Never Happy

You just can’t trust these admin types. After venting about how they blocked Blogger and all that’s good about the internet for practically the whole of the Easter Holiday I returned on Monday to find it has been unblocked.

This should be cause for celebration – A carnival of liberty. We could light a torch of freedom and run with it through the streets of London… or maybe not. It is surely nothing but good news. So why am I sitting looking at my computer screen with mixture of bemusement and concern?

Maybe you’re thinking that there’s no pleasing this man. Maybe you’re thinking I’m only happy when I’ve got something to complain about. I just have this nagging concern about why Blogger was unblocked again. They must have blocked it for a reason – I may not agree with their reasoning but they must have had one. What has changed? Why haven’t they stuck to their guns and continued to make my life more difficult? Maybe I’m a stubborn old fool but when I make a principled stand against something it takes an awful lot to make me admit I’m wrong.

I’d love to imagine that they read my post and were so moved by my argument (and insults) that they had a complete change of heart. I’d love that but I can eliminate the theory for three separate reasons: 1. How could they read it when blogger had been blocked from the network? 2. No one actually reads this blog. 3. If I were them and I read something like what was in that post it would do nothing other than harden my resolve.

So I’m confused.

While in the mood for complaining let me add this; what on earth am I going to use as my excuse for not updating this more regularly now?

student politics

Our year 12s have started a petition to be allowed to go on study leave early. The head boy just brought it round to get me to sign it half an hour ago.

I was a bit confused - I don't even teach the year 12s so why they felt my signature would lend any weight is beyond me. I looked down through the list of names and comments and I realised that there were quite a lot of teachers who were more than happy to wave good bye to their GCSE classes, including the head of year who seems to have given the whole thing his blessing.

I, as is the mode, am in two minds. I don't trust kids enough to work on their own at home in the build up to big examinations. This cynicism comes from my own experience. I did practically nothing to prepare for my own GCSEs and when it came to A-levels I did nothing. In fact during my A-levels I was out every night.

Maybe it's unfair to tar this present crop with my brush; but I just can't see how sending them off early is going to improve their chances.

Having said that I am impressed with their initiative. Getting the whole thing sanctioned by their head of year was a stroke of genius - it lends gravity and makes the rest of us more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt. If they have completed the course and have handed in all the coursework why not set them free to fly. Apart from anything else it'll free up some time for the other classes.

Me? I sat firmly on the fence. I signed the petition but wrote the words 'I'm too busy marking to take the time to form an opinion on the matter.' The head boy wasn't impressed.

Real teaching - the substitute way