I gave up trying to sleep
after a rather restless night and was up and watching this week's
"Extant" before 6am. The plot of the show seems to
be being made up as the show goes along, but I found myself more and
more being amazed bythe fact that Halle Berry is only two years
younger than I am. The years have been much more forgiving to her
than they have to me.
I quickly had a look
on-line. Last night's on-line squabble seems to have died a death
which was probably for the best. Why is it that whenever I disagree
with someone I take the line of "I disagree with you for the
following reasons..." but when anyone disagrees with me they
take the line of "I disagree with you therefore you are a
bastard"?
This is getting just a
little bit wearing.
The morning's haul of
emails brought a little frustration. Having spent out recently to
replace my paper Ordnance Survey map of the East Kent area I am now
told that had I waited a few days I could have got the map a lot
cheaper by trading in my
old map in part exchange.
As I drove to work I
listened to the radio. Four out of every ten teachers have received a
slap (or worse) from
their pupils. Apparently "A lack of boundaries at home
was singled out as the top reason for challenging, disruptive or
violent behaviour".
I saw red on this one.
When I was a lad I didn't
see my father in the morning; he'd gone to work by the time I got up.
Most mornings I would get up myself, scoff brekkie and go to school
where I would spend most of the day. By the time I got home and had
some tea and done some homework it was usually bed time. Dad would
come home about two to three hours after I got home.
It was much the same when
my children were small. Whilst my mum laid down the law (as did "er
indoors TM") most fathers are working
every hour God sends. It is the teachers with whom the children spend
most of their time, and it is these same teachers who should be
setting some kind of moral and social example for the children.
Four out of ten teachers
have experienced physical violence from their charges. Teachers are
leaving the profession in droves because they are afraid. Doesn't
this tell us something? People don't like being hurt perhaps?
When I was a lad the
headmaster had a cane. He didn't need to wield it very often; the
threat was enough. But periodically some oik would cross the line and
would get two (NOT six) of the best. One boy had a sore arse
for a day; a thousand boys behaved themselves and did their lessons
(and didn't dream of attacking a teacher) for two years until
the next oik got lippy. I think that is a fair price.
However things have
changed at my old school. The cane has gone and I have heard recent
tales of children openly sniffing glue in the classrooms.
My children's headmaster
didn't have a cane. He had a permanently shut door (behind which
he hid) and employed a load of support staff armed with
politically correct platitudes. Whenever "My Boy TM"
misbehaved, the teachers never dreamed of punishing him; they would
sit down and try to discuss his crimes. He openly sneered at them.
And "Daddies Little Angel TM"'s
misdemeanours were rewarded with being given time off school so she
could "reflect".
I've always said both
fruits of my loin would have benefitted from a sore arse from their
teachers from time to time. And told them both so. And in retrospect
"Daddies Little Angel TM" has told
me she agrees with me.
I got to work,an d an
early start made for an early finish. From work I met Stevey at the
station and we went on for McScoff with Steve and Sarah. And having
McSoffed we went on to astro club.
I'd not been looking
forward to going tonight. In all honesty I've not really looked
forward to any of the club's meetings for some time. On the one hand
I get to meet with a dozen good friends and a couple of dozen of
other really good people that I have come to know over the years. On
the other hand I am made to feel very awkward by the attitude of
three people who make no secret of the fact that they detest me. It
is heartening to be assured by everyone else that they want me to
remain a part of the club despite the bullies, but I find it
difficult to ignore them.
Tonight I made a point of
making a joke of their attitude, but it is wearing a little thin...
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