This is Northumberland Calling 19.5.23
Phonics rules okay and the grown ups in the room may be growing in number edition
The change to teaching reading by way of phonics has paid off in England as the country finished 4th overall in a comparison of reading comprehension. People who are interested in improving the literacy rate in the US should take note of England’s achievement. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/16/our-obsession-with-phonics-has-worked/ or https://archive.is/jJGW7
Lego your exam stress. Oxford and Cambridge are intent on infantalizing students in an attempt to help with mental health and well being during exam time. Coloured pencils, sponsored hide and seeks, lego stations, various stress balls have all been made available in an attempt to prevent suicides and mental breakdown as the waiting list to access the counselling is too long. Some students have complained of being mollycoddled. Cutting the waiting list through hiring competent counsellors etc might be more effective but what do I know? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lego-cure-for-cambridge-university-exam-stress-ghf7wvvcf or https://archive.is/OMBR0
After the Free Speech Union wrote to Oxford, explaining its disquiet at the Kathleen Stock affair and the ways in which Oxford University Student Union has broken various codes of conduct surrounding free speech at the university, Oxford University waded into the row and said that the Oxford Union would not be banned from the Freshers fair after all and that Kathleen Stock should be permitted to speak. The FSU letter is here: https://freespeechunion.org/letter-to-the-oxford-university-proctors-about-ousus-vote-to-deny-the-oxford-union-a-slot-at-freshers-fair-in-october/ And this is the Telegraph report on the Oxford intervention: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/18/oxford-university-free-speech-trans-row-kathleen-stock/ or https://archive.is/hLkeG Toby Young who founded the FSU is truly a grown up in the room.
The Scottish transgender butcher who abducted and raped an 11 year old girl has admitted his crime and pleaded guilty. At his request, male pronouns are being used. The man in question was dressed as a woman when he lured the girl into the car, something Shona Robinson, a SNP MSP swore never, ever happened. ‘Lord Arthurson deferred sentence on Miller to obtain reports about whether he meets the criteria for an order for lifelong restriction. This is an effective life sentence and offenders are released once the parole board are satisfied they no longer pose a threat to public safety. They then spend the rest of their lives being closely monitored by the authorities. The case will next be heard in August. Addressing Miller, Lord Arthurson said: “Your actions represent abhorrent crimes of the utmost depravity and criminality. Your actions in this case are the realisation of every parent’s worst nightmare.”’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65610429 or https://archive.is/2stJ9
The Chelsea Flower Show happens 23 -27 May and is a big showcase for British gardening trends. As the Royal Horticultural Society is trying to make gardening more environmentally friendly, there is a huge push towards rewilding and sustainability. Some more traditionally minded gardeners are not happy about this. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/the-big-hope-for-the-2023-chelsea-flower-show-a-crop-of-gardens-that-can-be-enjoyed-by-people-255780
Sir Salman Rushdie was given the freedom to publish award. He gave a robust defence of the freedom of speech, freedom of expression. Truly one of the grown ups i nthe room. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/rushdie-awarded-freedom-to-publish-award-at-nibbies or https://archive.is/Cy08v And this is the Telegraph’s take: https://archive.is/AmYMA
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral cost £164 million, including £74 million from the Home Office which will have included things like the extra police. It works out at about £2 per every person in the UK. Consider what she gave the country. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/05/18/queen-elizabeth-ii-funeral-costs-government-money/ or https://archive.is/A6axq
Five years ago today, the Ginger Ninja married an actress from California and became the Duke of Sussex. The Telegraph looks at the ups and downs of the marriage, including that they no longer move together like salt and pepper and that the Duke has taken to spending time away at a hotel and some super secretive members club – San Vincente Bungalows. After all looking two toddlers and having a memoir ghost-written takes its toll. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/05/19/harry-meghan-sussex-marriage/ or https://archive.is/Omc21
Finally, the island which provided the yew wood for Robert the Bruce’s archer’s long bows has come up for sale. Robert the Bruce apparently had 800 yew trees planted in the ancient woodland. Inchlonaig is one of the larger island on Loch Lomond and boasts of 2 bedroom cottage and 3 derelict bothies. The nearest town Luss is a 10 minute sped boat ride away. Yours for £990,000. Loch Lomond is a holiday destination for many who live in Glasgow. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/loch-lomond-island-sale-is-chance-to-buy-a-piece-of-scottish-heritage-jx79mrx63 or https://archive.is/OsnEW
And this was late in but made me laugh: And the Cambridge University Footlights, the incubators of comedy from Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and John Cleese ,to name but a few , are now offering a sensitivity reading for all comedy sketches, optional of course. ‘to check for potential oversights regarding racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism, or any other kind of sensitive or upsetting material’ I suspect there might be a sketch about that… https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/cambridge-footlights-launch-sensitivity-reading-service/ or https://archive.is/KtGSl
"Cutting the waiting list through hiring competent counsellors etc might be more effective but what do I know?"
What DO You know, Michelle? Or, what do You KNOW! Or, simpler yet: You DO know. I thought that about the Oxford children was satire, until I read Alison's fine comment(s). Man...
I've been interesting in improving the literacy rates, which is why I bought some copies of Siegfreid Engelmann's book "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." I donno what to say about Americans and learning to read, write, and even think upon an occasion. I guess it's like over there, and the unions have a vested interest in maintaining they know best, when these methods were tested *decades* ago and found to be superior. Funny thing is I was reading on Direct Instruction techniques recently, and I didn't even know that Engelmann was central to all that. Live and learn a little more about DI and all that.
I'm sorry to "hear" about Scotland again.
And I gotta say: the UK once again leads by example with the reappearance of Kathleen Stock at Oxford. And the new Free Speech Act. If only something like that made headlines in the U.S.? Granted, something like that even happening in the U.S. is about as rare as hen's teeth normally are.
All that to say... Always nice You inform/entertain us on Fridays, Ma'am...