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Anarchy in the UK

Alan CoadyNovember 4th, 2007

Today I received an email from the RSA alerting me to an interesting event which I simply can’t attend. Why do I enlist for newletters from organisations 400 miles away? The main reason is to remind me to keep in touch with what these interesting organisations are doing. By visiting the Index of audio lectures you can listen live or, later, listen again to this Thursday’s debate with Lord Adonis chairing entitled Rethinking Schooling.

It was while browsing this archive that I came across a very interesting debate entitled Teen Rage - Anarchy in the UK.

Chaired by Ravi Chandiramani (editor of “Children and Young People Now”), the panel included:

Janey Walker (Head of Education, Channel 4)
Camila Batmanghelidjh (psychotherapist and Founder, Director of Kids Company)
Francis Gilbert (teacher and author of “I’m A Teacher Get Me Out Of Here” , “Teacher On The Run” & “Yob Nation”)
Dr Anthony Seldon - the only one to bring some young people with him. One of them pointed out that “…we are expecting more and more of our young people, but believing in them less and less.â€ Another stressed that there is little point in involving young people in lessons in well-being if the rest of their day is directed by staff who exhibit very little of that quality.

Including the vigorous debate which followed the invited speakers, the whole thing lasts for 90 minutes but is very stimulating for anyone involved with young people. It is currently top of the list in the archive.

The event was reminiscent of In The Wild - a fringe event (sponsored by Channel 4) at the Scottish Learning Festival.

Categories: Behind-the-scenes, Health, Physical Education, Science

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2 Responses to “Anarchy in the UK”

Ewan McIntosh November 4th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
It’s not surprising there are similarities - it was the same empresario, Steve Moore, behind both I was lucky enough to attend the debate but, fighting jetlag, had to leave before too much of the debate had kicked off. I have to say I didn’t agree with everything the speakers said. In particular, I find it odd to teach happiness as a separate subject. Does this imply that the others are all so unhappy that a topup is needed every week?
Alan Coady November 4th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Ewan,

I imagine that rather than implying that all other subjects are, by their nature, unhappy, the idea is more to remove all distractions and simply to concentrate on, say, breathing or tension in the muscles. I think that”well-being” is a less freighted title than “happniess.”

Ewan McIntosh November 4th, 2007 at 1:22 pm

It’s not surprising there are similarities - it was the same empresario, Steve Moore, behind both

I was lucky enough to attend the debate but, fighting jetlag, had to leave before too much of the debate had kicked off. I have to say I didn’t agree with everything the speakers said. In particular, I find it odd to teach happiness as a separate subject. Does this imply that the others are all so unhappy that a topup is needed every week?

Alan Coady November 4th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

Ewan,

I imagine that rather than implying that all other subjects are, by their nature, unhappy, the idea is more to remove all distractions and simply to concentrate on, say, breathing or tension in the muscles. I think that”well-being” is a less freighted title than “happniess.”