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May 2011

What would make a perfect school?

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The children were asked what would make a perfect school and I thought how different a school could be depending on who was asked.

If I was a child my perfect school would be one where all my mates were. I’d be allowed to play and chat whenever I wanted to. There would be no homework and the lessons would be interesting. I would like to be top in my class at everything but if I couldn’t be I wouldn’t want to be laughed at. I also wouldn’t want my teacher to shout or sneer at me. I’d like a decent lunchtime with nice food and then enough time to play. I’d like my school to be nearby so I didn’t have to spend all my time on buses. I’d like longer summer holidays and fewer exams. As I get older I’d like the teachers to notice and stop treating me like a baby and appreciate that my hormones are absolutely out of control, as is my ability to be awake at 9.00 a.m. Finally, when I pass all my exams I want people to say “well done” not “exams are easier these days”

If I was a teacher my ideal school would be one where I was valued. My boss would support me and back me up as would my staff. I would be well paid to reflect how important what I do is and I wouldn’t be mocked for always being “on holiday”. When I entered a classroom it would be great if there was silence, it would be lovely to have a class of students ready to learn. It would also be nice to know if my students could speak English or if they had been moved care homes the night before. It would be nice not be called a “stupid b**ch,” it would be even nicer that, if the name calling was reported, that disciplinary action might take place.

I’d really love to be able to teach a subject the way that I knew worked. I’m sure I would get very fed up at having to take on a new teaching style every two years to reflect a new government policy. It would also be great if the examination system could just stay the same. I’d also not like to be judged by double standards, if my pupils fail an exam that’s my fault but if they pass an exam then the system’s too easy.

If I was a parent I would like my child to leave school believing that they could rule the world if they wanted to. I would want them to look back at school as a happy and enjoyable time; I would also want them to have learnt useful and interesting things. It seems that it’s too much to ask but if they have a cookery lesson I would like them to learn how to cook rather than how to assemble a salad and design a wrapper for a pasty. I wouldn’t want my child to be so stressed by the idea of failing to get 30 A* GCSEs that they can’t sleep night after night. I wouldn’t want my child to see drugs in their school and teachers being sworn at

I would want them to be safe from intimidation from other pupils and I would not want my child to come home to tell me how much their teacher shouts at the whole class the whole time. I’d like them to do more games and sports and more homework. I’d like the school to keep in touch with me and let me know how my child was doing. I’d also want the school to have greater power to dismiss bad teachers before they ruined my child’s brief stay at school.

The one thing in common would be that whoever I was, teacher, child or parent I would want to be treated with respect and I would behave accordingly.

Why Great Britain? Because we are!

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It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again I promise. The boys were lined up for their last rugby match, a cold wind was blowing and I did it, I went and said “at least it’s not raining!” ‘twasn’t five minutes before the heavens opened and we ran for our cars. Well we did, the boys had to play on slippy grass and rock hard ground. Bad mother.

It’s been a lovely run of weather, in fact it’s been the hottest April on record which makes me wonder what July and August might be like. A friend came back from Portugal where they had had 7 days of rain to find everyone in the UK browner than she was. That’s not right. Well, it’s not right but it is nice. It was great to have a good sunny Easter and I’m so glad that it lasted long enough for everyone to enjoy their street parties and for all of those mad fools that flocked to London to stand in massive crowds I’m glad that it was dry for them too.

I really enjoyed the wedding, I’ll be honest and confess that I didn’t watch it live, I needed to get new wetsuits for the boys and I figured the roads would be empty during the actually ceremony. I can smugly announce that I was right and I nipped over to Newquay in record time and then came back and watched the recording. It was fabulous, I love all the pomp and circumstance, I’m not one for doffing my cap or thinking anyone is “better” than me but I do love to see celebrations and to see our nation at its most majestic best. I belted out Bread of Heaven along with the congregation, wondered aloud why Sarah’s daughters couldn’t afford mirrors and loved the inspirational trees in the cathedral. How beautiful were they!? Their tall towering columns were radiant against the marble columns of the cathedral, I thought it was inspired. I don’t think some potted plants in Hurley Books would have the same affect but it did make me want to transform the shop into an arboretum. From trees to books – a perfect match.

I didn’t expect the boys to like it but they were equally taken with the whole affair, they were most impressed with the regimented marching and had lots of questions “Did the Queen have a gun in her bag?” What if Katherine said no?” “If Harry shot William would the police shoot Harry?” “Were the Royal Lifeguards from Newquay?” “Can we have an Aston Martin” and so on.

