At the chalkface
News
Finding your inner thug
TS ElioT taught English at or Arm Wrestling or Topless Darts
my old school in 1915. Not me – or ofsted on a wet Thursday.
Scimorph will help students to
– i’m not quite that much of a “Unsatis’ Thomas!”
ruin. But can you imagine being Naughty schoolboys? They’ve
in his class? Thomas Stearns gone feral. And high culture?
Eliot! The 20th century’s greatest literature? We don’t really do it
poet! All knowing. Severe. Stern anymore. We must peddle “trans-
keep up with science studies
even. You’d be quaking in your ferable skills for the global mar-
boots. Well, guess what? it was ketplace”. it used to be rich, com-
Thomas whose boots did the plex and dangerous. Now it’s been
quaking. it was Thomas who had gutted. it must be thin, simple and
by Pete Henshaw
the nervous breakdown. safe. But great literature
Was it the Great War? can’t always be jollied Scimorph, a 3D animated computer
The wastelands of up, thank goodness. character, will be helping to keep
West Wycombe? or Samuel Beckett, for pupils engaged with science as they
was it just naughty example, isn’t going to move from primary to secondary
schoolboys? They can put you in the corporate school.
kill the weak, the overly comfort zone. And Franz The character is part of a new
sensitive. Kafka isn’t going to nour- online resource, launched by
like English teach- ish those whizzo transfera- schools minister Vernon Coaker
ers. We are especially ble skills. He deals more in at last week’s BETT education
sensitive. We probably existential terror and ontolog- technology show, which is available
feel things more deeply ical insecurity – not too good to all students.
than the rest of you. We on the old CV. literature is Developed in consultation with
are voyagers of inner fierce magic. it can exact a the national Science learning
space, surfers of the price. What makes you good Centres, Scimorph reflects key
subconscious, connoisseurs at the poetry can make you aspects of the science curriculum at
of nuance and ambiguity – or rubbish at the discipline. Too key stage 2 and the online resource
“wimps”, “wusses” and worse thin-skinned and you’re toast. also features support materials for
as Dave Mania says. What does But too thick-skinned and you’re parents and teachers.
that benighted clot know? toast too – pedagogical toast. You Key focuses include special
Moreover, our delicate sen- can’t teach much. zones tackling curriculum topics
sibilities can make us vulner- it’s a delicate balance. such as gravity and sound. There is
able. We need more of what Dr Me? i’m well ‘ard. My advice also a “bug zone”, which looks at
Johnson called “stark insensibili- is to always err on the side of the spread of germs and infections.
ty” to survive. A thicker skin. The stark insensibility. A little goes a Former Tomorrow’s World Sciencehelp:StudentstryoutScimorphatlastweek’sBETTeducationaltechnologyshow
good doctor knew. He too was a long way. if that fails, get some presenter and national STEM
wuss and toast in the classroom. muscle in from “Thugs R Us” (science, technology, engineering science GCSEs is set to be a central to ensure that more young people interested in science and, alongside
The scrofula didn’t help. Naughty – or the unlettered lunk. They do and maths) careers co-ordinator, part of the proposed pupil and parent choose to study it post-16. Science traditional classroom experiments,
boys just mocked. He had a nerv- a lot of well ‘ard staring. You do a Kate Bellingham, said: “Scimorph guarantees, while schools must is important, it tells us about the it will help to bring the curriculum
ous breakdown just like that TS lot of well deep musing. And you is an innovative way to keep ensure that every pupil is encouraged world we live in and it is the bedrock alive.
Eliot. won’t go the way of poor Tom. children learning about science. to study at least two science GCSEs of our economy. it is crucial that “By harnessing new technology,
Well, old TS should try Encouraging young people to stay and that talented students have the we encourage the next generation we are giving every child access
teaching English today. Some • Ian Whitwham is a former engaged and interested in science opportunity to study triple science of technologists, engineers and to a new science resource in the
of their blogsites read like calls teacher. A book of his best ever is crucial to our future economy, (physics, chemistry and biology) by mathematicians. classroom and at home.”
to the Samaritans. Cultural columns is out now. For details, with more and more jobs requiring September 2014. “Science should also be fun. Access Scimorph at www.direct.
Wastelands? Try the Daily Sport email editor@sec-ed.co.uk maths and science skills.” Mr Coaker added: “We want to Scimorph is an innovative and gov.uk/scimorph and for more BETT
Encouraging children to take up keep children engaged in science exciting new way to keep children coverage, see pages 10 and 11.
Kent is bringing learning to life
Teachers
Great teachers know how to keep children from staring into space.
They use their own imagination to engage with their students. At Kent, we encourage
you to do exactly that. One of the largest authorities in the country, we offer a
huge range of schools, subjects and age groups to choose
between. You’ll also have plenty of opportunity to move
around and share your passion and creativity - just one of
the reasons 80% of people who teach in Kent stay in Kent.
Visit www.kent-teach.com
16 SecEd • January 21 2010
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