The bandwagon continues to roll. Facebook Places is a voluntary new application on Facebook that tells your friends where you are. That’s nice. Being voluntary, you can elect not to tell certain friends and you can elect not to take part at all. Sounds pretty good to me.
So in times where it is vitally important not to conceal our middle names to nextdoor’s dog in case he uses the information to steal your bank details, your burglar alarm code and your husband, we all need to think about how we present ourselves on the Internet. I’ve come up with a few rules.
- If you’re naked, put some clothes on. Easy peasy. On the Internet, it’s just as simple. If you put anything you’re sensitive about on the Internet (more fool you), then maybe you should think about hiding it. On Facebook, take a look at your privacy settings. It’s not as hard as the press make out. It’s all on the Privacy Settings tab.
- Have a look in the mirror. If you see something strange on yourself, then you know what other people can see. Try to find your online profiles in another web browser where you don’t have any stored cookies. If you see things that you wished weren’t there, other people can see too. Then get rid, hide it, or get used to it.
- If you leave your door open, people can get in. Don’t stay logged in to Facebook on public or shared computers. If you’re worried that others could access your profile from your computer, then log out there, too.
Hope that helps.
...with one reply so far.
I know I have been neglecting this blog. Being in the teaching profession you have to be very careful what you say in any medium, not least the Internet where it is difficult to remain hidden. I intend to make a patchy return from my blogging exile.
At the moment I am exactly equidistant between the rock and a hard place. I am unable to decide on my next steps and this is not entirely due to my indecision. To those that know me, they will know that I haven’t qualified as a teacher and that I need to undertake a further final placement. I have some options open to me.
I could do exactly that. That is certainly not the easiest option. Without getting into “administration hiccups”, which are frustrating, I need to find accommodation for three months and get the money to pay for it. With regard to the accommodation, services attached to the university have been rather unhelpful — even delaying the return payment of our deposits for last year’s accommodation. Few private landlords are willing to offer such short term lets. In the absence of being able to give assurances on my future location this has added to the delay of finding me a potential school to do my placement in.
There is the option to abandon the idea of teaching completely, which I am not keen to do but seems the more realistic option. I am uncertain of the viability of this option. Judging where I am now compared to the desolate, disheartening place I was at this time last year, I feel I am in a worse position, somehow. Any potential employer worth their salt will ask me about the previous year and the reasons for not completing the course. Therefore, any role I take is likely to be menial. I have to be prepared for that, but I hope that anyone can see why this is less desirable to me than my first option.
I met and became friends with some absolutely unforgettable and brilliant people during my time there and, dare I say it, friends for life! But though I know I shouldn’t, I feel a little regretful that I went there.
...with no replies just yet.
Have a read of this article on the BBC News website. There are two important points that Frank Field MP proposes with regard to parenting and education. Seeing as education is an important aspect of my life, I comment.
The first point is that there should be more education in schools about parenting and how to become good parents. In fact, he cites a recent visit to a Birkenhead school where a group of 15 year olds suggested this would be the first thing they would wish to learn in school. That might seem extreme, but a lot of soon-to-be adults realise that they aren’t well equipped to be parents, and given some children become parents before adulthood perhaps that request becomes more pertinent.
The second suggestion Field makes is that parenting could become a GCSE subject:
“What I’m looking at now is whether we could teach it [parenting] through the other subjects, but also that the modules could actually be built into a separate GCSE,” he said.
“And in a sense the bonus would be both for the pupils and the schools that they’d be picking up an extra GCSE.”
MP thinks parenting GCSE could tackle ‘toerag parents’, BBC News
I would say, “wrong”. The problem with a GCSE is that it would have to be earned for it to be considered compatible and as worthy as other GCSEs. Therefore, there would have to be people that would fail GCSE Parenting. And what of them? Will they be prevented from becoming parents? Or will they be made to undertake the course again? Would those that pass the course be deemed “good parents” — will those with A* grades be encouraged to become foster parents?
Parenting education is genuinely a good idea, and many children progress through school and leave without really having gained an understanding of life skills. However, this is one of the vast list of topics that should be considered in a PSHE education (take a look at the PSHE Association website). My criticism is that schools pay little heed to PSHE education… cynics might speculate as to the reason.
