Category Archives: School

A lad who had to grow up fast

Posted on April 14, 2017 by odeboyz

Fred Rouse, was a typical Cockney lad. Stroppy at times, a lean, tall, gangling boy. He and my older brother became good friends when they both started senior school together, Queens Head Street School, Islington aged eleven. Over the next … Continue reading →

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Gradgrind and the problem of legless horses

Posted on November 4, 2016 by odeboyz

Gradgrind came to epitomise Victorian school teachers. Victorian school teachers were sharply focused on facts. Facts appeared to offer certainty and, even better, they could be tested. A pupil repeating the facts that they’d learned was a good pupil. There’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Philosophy, School | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

William Tyndale Junior School toilets

Posted on October 28, 2016 by odeboyz

Our junior school, behind the Islington Town Hall in Upper Street, was once called Sebbon Street School but was ‘rebranded’ as William Tyndale just before I went there. The school toilets were austere as were the 1950s teaching methods. Most of the teachers responded … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, School | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Home-schooling, the National Curriculum and yeshiva schools

Posted on September 9, 2016 by odeboyz

Section 7 Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age – The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable— (a) to his age, ability and aptitude, … Continue reading →

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Home-schooling: the British educational scandal

Posted on August 26, 2016 by odeboyz

Key Thought:- Would you have been happy to have been educated by your parent(s) throughout your childhood? ……………………. Britain has a long-standing compulsory education system which is widely respected. Examinations are uniformly taken at 16+ (GCSE) with a smaller cohort … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, School | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Sharply Focused Teacher

Posted on September 16, 2014 by odeboyz

“Had a long talk with Mr Dork. I explained I was a one- parent child with an unemployed bad- tempered father. Mr Dork said that he wouldn’t care if I was the offspring of a black, lesbian, one- legged mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Literature, School | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Very Unusual Charity: Eton College

Posted on August 29, 2014 by odeboyz

Eton College is the principal fee paying school in Britain. Surprisingly, it’s also a charity. As a result, those who attend Eton are subsidised by the taxpayer.  Charities in Britain have a number of finanacial advantages reflecting their charitable work: … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, School, statistics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Just Yesterday Ago

Posted on May 30, 2014 by odeboyz

In 1989 (I can’t believe that is twenty five years ago) I was the Branch Secretary of the National and Local Government Organisation (NALGO) in Hackney, I was at the head of a bunch of left wing extremists.The Communist Party, … Continue reading →

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Quelle Dommage.

Posted on February 4, 2014 by odeboyz

Politicians seen To climb the greasy pole With a mixture of intentions, Quickly tempered with reasoned excuses. Lies, discovered years later Broken election promises Kicked into “the long grass” Conveniently forgotten. Some elected lazy Some turned greedy Few try to … Continue reading →

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Be a Great Teacher

Posted on January 24, 2014 by odeboyz

Shakespeare wrote ‘All the worlds a stage’* a thought that every teacher should embrace because: All teaching is acting. The teacher is also script writer, director, choreographer, stage- manager, producer, in- house psychologist/social worker and educator. Being a teacher is … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, School | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment