Public school teachers who homeschool

A very few times in my life I have seen things so brave and unlikely that I have immediately feared that they would be destroyed and suppressed. The first was in November 1980 when I saw Polish shipyard workers, armed with nothing more than Christian faith and patriotism, challenging the entire homicidal might of the Soviet Empire, in the city of Gdansk. I described it as like seeing a fire burning under water, impossible, thrilling, like a waking dream, and probably doomed. I had exactly the same feeling when I visited the astonishing Michaela School in Wembley, North London . I was so frightened for this courageous, noble experiment that for a long time I preferred not to write about it. My endorsement of any cause is pretty certain to do it harm. For the Strictest Headmistress, Katharine Birbalsingh, is trying, almost alone, to revive the idea that children from ordinary homes, where the parents have no money or power, should be taught real knowledge in disciplined … [Read more...] about PETER HITCHENS: ‘Progressives’ who’d rather wreck the Tiger Head’s school than admit they’re wrong

A primary school teacher has been urged to leave his house "straight away" after he found a terrifying rag doll with a note claiming the house’s previous owners were murdered . Jonathan Lewis had been carrying out some DIY when he knocked through a wall to investigate a loose wire – only to instead stumble upon a chilling kid’s toy. The terrifying Victorian-style doll was sitting in a small wooden chair and had eerie yellow wool plaits. Although the 32-year-old was stunned to find the doll, the folded piece of paper on its lap with a blood-curdling message left him even more freaked out. It read: “Dear reader, thank you for freeing me! My name is Emily. “My original owners lived in this house in 1961. I didn’t like them, so they had to go. “All they did was sing and be merry. It was sickening. Stabbing was my choice of death for them so I hope you have knives. Hope you sleep well.” Jonathan had only just moved into the house in Walton, Liverpool – but his pals … [Read more...] about Teacher told to ‘leave house’ immediately after finding chilling doll with murder note

By Hazel Shearing Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Head teachers are warning of disruption in this summer's school exams amid a shortage of invigilators, fuelled by fears of catching Covid. The Association of School and College Leaders says staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being diverted from normal work to oversee the exams. Some parents, too, are being asked to help, according to some school staff. The Department for Education doesn't expect major problems as schools should have made "robust contingency plans". More students than ever are sitting in-person A-levels and GCSEs for the first time this week, after the last two years of traditional assessments were cancelled because of the pandemic. But fewer invigilators are returning to oversee them because they are worried about Covid or have moved on to other work, unions … [Read more...] about GCSE and A-level exam invigilator shortages mean parents and teachers are stepping in

By Bethan Lewis Published 4 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Fines for parents of children who miss school should be used with caution, the children's commissioner has said. Rocio Cifuentes said it had been a difficult time due to Covid and some children would need support going back. Education Minister Jeremy Miles said fixed penalty notices could be issued in "the most extreme cases" after they were discouraged when the pandemic hit. It comes as part of a "step up" in messaging about the importance of going to school amid concern over absences. Truancy fines for parents to return in Wales Longer school day: Wales pupils learn new skills One head teacher said children needed to be in school to "achieve, do well and be supported". At Mary Immaculate High School in Cardiff, the attendance at the moment is about 90% - in line with the … [Read more...] about Schools: Caution urged on fines for children’s absences

A first-of-its-kind national study of US Native American boarding schools that for over a century sought to assimilate Indigenous children into white society has identified more than 500 student deaths at the institutions, but officials expect that figure to grow exponentially as research continues. The Interior Department report released on Wednesday (local time) expands to more than 400 the number of schools that were established or supported by the US government, starting in the early 19th century and continuing in some cases until the late 1960s. The agency identified the deaths in records for about 20 of the schools . The dark history of Native American boarding schools – where children were forced from their families, prohibited from speaking their languages and often abused – has been felt deeply across Indian Country and through generations. Many children never returned home, and the Interior Department said that with further investigation the number of known student … [Read more...] about US finds 500 Native American boarding school deaths so far

