Child Development

I took my little boy to get his feet measured recently at our local shopping centre.  Since his last measurement he's grown a half size - now a 5F.  Naturally I was delighted, but at no time was there any thought of performance league tables, defining him as a number or how relevant it would be find out the size of other friends' children's feet.  And I'll certainly not be constraining his friendship group to other 5F boys and girls.  This might sound a little far fetched, but I've actually heard children in schools introducing themselves as if they were a number.

"Hi Sir, I'm Tommy.  I'm a 4c boy"  What can you say to that!  Then often the next sentence goes on to explain what they are aiming for. . . "I'm on target to be a 4a"  which is wonderful to hear, but often comes with no understanding of what the number means.  I even once heard a child say that they had exceeded their potential.  I was too professional to suggest that the child had more potential than their teacher had thought. . . As if anyone knows just what any child can become.  I'm sidetracking a bit there, so back to the shoes.

The thought of hiring a foot tutor to hot-house his foot development was the last thing on my mind.  My job is to back off and let him be.  Let the feet grow at their own pace!  Not to say this is a cop-out; far from it.  My responsibility is to ensure every opportunity for play, rest, sleep, a healthy diet and the rest of it.

Which makes me wonder, at what point do things change. . . . and what would happen if the non-judgemental nature of early child development simply continued and continued our education system.  Just what would be possible I wonder? 

A covenant for our children. Let's make it happen

It's been an interesting week with some exciting projects moving forward, and all cultivated from the bottom up.  It seems to me that there is an energy for innovation outside of structures of authority, and creativity is happening despite the system.  Then Richard Gerver's latest blog popped into my inbox and neatly summarised this feeling.

The content chimed so loudly with my experiences of crushing bureaucracy and death-by-measurement whilst working for a local authority and has affirmed my decision to leave and go it alone.  It was so refreshing to be reminded that there are many voices out there articulating the essence of what learning and education is all about.  I want to send my children to a place where they are seen for the good that they are and their natural curiosities, energy and enthusiasm nurtured by adults who care deeply and genuinely enjoy the wonderful uncertainties that come with giving children space to be.

I'd encourage people to read, share and take whatever action they can to make this happen.  It seems at least here in the UK our politicians are reducing children to mere statistics and notably taking the F (families) out of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.  How insulting to every parent to imply that their children's learning happens exclusively in a classroom and is measured by an end of year exam!  And how conveniently off-the-hook for the very small minority of parents who should be doing more to support their children.  I think that's what you might call a lose-lose strategy. . .

Movember !

Not particularly a current news item but since it's Movember I thought it would have some relevance (and the BBC Sports Personality of the year upon us)

So David Lloyd 'advises' Murray to smarten up his image, reckoning that getting a shave and looking more like the respectable Roger Federer will somehow have some psychological advantage over the likes of Nadal and Djokovic.

I can remember watching David Lloyd play when I was a kid.  Let's just say he wasn't the player I ever tried to emulate.  When you're a seven year old kid you have the common sense to copy the best in the game; the players that make your hairs stand on end and all that.

For the record here's David's Grand Slam record, just so we can see why he's now one of the most powerful people in British tennis infrastructure.

Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open	-
French Open	1R (1968-1973)
Wimbledon	3R (1968)
US Open	1R (1969)

Murray's Deadpan response puts it so well I thought; we are all entitled to our opinion but just because you are given a platform doesn't mean anyone has to listen to you.

Murray also refers to Bjorn Borg in his response, who as I can remember donned a beard and unlike Lloyd, had not only incredible athletic and technical ability but superhuman mental strength.

So in this month of Movember and all the perspective that campaign brings to the relative importance of male image and grooming, I take my hat off to Andy Murray for his dignified refusal to smarten up and fit in with the establishment.  Sports Personality of the Year?  Bradley Wiggins might have a few words to say about that.  Now there would be an interesting doubles team.  What with Mr Wiggins talking about a sport switch for the 2016 Olympics. . .

From 11mins into this talk I began to wonder if empathy, once understood intellectually, can become an acidic tool used to destroy others from a perceived position of friendship and understanding.  Just like a hammer, the ability to empathise is merely a tool. Neutral in that it cares not what it is used for.  Used to listen and to heal and to give hope is one thing, but used to pretend to be a consul whilst appropriating the power that comes from emotional trust is altogether another.

Check the clip and consider the motivations of Jaron Lanier in his work.  As Noam Chomsky articulates, we are in a time of huge flux and opportunity in learning that we have a choice between compliance and enlightenment.  A lot is written at the moment about finding the answers from the kids.  I agree.  But I also think we should take the time to ask the other cohort who play outside the labour market what they do for kicks. . . .the over 65 yr olds might just have a few things to say about learning beyond monetisation as much as a child will.