Schools

A good friend of mine asked for my opinion on behaviour management in schools,  where’s what I said;

The first thing that always springs to mind when I hear the term ‘Behaviour management’, is the sad vision of children being contained and restrained -
their movements being limited so as not to affect anyone else. The problem with
that is the root problem or cause isn’t being addressed, it is merely being
‘managed’ until the school bell goes, and same again the next day, until they
eventually leave or get kicked out.... read more »

Here are details of a Graduate certificate course I helped to write at the University of the West of England, which is aimed at people working in community arts & media.

There are three modules, with a wide range of tutors each module;

- Participatory Arts: Practice & Context
Looks at the history of community arts & media, influential theories (e.g. Paulo Freire’s dialogic pedagogy), informal education theories, government influence and evaulation models.... read more »

Last night I went to an interesting seminar at the Watershed Media Centre called ‘Cultural Learning: Young people – schools – creative industries’.  It was all about the year-long relationship the Watershed have built up with Fairfield High School, which has seen film & TV professionals working in the school, and the students taking part in projects. ... read more »

Anyone used to working with young people in teaching/facilitation type roles, will know the experience of the butterflies in the stomach that arises when faced with the challenge of trying to encourage a group to be motivated in the task at hand.   

All eyes staring at you, waiting for you to say something meaningful and worthy of their attention. 

At one and the same time you can feel two opposing forces making the butterflies hop and skip.... read more »