In France they know it as a ‘foulard’; in German it’s a ‘halstuch’. In Mexico and the Spanish speaking word it’s a ‘pañoleta’. But where people speak English, they often can’t quite reach agreement about what to call it. I’m referring, of course, to that triangular piece of cloth that a Scout rolls up and…
A little over a week ago, I wrote a blog post on the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I wrote of the victims and survivors of the bombs. I wrote of peace. At the time, I was in southern Japan, spending my holiday working with…
This morning, in just a few minutes time, at 8:15am, Hiroshima and Nagasaki will fall silent as tens of thousands of people pay tribute to the victims and survivors of the world’s first atomic bombs. In both cities will be young representatives of almost every nation in the world – Scouts, participating in the 23rd…
Speech Presented by Waa NKENG MUSI, Gold Award Holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Programme, Trainer of Trainers and Member of the African Regional Training Panel of the Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Award Programme and National Coordinator of the Gold Award Holders Association Cameroon at the Welcome Dinner of the Mr. John May,…
Yesterday afternoon I had the privilege of speaking at a high school graduation ceremony. At this time of year, these are happening all over North America, as hundreds of thousands of young people mark this important milestone in their life journeys. But I wasn’t in Canada or the USA. I was in…
I never set summer holiday homework for the children I used to teach. Each time I was tempted to do so, or felt the peer pressure of my fellow teachers, I remembered how dreadful summer projects used to be when I was at school and vowed never, ever, to inflict on my pupils the…
In just a few weeks’ time, thousands of teenagers will be traveling to Japan to attend the World Scout Jamboree. They’ll be flying in groups of around 36 young people, with each group accompanied by four long-suffering and truly wonderful volunteer adult leaders. If you’re one of those teenagers, or one of those adults –…
“Is that the Apple Watch?” asked someone this morning, “Have you regretted buying it yet?” My answer was a grin. And a definite “nope”. Now, I do recognise that I am a bit of a geek. And an Apple geek at that. But my Apple Watch is beautiful – and I think I do…
The London Times this morning is reporting that the headmistress of Cheltenham Ladies’ College, one of the UK’s most prestigious private schools, is considering getting rid of homework. Eve Jardine-Young, principal of the 162-year old school, where 92% of the GCSE were grades A* or A last year, has described ‘prep’ as Victorian, and…
Stories like this, which I’ve adapted from an American website, always have a way of putting the right perspective on life. Jean Thompson stood in front of her Year Five class on the very first day of school in the autumn and told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her…