All you need is love

There have been lots of conversations this week about what we, as educators, should be reinforcing in young people.  Schools have their core values, mission statements and SEAL- derivations to help provide a framework.  Then I watched This 18 minute film, and it stopped me in my tracks. Dames Gisimba concludes with his hope for education- teach love and irradicate hatred.  Achieve this simple aim and the rest is a bonus.

The film focuses on Damas Gisimba, director of a small orphanage in Rwanda that was besieged by militias during the 1994 genocide. Learn how Gisimba, with the help of American aid worker Carl Wilkens, managed to protect, care for, and save some 400 people.

Dilemmas and positions

Thanks to Hannah Frankel for putting together a very thought-provoking piece in today's TES on the topic of praise. 'Good For You' (on page 18 of the glossy) click here for the on-line article: why not add a comment. . .

Praise vs. Encouragement? Seems we are often thrown into adversarial positions when deep down we are all wanting similar things for young people.

For example I had a conversation today about restorative practice; I ended up posing the question,

"Which is more important, knowing how to listen to someone else's point of view or understanding about fractions. Maths v. PSHE; bring it on!

Of course there are valid arguments for both: lack of empathy can ultimately lead to warfare- ok, but having not a clue about fractions can lead to economic hardship and poverty. Has anyone seen those Buy As You View vans driving around housing estates?

A few years ago I was working with a family who had installed their coin-box operated system. I asked what the APR was- having explained what 'APR' meant I found it was rather high to say the least.

Today, with the Bank Of England Base Rate at an all time low the APR is . . . . . 49.9%

Here's the link to their site.

In a world where everyone understood what 49.9% APR really meant more people might have change left over to buy a book for bedtime to read to their child, or to put a good meal on the table. And then sit and have the stomach to listen to someone else's point of view.

So let's not talk about Maths v. PSHE any more. Let's find ways of working together and give full expression to all of our passions (be they for Maths, History, Sport or PSHE) to make education an intoxicating blend of content, challenge, warmth and humour.

“The driving mission of this new department is to break out of the false divide between, on the one hand, policies to promote educational achievement, and on the other hand, policies to promote well-being.” Ed Balls 2007.

maybe, together, we can make this happen?