Blog posts in May 2012 
-
Mobile phones in schools - ban them or embrace them?
Thursday 31 May 2012
Categories: Education, Technology & the Internet
Much is talked about the use of mobile phones in schools and some, including Michael Wilshaw—Ofsted chief inspector—think to ban them from schools universally would be a good move. Others agree with him and if you read the many comments on the major newspapers’ websites you would think that most of the country are in agreement.
I have thought about this. I worked in a school which in general banned children from bringing their phone to school and, if in exceptional circumstances...
-
Celebrities as role models?
Monday 21 May 2012
Categories: Careers, Media Influence, Role Models
The Independent recently reported on a survey carried out by Childwise, an independent market research company, for Girlguiding UK into role models and influences on girls of different ages. The newspaper tells us: ‘They look to Cheryl Cole, Katy Perry, Jessie J and Adele for their role models. But few girls can identify any successful businesswomen and most failed to name a single sportswoman,’ and, ‘The survey also found that girls and young women dismiss careers such as...
-
Stating the obvious...
Monday 14 May 2012
Categories: Family Relationships, Health, Higher Education, Media Influence, Parenting
Yes I know that a great deal of research is extremely useful but sometimes when I read newspaper headlines I just want to scream “Well obviously!” And at other times I seriously doubt the intelligence of the headline writers.
Two recent examples illustrate the cause of my frustration. The most recent concerned people who stay on in education longer. This, the newspapers report, “makes people smarter” and “results in superior memory skills later in life”. Isn’t it more likely...
-
Dealing even-handedly with controversial subjects...
‘The Independent’ last week reported that Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, was under pressure to publish guidance on how to approach the subject of abortion in schools, following the claim that groups campaigning against abortion are giving children false information. Such misinformation is, according to groups including the British Humanist Association, the National Union of Teachers and some Christian churches, spreading alarm amongst children.
Teaching sensitive subjects is...
-
The family that eats together...
Tuesday 1 May 2012
Categories: Family Relationships, Health, Parenting, Role Models
The Telegraph last week reported research from nutritional experts in the United States which found that children from homes where the family regularly sits down to eat together tend to eat more healthily than in homes where mealtimes are not considered family events. Such children are also less likely to be overweight, and tend to do better at school.
The research from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, analysed results from 68 separate studies before coming to these...