Reflecting back
My stories
My School Story
As an excitable 7 year old I was often referred to as a chatterbox. I was not a nasty child, just a talkative one. I was slapped in the face and called names by one teacher. I was also hit hard with solid wooden rulers on my hand. Once I was made to sit in a dark cupboard alone until lunch. none of this made for a happy learning environment.
By the time high school came around I was being bullied severely by older kids, thrown down stairs, even followed home and physically attacked by a group. Nothing was ever done by the school.
I tried to carry on attending but it was an intimidating space. The less I attended the more the teachers said I'd end up a waste of space. I managed to get a couple of good grades but was told by school staff it would never be enough.
I've since gotten a first class honours BA and an MA with distinction.
Interesting and depressing to see these recurring stories through time, even over decades. How little has changed in terms of children really being seen and respected.
Children should be nourished and cherished for all their differences, but this is the UK, and it appears that 2025 in the UK is a place where Orwell's 1984 was mistaken as a blue-print for society.
By the time high school came around I was being bullied severely by older kids, thrown down stairs, even followed home and physically attacked by a group. Nothing was ever done by the school.
I tried to carry on attending but it was an intimidating space. The less I attended the more the teachers said I'd end up a waste of space. I managed to get a couple of good grades but was told by school staff it would never be enough.
I've since gotten a first class honours BA and an MA with distinction.
Interesting and depressing to see these recurring stories through time, even over decades. How little has changed in terms of children really being seen and respected.
Children should be nourished and cherished for all their differences, but this is the UK, and it appears that 2025 in the UK is a place where Orwell's 1984 was mistaken as a blue-print for society.
How I think schools could be better.
More understanding and training around diverse learning needs and styles.
Personally I don't believe the current models can work due to the scale of the whole educational project in this country.
Schumacher had it right, Small Is Beautiful. We cannot nurture our children and support their learning when they are being herded in like some homogeneous mass.
The standardisation models need to go!
Personally I don't believe the current models can work due to the scale of the whole educational project in this country.
Schumacher had it right, Small Is Beautiful. We cannot nurture our children and support their learning when they are being herded in like some homogeneous mass.
The standardisation models need to go!