Do I Miss Inset Days? Not Likely! Since 1988, state schools in the United Kingdom have been required to offer their staff a total of five inset days each year – often called ‘Baker’ Days after the then Conservative Education Secretary, Kenneth Baker who introduced the measure. In state schools, these days can be scattered… Continue reading Do I Miss Inset Days? Not likely!
Author: Peter Tait
A retired teacher and head for 17 years, now focusing on writing, both on education and further fiction and non-fiction (previously having published two novels and a non-fiction book on Thomas Hardy's wives and other women, a biography, poetry and numerous articles on education).
The Lower You Are, The Harder You Fall
The Lower You Are, The Harder You Fall. If there is anything that gets people’s backs up and causes deep anger and resentment, it is the actions and attitude of wealthy institutions and individuals and their avoidance of paying their dues to society. This was fuelled this month by the corporate filings of Reuters, JP… Continue reading The Lower You Are, The Harder You Fall
It’s Ugly Out There.
It’s Ugly Out There. Why is everyone so damned angry? What is it these last few years that has made people so aggressive and impatient and ready to have a go at anyone with whom they disagree. Why the coiled spring? Why the poison pen and acid tongue? What happened to the old dictum that… Continue reading It’s Ugly Out There.
Clive James: Dying by Inches
Clive James: Dying by Inches Over recent months, I have been spending time in the company of Clive James, the writer, critic and poet. After a lifetime of heavy smoking and intemperate drinking, James was diagnosed with emphysema and kidney failure in 2010 as well as chronic leukemia and by June 2012 admitted on Radio… Continue reading Clive James: Dying by Inches
Thomas Hardy and Education
Thomas Hardy and Education: “Ah, there’s too much of that sending to school in these days! It only does harm. Every gatepost and barn’s door you come to is sure to have some bad word or other chalked upon it by the young rascals: a woman can hardly pass for shame some times. If… Continue reading Thomas Hardy and Education
IQ-EQ
IQ – EQ = Bullingdon Club “It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value.” Professor Stephen Hawking “He’s very smart. He has an IQ.” Leo Rosten “He’s like a lighthouse in the middle of a bog – brilliant but useless.” John Kelly attrib The comments by Boris Johnson in 2013 about the… Continue reading IQ-EQ
In my Beginning is my End
In my Beginning is my End “We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. This year is the 50th anniversary of the death of T S Eliot on 4 January, 1965, a passing overshadowed at… Continue reading In my Beginning is my End
Catch the Wind
When Donovan sang of trying to ‘Catch the Wind’ in his 1960s song, its title was intended as a metaphor for the futility of attempting what was seen as impossible. Even though it hasn’t proved so, the capture of wind has proved less problematic than the ‘farming’ of it and all the associate costs that… Continue reading Catch the Wind
Summer Solstice
Each summer, a number of public figures are asked to offer their suggestions for an ideal summer reading list, usually by some national daily newspaper wanting to pad out their Sunday supplements. When I read the said lists, I am often left deflated by recognising so few of the books on their lists although I… Continue reading Summer Solstice
The English Bookshop
Driving back to St Antonin Noble Val last week to re-stock and prepare the bookshop for another season, I was reminded of just how seldom it is that an idea matches up to the reality. Owning a bookshop is one of those rare exceptions. The sentiment, so often expressed by friends and visitors who see… Continue reading The English Bookshop