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There was another reason why I was enamoured of Michie’s book, ‘Holler if you hear me’, and this reason has more to do with the thesis that I am writing than anything else. I was impressed with the way that Michie structured his text. He begins by having a rich, detailed, narrative piece about a…

I recently read Gregory Michie’s book, ‘Holler if you can hear me’. It’s a powerful text that deals with his experiences as a beginning teacher in the Chicago Public School system. It’s confronting for the honesty that Michie brings to the text – both about the lives of the students that he attempting to teach,…

I’ve been reading ‘Can Education Change Society?’ by Michael W. Apple. If you don’t know, Michael W. Apple is one of the foremost critical pedagogues. He has worked closely with, amongst others, Paulo Freire in developing the various theories of critical pedagogy that are so often referred to in today’s educational arena. This volume, which…

At my school, we’ve started talking about writing a great deal. Not writing about writing, but it’s a start. Ha ha. It’s not before time – we have a large bottom end of students who are below national minimum standards for persuasive writing in the NAPLAN tests, so it’s important that we address these issues…

So, in 2014, the G20 summit is coming to Australia, and Australia is, I believe taking on the Chair for the G20. I think this is the first time that we’ve been the chair, so quite rightly it’s a bit of a big deal – a recognition of Australia’s place in the global economy, if…

I’ve been thinking a little about the etymology of the words that we use to describe the internet and the way we interact with data stored there – I don’t know, bit of an idle thought really. I’m not claiming that this is a particularly new or innovative line of thought, but it’s not something…

So I went to my first Coptic Orthodox wedding on the weekend. It was an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go. A very talented teacher from my school was getting married and they were having the whole Coptic ceremony. It was held at St George’s in Kensington, and…

Not that I’m usually concerned about trudging over previously covered ground but I probably should point out that this one is something that even I consider old material. Never mind: this has been rattling around in my head for a while, after the reading that I undertook in the school holidays. Not university reading, of…

There are parts of Austalia that are startlingly beautiful. I’m sure it’s true for pretty much everywhere in the world. When the sun is right, when the morning light is coming in at just the right angle, when there is the smell of dew in the air, and there’s enough of a chill to make…

They say a week in politics is a long time, and if there was ever a week to prove that right, it was probably this week. A prime minister – less famous for her progressive policy making than her backstabbing – has now been deposed herself, and Australia’s brief flirtation with a female PM seems…