I have just been seeing some of the unkind comments made regarding the young lady who showed herself to be so clever and knowledgeable on the TV quiz show "University Challenge".
Why are people so afraid of learning, that they have to attack those who have made efforts to do so? I would much rather meet, or read about, those who have put knowledge to use for the benefit of society - the scientists and engineers whose efforts have shaped much of the world around us. Not for me, speaking personally, the pop stars and media 'celebrities' who seem to seek only fame and fortune.
But then, I would say that, as I have been a teacher of science and continue to take an interest in promoting science.
"Regard Man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasure, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom." Baha'i Writings
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Human Rights
Yesterday was the anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, although it seems to have been unnoticed by many people. We do not realise, many of us, how fortunate we are. Only by observing the atrocities and suffering of others do we seem to recognise our own good fortune.
Sadly, although there are numerous problems that are daily reported in our news, there are others that go unreported. The plight of the Baha'is in Iran is one such example. Without any recognition by the state, they are denied education, employment and pensions. They are continually harrassed and daily face the prospect of imprisonment.
Sadly, although there are numerous problems that are daily reported in our news, there are others that go unreported. The plight of the Baha'is in Iran is one such example. Without any recognition by the state, they are denied education, employment and pensions. They are continually harrassed and daily face the prospect of imprisonment.
Friday, 31 October 2008
education - again
Wind forwards over a year from my last post on this topic, but throughout that time I find that education has been constantly in my thoughts. Whether it is my daughter going through college, or the study circles that are a popular feature of Baha'i activities, or the discussions at work on staff performance reviews, I cannot get away from the subject of learning.
What started as a simple question relating to peer review of computer code has moved, through a simple observation by myself, into a discussion on opportunities for staff development and training. All I did was to suggest that it should not be limited to one member of staff review the work of one other member in the same team. Perhaps, said I, that if a group of staff from several teams met together, they could learn from the different approaches to coding and testing that had been taken by other teams.
"Forget your own selves and turn your eyes towards your neighbour. Bend your energies to whatever may foster the education of men." Baha'i Writings
What started as a simple question relating to peer review of computer code has moved, through a simple observation by myself, into a discussion on opportunities for staff development and training. All I did was to suggest that it should not be limited to one member of staff review the work of one other member in the same team. Perhaps, said I, that if a group of staff from several teams met together, they could learn from the different approaches to coding and testing that had been taken by other teams.
"Forget your own selves and turn your eyes towards your neighbour. Bend your energies to whatever may foster the education of men." Baha'i Writings
Saturday, 20 September 2008
crash, bang and wallop
The world has gone mad.
Crash - Financial institutions in chaos (those that still exist), turmoil in the markets, government bail-outs to some and not others, restrictions on the types of trading that can be carried out in an attempt to stop speculators, and lack of confidence by many. These are some of the results of this week, described as "never experienced anything like it since 1929".
Bang - problems with the LHC in CERN means that the "big-bang" 'atom smasher' will have to be shut down for repairs, before it has been used in a serious experiment.
And Wallop - Baha'is are still imprisoned in Iran, denied access to education, their administration disbanded years ago because of government orders. And now a petition being circulated round mosques calling for the dissolution of the Baha'i administration. Sorry, is the government of the country so out of touch with what it has already done in the past? Or is it just stirring up hatred for the Baha'i minority in the land of its birth? Thanks to Iranpresswatch for this news.
"Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath paused to reflect what the cause or source of that might be. Whenever the True Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo they all denounced Him as a mover of mischief and rejected His claim." Baha'i Writings
Crash - Financial institutions in chaos (those that still exist), turmoil in the markets, government bail-outs to some and not others, restrictions on the types of trading that can be carried out in an attempt to stop speculators, and lack of confidence by many. These are some of the results of this week, described as "never experienced anything like it since 1929".
Bang - problems with the LHC in CERN means that the "big-bang" 'atom smasher' will have to be shut down for repairs, before it has been used in a serious experiment.
