http://www.stockvault.net/blog/photography/30-examples-of-anger-and-rage-photography/

About 9 months ago I wrote a blog describing my anxiety  about what retirement might bring. I wrote that I had discovered my new life purpose whereby I capitalised on being over 65! I had decided that Dylan Thomas’s raging was the way ahead.

So taking stock, where has the raging led me to?

Firstly the family. I recently used a YouTube clip with students. I have posted it before. Its a TED talk by Louie Schwartzberg and somewhere in this clip is it reminded us that indigenous communities around the world usually make decisions thinking about several generations ahead. I’m in that generational sandwich at the moment with two 90 year olds to think about and support and then a whole host of grandchildren. Its easy to wonder when it is your time ; well there is no better time to care for your own than now. It has to be a privilege to be surrounded by you family Nothing better to do with your time. But what am I doing  about it.

Well I’ve started my primary teaching in my grandchildren’s school. Scary. I am taking a year 4 and year 5 group of students who are great at Maths. I’ve called it ‘Maths is Fun’  and it is about exciting them about maths and using it to solve problems and see amazing patterns. It’s hard to find one regular day a week to do this, but it seems to be working. I think they enjoy it and without realising it  are using their maths in different ways. My eldest grandson is part of one of the groups so that’s the rage bit done.

My eldest grand daughter starts her GCSEs this year and has decided she wants to be a vet. Having moved within shouting distance of Cambridge, going here  has  started to interest her. So work to do here to support her, challenge her. At last she has some intrinsic motivation  to fuel. Here she is working at University at one of the exceptional Fibonacci projects arranged by Pritpal Chandan.

But more than directly involving ourselves in their schooling perhaps just as  important is helping them appreciate the world around them. I love to have the children here on Saturdays playing in the garden in their tree house, splashing in the stream and getting wet and dirty. Time and space for free play is essential. It is ‘learning’.

I recently helped run a Science camp for Innovate Manhattan  students at Bard College in upstate New York. These city kids live life at such a pace, they do not take the time to appreciate the small things around  them. Our week at Bard slowed them down to appreciate the environment – plants, animals and the wider ecosystems. On the first night one of them was thrilled to see stars for the first time.

So lots of things to rage at this next year… more Maths, reading challenges, environmental fun, and trips and experiences-trumpet lessons, flight to London and theatre trips, long summer walks .

And this is what all children need. A whole education. I do despair at the negative and narrow educational opinions coming from OFSTED and government. “One in four heads poor” was the headline from Michael Wilshaw recently. “We will define what a coasting school is and if heads don’t improve this they will lose their job. ” is the message from the Secretary of State”.  “Academy Chains are harming progress for more disadvantaged students” say the  Sutton Trust.  You’d think reading all this that schools are not performing well.  But standards are probably higher than they have ever been, although that is very often measured in terms of results and not in terms of  quality of learner experience.  We need a sense of collaborative optimism in our profession; of course we could all do a better job but so much is at risk by shortage of good teachers in core subjects, and a growing reluctance to take up headship positions.

We are often directed to higher performing systems like Finland. But the message from there is  that we need to trust the profession with the detail of delivery and work to make sure that we train and recruit the best teachers and leaders. People there want to teach and lead. And by the way, before we think it is our system that is in crisis, having spent the last two years working in New York, there is much to be thankful for in the English system. And of course Sweden are just being challenged about the fact that they are the faster fall in PISA results although still higher  than in the UK.

But take all the politics and rhetoric out of all of this. It does make things harder than they need to be. Focusing on what makes great teaching and learning is what makes the difference. All the changes in how we measure performance, what subjects make the ideal curriculum, and changing grading and benchmarks do not improve the quality of education. We should bear in mind Manifesto 15 if we want to make any changes to the systems  and expected curriculum.  Read it if you want to remember what we should be doing in our schools.

http://www.manifesto15.org/en/

But back to the RAGE! I am committing myself to supporting our Kunskapsskolan sponsored schools in the UK and elsewhere- there seems no better way to address real quality in education. This means challenging but also supporting them to make the brave implementation decisions that make for a whole education despite the heavy perceived pressure from outside. We will succeed in the ways the government requires as well as giving our young people the best education possible. Our way implemented well is the best way to achievement. It will require relentless effort!! I’ve not done so well this last year with all the rage in this area although it has been great to be able to support Whole Education as an organisation.

http://wholeeducation.org/

And the final RAGE. Well more progress here; the roof is on at the Bajabulile Science Lab and I think we are set up for the launch in October. £15000 with them now and another £5000 to yet achieve. It will of course require sustained effort and being there throughout the next few years if we want to make the difference we had aspired to. I am so grateful for all the financial and moral support from colleagues and friends that continue to support the project. Let’s remind ourselves why this is important for these young people.

 

My name is Louisa Mishabela. My nickname is Masingita. I am 11 years old and live in Mamelodi .I am the second born and am followed by my little sister Oratilwe. My first born sister Confidence, sadly passed away 3 weeks after she was born. My nick name means ‘miracles’ and is pronounced in the Tsonga language.

About the Tsonga language; my dad is a Tsonga and my mother is Pedi. I am a learner at Bajabulile School which is really an amusing school. To me it’s like a rope that ties me with new things and helps me probe new things that have just occurred. They say education is the key to success.

I am a lovely person who loves people. I am very connected in Science and Technology. Let’s just say I am ambitious about Science and Technology. One day when I grow up I want to be a paediatrician because I love kids and it stabs and puts holes in my heart to see a child getting sick and never getting help. So one day I want to be a lifesaver.

There is something which will pull me down to reaching my career and that is university finances. I am really hoping to get a bursary to achieve my dream even if it will be onerous. I do believe that if I get the chance to open the big books at varsity, I will achieve and get the degrees I need. So that would be the answer to my mission, find better that will connect me with education because my dad only works piece jobs and mom does not work at all.

Why would you not rage for this and all the other children in the world to get the sort of education and chances they need. here’s to another year of effort and ambition.