Did you hear about ‘tangerine gate’? Twitter is all a giggle about how a hoax call to a LBC radio show by Robert Popper, in which a factory worker recalls seeing Gordon Brown throwing a tangerine into a laminating machine during a visit, was reported as serious news in the mainstream press (e.g. Daily Telegraph, [...]
Archive for February, 2010
What Should We Believe?
Posted in Politics, tagged Media, politicians on February 28, 2010 | 5 Comments »
Should home educators pay the price for Khyra Ishaq?
Posted in Children, Education, Parents, Politics, tagged child protection, Education, government, legislation on February 27, 2010 | 13 Comments »
I read the harrowing case of Khyra Ishaq just before I cuddled my own daughter (3) to sleep last night. As I wrestled my arms out from under her, I held my face next to her podgy cheek. My thoughts turned to Khyra and, inevitably, food. My daughter loves breakfast. In the morning she takes [...]
Just let teachers do their jobs!
Posted in Children on February 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Finally! Thank you OFSTED. It’s about time someone spoke out against the constant changing of policies in schools in a drive to improve standards. Maybe the government will finally start to trust schools to get on with things without bombarding them incessantly with new ‘initiatives’ (aka more bloody paperwork and targets). The constant chopping and changing is confusing for pupils [...]
Is Cameron given an easy ride by the BBC?
Posted in Politics, tagged conservatives, economy, election, Media, politicians on February 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »
The International Monetary Fund yesterday said that our economy is too fragile to cut public spending. Quite significant news, I believe, given that the economy is the central issue in this election campaign. I’ve read about it only in the Guardian and the Mirror. It seems the Daily Mail think maternity leave is more important, the [...]
A liberal education
Posted in Children, Education, Politics, tagged Education, election, libdems, school on February 24, 2010 | 8 Comments »
We had announcements on labours education policy this week, their big idea being parental ability to sack heads. We’ve heard lots about the Tories plans for swedish schools. But what are the big ideas of the lib dems? Although they’re less effective at dominating the headlines, there are actually some really interesting ideas in the [...]
Parent Power
Posted in Education, Parents, Politics, tagged Education, Labour, parenting, school on February 23, 2010 | 8 Comments »
Have you ever been involved with your children’s school PTA? Have you experienced cliques of parents in the school playground? Have you felt marginalised or even…dare I say it?…bullied by other parents?? I bet the answer in many cases is ‘yes’. We often experience political machinations amongst parents concerning many issues ranging from whether the [...]
Ticking the right boxes
Posted in pregnancy, tagged fertility, postcode lottery on February 23, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Accessing fertility treatment on the NHS is a question of ticking the right boxes. We haven’t been able to have a second child, despite trying for the last three years. I have had to go through undignified testing, including a laparoctomy and I have been diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ which effects around 10% of couples [...]
Who needs policy?
Posted in Politics, tagged conservatives, election, Labour, Media, politicians, vote on February 22, 2010 | 5 Comments »
The last few days have seen lots of political activity. Brown the Bully. A future fair for all (complete with carousel??). Give labour a second chance. James Purnell standing down. It may well be a couple of months until the election – but the campaigns are all up and running, posters are being parodied, and [...]
Finding the Balance
Posted in Children, Parents, tagged parenting on February 22, 2010 | 3 Comments »
I don’t like the term ‘pushy parent’, yet I do intend to push my children. How do I find the balance, though, between encouraging and supporting my children, and being the kind of parent who focuses so much on the children’s potential that I forget to nurture them as I go? There’s also the danger [...]
