What do ordinary Britons have to do to show the American people how outrageous this is? Should we ban them from golf courses or refuse to serve them in restaurants? Should we then tell Americans that we have suspended the special relationship until that driver returns to explain to the police her part in a …
American Diplomat Driver flees from British police Read More »
Last Friday we saw a younger generation encouraged to demand action to save the planet. When might we see them demonstrating outside shops that in winter blast us with hot air as we enter only to find the assistants wearing little more than their underwear? Might they also demand that televisions are sold, not with an …
This headline appeared in The Times last week. This was my response. As long as teachers accept the professional authority of some one who doesn’t teach then it is likely that the OECD will continue to report that headteacher salaries in the UK are the highest among those in developed countries while the salaries of …
Boss of troubled school chain gets pay rise to £290k Read More »
A call by a government minister, Kwasi Kwarteng for the return of deference to the police was reported last week, on August 19th. This call followed the death of a young constable while on duty. That call is very understandable just now, but deference has to be earned. I was recently told of a young …
In case you were not up in time to hear me on BBC Radio Essex this morning, this is what I said. 1. If your results are disappointing or mean that you are unable to do what you want to do TAKE A VERY DEEP BREATH. Pause before you react. 2. If your results are …
Exam results – advice from a former head teacher and A-level examiner Read More »
Last Thursday, in The Times – August 1st 2019 – David Aaronovitch commented that the determination to test facts and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion are of great importance. They should be taught as part of any worthwhile English curriculum; it is not difficult. With the start of commercial television in the nineteen-fifties …
At the age of twelve I first worked on farms near home on the edge of suburbia. There I learnt to greet anyone when I met them for the first time in the day with Good Morning or Good Afternoon. If I encountered the person later that day a nod of the head or a …
A greeting, an acknowledgement of our shared humanity Read More »
The Chinese authorities were willing to deal with Lord Pattern, the last British governor of Hong Kong as the colony was returned to them. They should be prepared to accept him now as an intermediary between themselves and the people of Hong Kong who seem to find rule by fellow Chinese a lot less congenial …
Seventy-one people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every day. Motorists complain about cyclists several of whom they have killed in recent months in London alone. Cyclists are reported to have attacked pedestrians and pedestrians fixated on mobile devices expect greater care from other road users than they are prepared to take of …
The Times reported two days ago that teachers at a supposedly outstanding school are on strike over violence on the part of some of their pupils. Where else, other than to a maintained school in the UK, are parents virtually obliged to send their children without assurances that they and their teachers will be safe? …
An outstanding and violent school: test and inspect parents Read More »
