Addiction and Me

I know Facebook never makes things easy but did you know you can HIDE people from your news-feed? You can even DE-FRIEND OR completely BLOCK someone! It's genius! Stops people like me bothering you all the time! :D

Yes - I'm an addict. To many things. Facebook is one of the less destructive ones. But if my constant sharing, openness or dogs offend you then feel free to take one of the above actions. You'll be helping me as well in a roundabout kind of way.

See not all my "friends" know all the ins and outs of my addictions - and neither do I at the moment - so I understand that when you say I'm addicted to Facebook, you are merely passing comment or maybe even showing some vague concern as a "friend". Sadly it's deeper than that and, yes, it's quite sad so your concerns and wishes about me getting out more are well received. If only it was as easy as that but this is a mobile world we live in now. It's no longer safe to "go out" like it used to be.

Of course the "mobile life" is an optional one and, indeed, one which we supposedly choose. Unfortunately an enormous number of my choices are based on ill-founded thought processes that will undoubtedly and irrelevant of rationality, justify my choice to satisfy an addiction. You're right: if I know I do this why don't I just change? Again an ingenius idea! Alas, my anxieties and addictions are my best friends - family almost - we certainly go back a long way! They were there supporting me without me even knowing it - helping me reach those decisions I found so difficult. They also rewarded me greatly so I never had to doubt them and would, always it seems, hold them close.

As you can probably see, this relationship isn't a positive one. It's quite abusive. I would go as far to say that my partners are actually quite controlling and bullying yet, at the same time, they are such a part of my life I don't know how I could live without them. The very thought of not having them there to support me when I'm unsure about something, when I'm worried or doubting myself, or not sure which way to turn, is crippling. Knowing that I need to get out of this relationship and actually getting out are two very different things. I need help and am trying to find it. Offering suggestions like "Get out and get a life" are graciously received and, believe me, I do have an outside life but, sadly, the answers aren't "out there"

I hope, for your sake, that one day I will be out of this relationship: that my anxieties and addictions will no longer be the crutch on which I make my way through life. That way I will no longer seek solace in Facebook, technology, spending, alcohol, nicotine, dogs, freshly ground coffee and any other consumer market of which I choose to be a member.

In the meantime, this is one relationship you can get out of. Instructions are below. If only all relationships were that simple.

https://www.facebook.com/help/172936839431357/?q=defriend&sid=08mIhp3yZeF9T5mK4

When he got there, the classroom was bare ...

It's about time I got back on track with this blog rather than just ranting about the "news".



Today, kids, I went into my own classroom for the first time. I had one of those "oh my god I'm a teacher" moments where I realised that all the years of side stepping the thought of a career, ultimately helped me find one that makes me happy!



I walked into a blank canvas ... sparkly clean floors and a host of things that will become the tools and media of my craft. Two hours later and you still can't imagine the finished picture but you can see the structure taking form.

No more painting by numbers. This is the real thing and I can't wait to get started!

Dear Mr. Cameron,

David Cameron shows the parents how it's done while the
children learn it all in school(!)

Dear wise, worthy and all powerful David Cameron, 

Please let's talk about "Sport in children's lives" rather than sport in school. Believe it or not, school is a piece of the puzzle when it comes to a child's life and not a miracle fix for all the things that are wrong or not working. Despite teachers and adults in schools doing their best for the whole child, an awful lot comes from parents' and caregivers' attitudes to sport and hobbies outside of school as well as what happens in school. 

We'll continue to do our bit as best we can (bearing in mind budget cuts and the fact we're not sports specialists) and hope that you will help us to do this instead of undermining our confidence. We'll also continue, as best we can, to fix all the rest of the things are going wrong in children's lives while politely rejecting the blame that comes our way when it doesn't work out.

At some point, we'll also try to "educate" and open young people's minds so that the people we're educating can think and learn for themselves while standing up for what is right and working to fix what is wrong.

However; having left the school that they have helped to shape through having their voices heard, should they find themselves stifled and put down and the world they hope to shape is not receptive to their ideas or holds little hope or opportunity for them to find a fulfilling way to contribute, don't be surprised if they fight to make their voices heard.

Give them a chance and you may be amazed what they can achieve. Just like our Olympians.

Many thanks,
Mr. Oaks

P.S. We apologise for the riots last year as they were probably our fault and commend the success of Team GB - which is undoubtedly down to you.

(this articles is written in response to the BBC article entitled "Olympics: Cameron urges school sport 'cultural change' ")

Girls put off sport? "DISLIKE"...

     We've all read the headlines today that tell us that PE lessons in schools are putting girls off sport for life and choosing to opt out of exercise. But the question is: is it just girls?

    I would argue that sport, by nature, is non-discriminatory and a selection of sports should be available to anybody irrelevant of their sex, race, sexual orientation or ability. So to suggest that girls are being "put off" sport because the options available are less feminine in their appeal, is a big statement to make and is maybe misguiding when it comes to the status of sport in school.

     I, for one, am one of the students who was never really very good at sport at school and was never really inspired to participate nor achieve. I wasn't a golden child who was a part of the sporting elite - representing the school in every sport and bringing back trophies to display to prospective parents. In fact, it got to the point where, if I turned up, that was something to be proud of as I had "taken part" - which, as we're all told, is more important than winning!

    It wasn't until year 11, when the options available became much more varied, that I realised sport and exercise were not about achieving, but about enjoyment, a sense of participation and developing a positive attitude to physical and mental health. This was also the time I realised how poor my PE teaching had been.