It just made me realise how great the Olympics are going to be. Now they ARE people who are “better” than me and I’ll really be pleased and proud to cheer them on. I tried to buy tickets but found the whole procedure so hit and miss and rather expensive that I’ll wait until the autumn when they offer up the spares. I’d love to take the boys to the opening or closing ceremonies and a medals day, I’m not sure about sailing because as much as they love it, it is a rather difficult spectator sport. Steve’s concerned that numbers for beach volleyball may be low so feels that we should go and support that event. Steve also thinks I was born yesterday.

Even if we don’t get to see anything live we can still watch on television and enjoy all that will be going on. I can’t wait and I just know what a success it will be because my god the wedding was perfect so we know we can pull off huge events and have the entire world look at us and cheer.

London Book Fair 2011

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This was our first visit to the Book fair so here’s a hotch potch of what we liked.

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

“Adopt a Book” Now obviously you should only think of doing this when your allocation of children, goats and orangutans is used up but what a fun idea. Launched by The Royal College of Surgeons of England, this scheme asks for help in repairing and rebounding the older and more decrepit books in their library.

Attended an interesting talk on bookshop newsletters hosted by the following three shops https://www.warwickbooks.net/  All three shops have a very different approach to us which was great as it challenged our own ideas. Anyway, good or bad – ours will be on its way soon.

Maybe Hurley Books will be selected to host a fantastic literary event? We’re adding our hat into the mix and if you’d like to attend something fabulous in Cornwall nominate us at this link. www.telegraph.co.uk/bookclubtour

I loved this publisher – they do really high end facsimilies . https://www.moleiro.com/. No price to be found anywhere. There were loads of gorgeous books to look at.

We’re going to be stocking this title.  I like Cicerone Guides as they are succinct, up to date and accurate.  They are a bit more gung ho about how many miles you can cover in a day than I am but then I’m basically lazy so I’ll give it to them.  I’ll do a bit and let you know how it goes 🙂

https://www.hive.co.uk/  This is a new initiative to support independent bookshops. Soon you will be able to order all your new books through Hurley Books as we will have access to the massive Gardeners warehouse and distribution centre.  Books will be dispatched from them overnight to ensure next day delivery.  You can either collect the book from the shop, great if you’re on holiday or have it posted to your home, handy if you don’t live near us. Every book you order through Hive / Hurley Books we get a commission and you get a great discount and free fast postage.

The upshot of Simon Middleton’s Build a Brand lecture was “Have a story” – but what’s the Hurley Books story? What’s our unique selling point. I doubt “we wanted to make some money” is going to cut it but then neither is “we really love books.”  I shall have to give this some thought.

I don’t like “emmets” – the word that is!

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Saw my first feathered swallows this week and it was wonderful. Given the great weather we’ve been having I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve been around longer but if they have I’ve not been observant enough. In Tenerife, when the summer ends and the winter tourists and holidaymakers arrive they call them “swallows” in common with the birds they are leaving the cold northern shores for warmer climes. It’s said with fondness and not a little bit of smugness, those on the island revel in the fact that their island is so loved that people flock to it all year around supporting their economy long into the winter months.

How much nicer a description than “emmet.” It’s said that when the Tamar Bridge first opened someone quipped that as the line of traffic crawled across they looked like emmets – the Cornish word for ants. I can’t find anything to back this up though; the other suggestion is that as the holiday makers swarm around on the beaches getting redder and redder again like ants. Still I suppose “ants” does make sense, what I think doesn’t make sense is the snide, sneery way that it is said. Maybe some say the word with kindness but I’ve never heard it used nicely. Now I’ll put my hands up here and confess that I am not Cornish – and as I’ve only been here 12 years I’m still classed as an “incomer” another friendly welcoming term but my children are born here so maybe they’ll be hope for us in a century or two.

The point is that I’ve never been made to feel unwelcome; I find Cornwall a very friendly and open county. When I meet people for the first time I don’t check out their lineage and they don’t check out mine, we meet as equal strangers and we either like each other or not. It’s never based on where our grandparents are buried. So I find it disheartening to hear people being called emmets or bloody emmets or worse. Of course it’s maddening when they get in the wrong lane on the mini roundabout but who ever heard of a three lane mini roundabout anyway? And yes I know it’s enough to make you weep when you are bonnet to bonnet with a car pulling a caravan along a lane but I bet they’re weeping more.
I’ve met as many rude Cornish as I have visitors and the fact that some use the word “emmet” in a derogatory fashion proves the point. We live in a great county no wonder people want to visit or live here who can blame them, they come and bring their hard earned money which I for one am rather glad to see as are a great many other businesses in the county.

I like Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby, be nice to people and most of them will be nice back, call them names, belittle them and sneer at them and they may well do the same back. Now I’m back off out to enjoy this glorious weather, I hope when you read this it’s still good.