(CBS News) Many of us end up throwing out food we think is past its prime - a habit that provides Food For Thought according to Tracy Smith: There are no hard-and-fast rules for food expiration dating. Most people don't want to take chances, so once food hits the printed expiration date, they simply toss it out. But tossing it out has become a problem in itself. It's been estimated that up to 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. goes right in the trash. "I can be as picky as everybody else," says Janet Kalish, and she can afford to be. She's no vagrant - Kalish is a New York City high school teacher who got fed up with seeing supermarkets toss out good food. So for the past eight years she's been doing her shopping on the streets. She told Smith, "I would say about 90 percent of what I eat is 'rescued food'" - food that comes from the garbage. And she doesn't need to look very hard. She showed Smith a "pretty close to a perfect eggplant," and loaves of bread still … [Read more...] about Rescuing wasted food to fight hunger

Traditionally, in most Middle Eastern countries, "it" is expected to happen on the wedding night for the first time. "But for most women, this is also the first time they are naked in front of anyone and the first time they see a penis in real life," Nour Emam, who runs Arab-English sex education courses, told DW. One doesn't have to be a psychologist to see that this could be more conducive to disaster than to romance and intimacy. For this reason, one of Emam's online courses is aimed at women who are about to get married. "We kind of walk them through the bodies and genitals and encourage them to talk to their partners before they tie the knot," Emam explained. She believes it is crucial to address the expectations of both partners. "For years and years, young girls are told that sex is something dirty, so they are scared and possibly not ready for penetration on their wedding night," Emam said. But "on the other hand, many men can't wait to live out all their teenage porn … [Read more...] about Let’s talk about sex, habibi!

Published 4 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Sheku Bayoh death inquiry The sister of a black man who died in police custody has told the BBC that she believes Scotland is a racist country. Sheku Bayoh, 31, died after being restrained by officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 2015. At a public inquiry into his death last week, his sister Kadi Johnson said she no longer feels safe in Scotland. She told BBC One Scotland's The Sunday Show that she now regrets encouraging her brother to move from London. Mr Bayoh's family believe that race played a part in his death. "Scotland is a place that I once loved and I felt safe in, but since my brother's death I don't feel safe anymore," Ms Johnson said. Asked if Scotland was a racist country, she replied: "For me I will say yes, I'm afraid I'll say yes because the way we have been treated." … [Read more...] about Sheku Bayoh’s sister says Scotland is a racist country

By Fiona Walker Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Russia-Ukraine war Five-year-old Oleksii, who now shares our Scottish house as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, refuses to speak Russian. His act of defiance began in Ukraine after he asked his mother: "Why do so many people speak Russian if the Russians came to kill us?" Before he arrived in Scotland a few weeks ago, Oleksii lived on the edge of Kyiv near the road that leads to Bucha. This was near where the column of Russian tanks lined up for an assault on the Ukrainian capital earlier in the war. Collecting the dead in Bucha His family could hear one explosion after the next and "saw the sky turn purple" so they fled to the west of the country in search of safety. I first met his mum Nataliia over a video call. I had been in touch with a contact I had … [Read more...] about The five-year-old Ukrainian learning to love Scotland

Ten people have been killed at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, including a police officer, after a shooter opened fire on customers and responding police. Law enforcement officials said a suspect was in custody but offered scarce details about the killings, including information about a possible motive. Boulder Police Commander Kerry Yamaguchi said in a brief news conference that the suspect was being treated for an injury. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, said officials were still working to notify family members of the victims. Dozens of emergency response vehicles lined the streets around the King Soopers store on Monday afternoon (local time) as police responded to the shooting. READ MORE: What we know about the victims of the Atlanta shootings Asian Americans speak up after silently enduring racism President Biden offering solace to grieving Asian Americans Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with customers rushing to exits at the … [Read more...] about Ten people, including a police officer, killed in shooting at US supermarket