    The logistics of having a variety of sports and exercise programmes available for pupils may be problematic and expensive, but there IS something for everyone. Surely everybody should be able to access at least one thing that they can enjoy, take part in and something that makes them feel good about their physical and mental health.

    Whether it's "masculine" or "feminine" is neither here nor there. Sport is non-discriminatory. I, for one, would not want anybody to be put off sport in the way that I was through my education. And I'm a boy.

    So the question is: is it really just the girls? 

"Patience" ft. Juniperus Chinensis and the WYSIWYG Tree

     Patience is apparently a virtue. It is something my CV boasts as a "strength" of mine. Professionally this may well be the case but in my personal life it is something that has always evaded me.

     Like many people, especially the younger people today, whatever it is I always want it and I always want it now. Some may say the recent events in England are the manifestation of a generation of people who live like this. Others would argue that there is simply no "long term" for them. I refrain from commenting as I am somewhat lacking in personal wisdom on patience and forward thinking.

     This week I have decided to start a new hobby to help me learn/develop/gain/practise* some "patience". With the acquisition of some "Juniper Chinensis" seeds, I have taken my first steps in the art of Bonsai. My first thoughts were of beautiful, miniature trees reflecting the beauty of nature in the outside world in my home. The reality trip was reading that this beauty would take upwards of 10 years to realise. I found myself thinking of the long term. I knew what I wanted but I still wanted it immediately. I knew that I could purchase a Bonsai tree that had already been nurtured, and have it immediately in front of me. This somehow didn't feel right. It didn't feel "true". I knew the satisfaction would not last. 
     It was at this point that I found some solace in the notion that 10 years of patient nurturing would not merely give me the pleasure promised by an already established and purchased WYSIWYG** tree. My satisfaction would not be from the tree itself, but the inner satisfaction of knowing that what I gain is borne from my mind, efforts, mistakes, learning, perseverance and commitment - and not that of somebody else.
     I was struck by the word "mistake" and how important this notion was to me. That I have absolutely no experience of growing Juniperus Chinensis (yet alone in miniature form) and will undoubtedly make mistakes is something that was pivitol in my decision making. It was here that my decision was made between skipping the mistakes and going straight for the end product or opting for something money cannot buy: self-respect.

The thing is I couldn't just go ahead and plant the seeds willy-nilly - I had to plan: to give myself a platform of basic knowledge from which I could build. So I read. I studied. Nothing much, of course, just enough to get to the next level (planting the seeds). And I'm glad I did. I realised I had to soak the seeds for 48 hours and then to cold stratify them for 3-4 months! As we speak, the seeds are wrapped up in small bags with a little Akadama soil and resting in the veg drawer of my fridge until November/December, when I'll be ready to take the next step.
     In that time, although it may seem there is "nothing" to do, I can continue to learn and also reflect on what I have done so far. I'm sure I'll read different perspectives on the best way to start a Bonsai tree - all of which may be equally as valid as the next. I may decide that I could have done things differently and there will be nothing stopping me from doing that next time. At the same time, I know that it's going to take time and I will not see whether this method has worked for another nine months - when the seeds germinate.

     Initially I'll have no control over its growth. My responsibility will lie in nurturing its early development until it grows to be something that I can work with. Then, and only then, will I be able to work and shape it into the form I desire: to use the wisdom and methods of the people who have mastered the art to represent my personality and perception of beauty through the tree.
     All of this will take years and I have no guarantee of what will happen nor what I will see before me later on in the process. But that is exactly what it is. A process. A process that cannot be bought over the counter. A process that nobody can do for me. A process that, by the time it has ended, will probably have new methods and approaches based on the new wisdom of today's learners.
     Without guarantees of an end product, some may think that it would just be easier to take somebody else's and enjoy it while it lasts. But I know that enjoyment will be short lived. I choose to learn and to make my own end product - warts and all. I choose patience and self-respect.


I'll keep you posted!


J x x x

* delete as you feel appropriate
** what you see is what you get

"A Short Film About Riots"

 

 

 

http://vimeo.com/27533457

This is a video that found its way onto my newsfeed on Facebook this evening. It's quite long, but takes in some perspectives from people who were actually there and not just relying on the BBC for details. Well worth a watch.


This is not my film so I claim no credit for it. But would like to thank those that put the effort in to making it.


The whole country is waiting for so many answers. The thing is nobody knows what the questions are exactly. And nobody knows who has the answers. 

J

The Idiot List

This is why you leave it to the police! It's terrible that people have now been killed over all of this but seriously I'll hold back a certain amount of sympathy ... In a year's time when everything has moved on and rioters/looters are behind bars, will it have made a difference if they stood up or not?? No! Possessions aren't more important than life. Three more on the idiot list. Tragic they died.


(Click here for article)


I certainly don't think standing up to people who clearly have no moral compass is either safe nor heroic. Just read they were part of a massive group. No offence but police have clearly said to people stay awsy to stay safe. There are also idiots across the country standing and watching the looting happen.

Everybody agrees that looting and violence has no place in this society. That's why we have a justice system and a policing force in which we are all stakeholders. Obviously people want to make a stand for justice and unity but there are ways to do it.

It's idiotic the things that people do to gain material possessions they don't have. It's also idiotic what people will do to protect possessions that they do have.

What's really important and worth risking your freedom or even your life for?

That's what looters and defenders need to ask. I'm sure the families of all those taken from them by the justice system or tragically by death, will have some idea.