And Wallop - Baha'is are still imprisoned in Iran, denied access to education, their administration disbanded years ago because of government orders. And now a petition being circulated round mosques calling for the dissolution of the Baha'i administration. Sorry, is the government of the country so out of touch with what it has already done in the past? Or is it just stirring up hatred for the Baha'i minority in the land of its birth? Thanks to Iranpresswatch for this news.
"Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath paused to reflect what the cause or source of that might be. Whenever the True Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo they all denounced Him as a mover of mischief and rejected His claim." Baha'i Writings
Friday, 24 August 2007
Where are all the scientists?
As has become a habit over the last few years, the release of the GCSE results has been accompanied by comment in the media on the decreasing numbers of students taking mathematics or science.
Personally I am not surprised. What role models do our youngsters have? What is portrayed in the very media that bewail the lack of science students? It seems to me that the only role models portrayed are the sports personalities and the celebrities of the showbiz world. Whenever scientists appear, they are often portrayed as badly dressed, speaking words that most people do not understand and frequently lacking in social graces.
Also, perhaps, our concern for the safety of the pupils in schools has led to the curtailment of many experiments in classrooms. Science is now seen by many as 'boring' as much content is conveyed by watching videos. Gone are the times when pupils were let loose with geiger counters and radioactive materials (even though they were less active than the luminous paint used in the wrist watches of those days!), microwave transmitters (er, what about the mobile phones most youngsters now carry in their pockets?), static electricity generators and reactive chemicals. They were the things that excited me and instilled in me a love of science. How do teachers convey the excitement of science, if all the pupils can do is sit and watch?
Personally I am not surprised. What role models do our youngsters have? What is portrayed in the very media that bewail the lack of science students? It seems to me that the only role models portrayed are the sports personalities and the celebrities of the showbiz world. Whenever scientists appear, they are often portrayed as badly dressed, speaking words that most people do not understand and frequently lacking in social graces.
Also, perhaps, our concern for the safety of the pupils in schools has led to the curtailment of many experiments in classrooms. Science is now seen by many as 'boring' as much content is conveyed by watching videos. Gone are the times when pupils were let loose with geiger counters and radioactive materials (even though they were less active than the luminous paint used in the wrist watches of those days!), microwave transmitters (er, what about the mobile phones most youngsters now carry in their pockets?), static electricity generators and reactive chemicals. They were the things that excited me and instilled in me a love of science. How do teachers convey the excitement of science, if all the pupils can do is sit and watch?
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Education, Education and yet again - Education
"Man is a mine rich in gems of inestimable value, lack of a proper education hath deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess." (Baha'i Writings)
This week has been all about education for our family.
Our daughter went to an end of year party for those leaving school; my wife attended a party at the school she taught at which was celebrating 40 years since the school opened; and I spent several days on a training course for Software Testing.
There are some who thing that once they leave school, that is the end of their education. I disagree, as do many more. There are training courses for adults on many different aspects of life - whether it be through employment training, religious groups running (Baha'i 'Study Circles', Christian Bible classes and so on), or through a club such as sports training, learning a new skill or hobby.
Every day is an opportunity to be a better person than the day before. Kinder, gentler, more compassionate, more skilled - that is what we all need to become. Go to it!
This week has been all about education for our family.
Our daughter went to an end of year party for those leaving school; my wife attended a party at the school she taught at which was celebrating 40 years since the school opened; and I spent several days on a training course for Software Testing.
There are some who thing that once they leave school, that is the end of their education. I disagree, as do many more. There are training courses for adults on many different aspects of life - whether it be through employment training, religious groups running (Baha'i 'Study Circles', Christian Bible classes and so on), or through a club such as sports training, learning a new skill or hobby.
Every day is an opportunity to be a better person than the day before. Kinder, gentler, more compassionate, more skilled - that is what we all need to become. Go to it!
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