remember

Have just come back from our Remembrance Day assembly. It was really beautifully done, and good to see all of the kids in our school standing quietly and respectfully (despite heat and discomfort). I would have to say that this has been the first time I have seen the whole school body brought together in unity and respect for something, teachers and students, and with hardly any coersion at all.


As the last post played and we entered our minute's silence I thought about the different world that seems to have existed at the time of WWI. A world where young men and women would offer themselves to fight because someone required it of them. A world where the tragedy of millions of lives lost could happen.

Our modern world has grown out of that. Individuals would not be willing to fight and die in those massive numbers nowadays. And that is a good thing isn't it? Our society wouldn't be caught dead on a killing field at the hands of the authorities? No way.

And then the minute's silence ended and the reveille began. And as my heart quickened, I remembered another thing our society has 'grown out of'-

the hope of ressurrection.

what my Year 10 boys told me...

In class this afternoon no girls showed up. Only seven boys. And they smelled bad. They were 'completing their writing tasks'.

"Sorry I've been away, Miss. I was in Japan at a BMX championship. I am now officially the best BMX rider in the world."

"I saw you on Saturday night Miss... did you see someone pop their head out of a car and say 'G'day'? 'Cause that was me."

"I was a janitor at a university and I used to solve maths problems left on the board. Some people call me the Einstein of the world... others like to call me fat."

"I'm the biggest computer hacker in the world, Miss. And if you dob on me I will lay you out because I am a black belt in karate as well... and yes I would hit a woman because I had gender reassignment surgery and now I am a woman."

"Did you know I'm a hobo now miss? I got kicked out of home on the weekend... you don't want to know what happened. I got into a fight with someone and killed the cat."

"Did you know that Aden is straight, Miss?"

"Tell me where you live Miss and I'll drive past and do a burn out. But don't tell the cops my license plate, Miss. If you do, I'll burn your house down. No, I wont. I'm not crazy enough to do that. And if your house burns down don't tell the cops I said that. I'm in enough trouble with them already."

Some of the other things they told me don't bear repeating. They live in a different world to mine. I don't think I'll tell them where I live just yet.

Wednesday walking

Today we did sport - my sport this term is walking. I like it. It gets you out in the world and moving quickly. And it gives you a chance to chat with kids, which can be fun. Today I almost felt like I was one of the Year Seven boys, gambolling along - challenging them to a races, annoying them and poking them in the back to get them moving a bit faster. Year Seven boys are the most physical of human beings - wrestling, poking and annoying one another incessantly :).

I made the acquaintance of a new Year Nine girl today. Here's how it went.

Me:      Oh hello. What's your name?

Girl:      (snarky) Why do you want to know?

Me:      (a bit shocked) oh, I was just interested to meet you

Girl:      (slightly less snarky, but still a bit snarky) My name's...

Me:      Do you like walking?

Girl:     (full of renewed snarkiness) Miss, you're not telling those other girls off, why are you always picking on me?

Me:     I've never seen you before in my life.

I also had conversation with a boy I didn't know. It went something like this...

Kate: OK boys, move over to the side of the road

Boy:  We are on the side of the road Miss.

Kate: No worries, but can you move over more to the side.

Boy: We are on the side of the road  Miss.

Kate: Well you need to come over closer to the kerb, in case a car comes along.

Boy: No cars ever come along here Miss.

Kate: Well move to the side just in case?

Boy: We are on the side of the road Miss.

Kate: Please stop arguing with me and 'be cooperative'.*

Boy: I'm not arguing with you Miss.

Kate: You are contradicting everything I say.

Boy: No I'm not Miss.

Kate: Have you ever seen the Monty Python argument scene?

Boy: I don't watch Monty Python Miss.

Kate: Well you sound like the fellow in that.

Boy: No I don't Miss. (- he didn't actually say this one but I imagined hm saying it anyway ;)

Well despite the aggro - I did enjoy bing outside and walking fast. It invigorated me and for that I am very grateful.

MONTY PYTHON's ARGUMENT SKETCH
Man 1     Didn't.
Man 2    Yes I did.
Man 1    Didn't.
Man 2    Yes I did!!
Man 1    Look, this isn't an argument.
Man 2    Yes it is.
Man 1    No it isn't, it's just contradiction.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is.
Man 2    It is not.
Man 1    It is. You just contradicted me.
Man 2    No I didn't.
Man 1    Ooh, you did!
Man 2    No, no, no, no, no.
Man 1    You did, just then.
Man 2    No, nonsense!
Man 1    Oh, look this is futile.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    I came here for a good argument.
Man 2    No you didn't, you came here for an argument.
Man 1    Well, an argument's not the same as contradiction.
Man 2    It can be.
Man 1    No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements to establish a definite proposition.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is. It isn't just contradiction.
Man 2    Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
Man 1    But it isn't just saying 'No it isn't'.
Man 2    Yes it is.
Man 1    No it isn't, Argument is an intellectual process ... contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is.
Man 2    Not at all.
Man 1    Now look!
Man 2    (pressing the bell on his desk) That's it. Good morning.
Man 1    But I was just getting interested. 
extract taken from http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode29.htm#11



* 'be cooperative' : Positive Behaviour for Learning. Students are supposed to respond when we ask them to cooperate. It is a better thing to ask for than obedience.