What a wonderful opportunity presents
itself today as the Queensland school year re-commences and the majority of
students become engaged in parent assisted home schooling.
Much has been made about the disadvantages
home schooled students will encounter but in just about every conversation I
have had with a teacher about teaching, a consistent theme emerges.
It seems that Parents are constantly
providing critical feedback to schools as to the short comings of teachers,
methods adopted and the resultant less than expected results achieved by their
child.
My little Sally says she is not allowed
to contribute, young Daniel is destined to be a mathematics genius and Asif is
interested in Australian history if only it was explained correctly.
Teaching seems to one of those things
about which we all claim and to know better than the professional
teachers.
Therefore, an unexpected side benefit of
isolation and home schooling will be the opportunity for us parents to prove
once and foe all just how superior we are as teachers and for our children to
achieve results far better than ever before.
What a unique and wonderful opportunity
it is for all us “non teachers”.
Alternatively, we may get to understand
just how difficult effective teaching is and how skilled and dedicated our
teachers are.
I suggest it will be the later.
And what about driving at the moment, at
least on those rare occasions we are allowed to venture out in our cars?
Free flowing, clutter free and no delays
or hold ups.
However, has anyone else noticed how the
driving experience is also resembling the shopping centre car park?
Just like when we enter a car park and
lose all semblance of sensible driving because we perceive there are no rules,
the roads appear like that right now. On my last 2 driving ventures, I have
seen 3 drivers completely ignore red lights. And, I am not talking that
doubtful period when you might argue it was an amber light, I am talking
straight through a stale red light of 10 or more seconds duration.
We seem to have also forgotten how to
negotiate roundabouts. Again, I have witnessed 3 separate occasions where
emergency braking by drivers already in the roundabout has been required to
prevent accidents. Admittedly, on 2 of these occasions I was running or cycling.
It seems the lack of traffic is making
us less inclined to concentrate on the job at hand.
On to other things.
I am very pleased with last week’s
reading choice,
The Oarsmen by Scott Patterson. addressed a significant historical
story about the sporting activities of the Australian Forces in London in 1919
while waiting repatriation to Australia. Specifically, it traced the formation
of and competition history of the Rowing Team.
Interestingly, it discusses the need for
both physical and mental recovery for the returning soldiers and in what seems
timely in 2020, some impacts from the Spanish Flu pandemic of the time.
I cannot recommend it highly enough and
am a little embarrassed I have only just read a book gifted to me for Christmas
2018.
And for this coming week, I will be
seeking some new and diverse post Covid 19 travel motivation by reading Once
While Travelling – The Lonely Planet Story which I am told addresses the
evolution of Lonely Planet travel guides from a single hand written and much
copied travel diary to what it became in its heyday. Who hasn’t bought, begged,
borrowed or stolen a Lonely Planet Travel Guide. (I have 6 – all bought by me)
As for Podcasts, one of my secret
pleasures this last 18 months or so has been to listen to “Chat 10, Looks 3”.
I say “secret” because chances are it is a podcast aimed more at Women than
Men. It is hosted by Annabelle Crabb and Leigh Sales. They are totally free of
their “ABC Persona”, are self-deprecating, teasing of each other and often
hilarious. It also comes as a shock to hear the occasional F Bomb. The podcast has
nothing to do with the ABC and does not appear on the ABC feed. It is also not
about politics.
Take care, be kind, stay healthy. Be
grateful for our teachers (and tell them so) and drive safely
And a thought to finish:
It’s sad to think that if you actually
bullet proof, you are most likely to live your entire life not knowing you are.
Colin Morley
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