I came back my writing was no longer in the comment box. Ah well I suppose that's life!
Yesterday was terrible. I had a long drive between schools and roadworks on the A13 didn't help. At least it wasn't as bad as the last rainy day with truckers thundering past throwing fountains of water over my windscreen. That was a long drive too!
Got some lovely photographs of my new grand niece by email this morning so that was good.
Now let's see. Will it post?
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Ceilidh ∙ 24 weeks ago
It's been a long day today. Terrible traffic on my way to the south of the county - not helpedby rain over ice. It was no fun watching the idiots who drove as if it was a fine summer's morning.
I had a lovely session with my youngest grandchildren yesterday afternoon as I picked them up from school. They have grown so quickly I'm sure my daughter has been standing them in grow bags!
I'm really looking forward to this weekend as I'm going home for a reunion with a group of old school friends. I haven't seen some in over 50 years. It will be great to catch up with them. It will also be lovely to see mum again. That strip of water makes it so much harder to get back and forwards.