...with one reply so far.
It was quite an eventful day, and most definitely a good one! We went to Hanley where Emlyn and I bought golf clubs while Jack was predisposed. We convened and had a Chinese buffet before watching some rugby.
Ordinarily I would find that quite dull, but it was alright really. Newcastle won (that’s the rugby team, of course) and I took part in a raffle where I won the only prize – a bottle of gin!
Emlyn had a good day as well, winning a fiver on a scratchcard. We all went out to the Old Brown Jug to celebrate John’s birthday, which is where I sit now. It’s all been very enjoyable but I am extremely tired now; and those magic governmental pixies are stealing one hour of my bedtime!
...with no replies just yet.
I’m not sure about this watching rugby in the student union. No-one really appears to be supporting England at all and people keep clapping. It strikes me as weird. They can’t hear you in Keele…
...with no replies just yet.
So great to be on a train again. Mother trying to navigate three very young children with her limited but nonetheless colourful vocabulary. I’m trying to do an assignment here!
I finished my week-long primary placement on Friday. I’ll miss those kids! They were cheeky at times but they were friendly and we had a laugh. I most likely cemented myself in lore by falling unexpectedly and acrobatically trying to play football with them. Lesson learned.
And now I’m on my way back to Keele having watched Newcastle draw again. Thinking about a nice cup of tea…
...with no replies just yet.
I’ve taken respite from the world of… nothing. I’m in Lincolnshire to visit my grandparents. We went to Lincoln today, which was quite nice but it rained a lot. They say the weather is very localised around here. I’ve noticed that. It’s reminded me of that song… “Why does it always rain on me?” – Travis, is who that was.
I have received some sort of confirmation that I’ve been offered a place on the PGCE course – conditional on my satisfactory criminal record and health. They should be fine, except I’m not sure whether I’m a hypochondriac or a hyperchondriac! I live with the determination that there must be something wrong with me, but not the inclination to go and find out what that is! So I could get all-clear good news or double-whammy bad news. However, seeing as I’m in Lincs at the moment, I’m not likely to find out any time soon.
So in some regard, I can’t wait to get back and sort things out. However, that’s also something I’m very much not looking forward to!
...with no replies just yet.
Everything seemed fine until I got to Manchester Piccadilly. There it poured down: an omen of things to come. An announcement rang out, informing that my train was to be moved to another platform. Quite which platform was unknown to passengers because a rather loud, mouthy announcer voiced her announcement all over the top of it. In the event, it was moved to the next platform. Even so… not very good.
Without too much further frustrations I arrived at Stoke, where it was pouring even heavier. I had a look for the bus station and walked in one direction for about a minute before deciding it must have been the other way. It transpired Stoke’s bus station is actually Stoke’s train station with a bus shelter outside. So I was a little wet, and those already seeking shelter under the bus stop were curiously reluctant to allow a further lost soul camp under it. So I got even wetter.
The bus did eventually come, however where it stopped I was pretty clueless. I found that Keele University was a rather bewildering place, and being unclear on where to get off, I just stayed onboard until the driver alerted me it was the last stop.
I got my map out and tried to work out where to go. After twenty minutes of lonely wandering in the torrential rain and two phone calls later, I found out I was at the right place after all. The automatic doors weren’t automatic and I needed to pull instead of push. Anyway, I was a little wet and my map was beyond redemption. I quickly developed a stonking migraine which kept me awake (and violently moving, shaking, punching and kicking) much of the night.
At the moment, I am in the lounge of the Management Centre, using the free wireless. I am doing this because I am to be interviewed last and was invited to leave and come back later. So thus I am, watching the cricket with one wicket to fall. As for the interview, I’m not greatly confident. But oh well…
...with no replies just yet.
…but I have to. Another interview, miles upon miles away. Despite being in a fantastic position, with the experience I have accrued, I can’t help but feel I’m still not a teacher, qualified or otherwise.
But having spent so much time, effort and money in order to get to this point, I mustn’t let my hesitations impede the interview.
...with no replies just yet.
WordPress
Entries
Delicious
Reddit