At the chalkface
News
Wigwam! Right!
“Right!” i say to the scrubbed classroom. he didn’t tell me he
Poetry used to highlight human rights
and angel-faced tots in front of me. had a brother. Well, there it sits!
it’s my first lesson with the Concave of visage. hair in italics. detainees at the prison camp words on sticky-back plastic and camp didn’t. they had to resort
new 7th years. they hang on Football in tesco’s bag. A clot
by Chris Parr
guantanamo Bay in Cuba – all of placed them on seven small mirrors to using toothpaste and pebbles to
to my every word. i relish the off the old block. i give him a whom produced moving poetry, before spraying them with silver record their emotions.
moment. it can’t last. thousand mile stare. i move on to A poetry competition that helps despite being banned from using paint and removing the tape. Josh “While there, i was subject to a
“Right!” i keep saying it. D. to “Dervish”. hysteria Dervish. schools to tackle human rights pen and paper. won with his poem Dayz, which range of human rights violations,
‘Right!’ it is my every word. Sister of another hooligan alumnus. in the classroom has challenged instead they used everyday was etched into stone. and i am deeply touched that pupils
Some tots look most puzzled. Apple cheeked, doe-eyed – and students to imagine how it feels to objects such as toilet paper or dis- Moazzam Begg, a former in Britain are taking the issues of
Who is this monosyllabic satanic. this could be a long be imprisoned without access to a posable cups from their dinner trays detainee at guantanamo Bay and fair trials and freedom of expression
interloper? Does he attritional year. fair trial. to etch their words. a contributor to the book Poems so seriously, and hopefully it has
do anything else? i’m i finish register. Amnesty international’s con- this week, awards were given from Guantanamo, presented the opened their eyes to some of the
nervous. Even after 30 i write my name on test, You Can’t Jail Minds, asked to the two winners, Rachel Rowan- awards. he said: “it was an honour atrocities that are happening across
years. i can’t get my board. entrants to express their feelings in Olive, 16, from St Albans high to present these awards. My experi- the world today.”
teacher’s face on. For “Wigwam!” the form of a poem – without the School for girls, and Josh Lewis, ence of guantanamo Bay will haunt Kate Allen, director of Amnesty
six weeks i’ve been squawks a perky use of pen or paper. 12, from the Friary School in me for the rest of my life. international UK, added: “it is truly
private, invisible, near voice. there’s a splutter the competition was inspired Lichfield. “i turned to poetry to keep my uplifting to see so many young peo-
trappist. Now i must be of mirth. A boundary- by the experiences of irina Rachel won with her poem But hopes alive and to ensure that my ple engage creatively in the issue of
public, charismatic, near breaking, liberty-taking Ratushinskaya in the former You Can Jail Bodies. her entry was experiences there would not be for- human rights.”
Loony. in control. i must splutter of mirth. i do not Soviet Union, Jack Mapanje inspired by the concept of conden- gotten. i had access to pen and Visit: www.amnesty.org.uk/
get it right! get it wrong share this mirth. there is in Malawia, and a number of sation on a mirror. She cut out the paper, but so many others at the education
in these first weeks nothing amusing about
and you’re toast for a my name. there has been
whole year. Five even. nothing amusing about it for
i rake the tinies with 30 years. Nothing at all. i do
a severe gaze. not live in a tent – or a teepee.
“Right!” Nor am i “Big Chief”.
What a rich mix! All “You’re Wigwam!” it is
god’s children. All those fresh the infant Crumlin. i ponder
faces. All those little lives. All a 24-hour detention. “Right”!
those futures? All that hope. it time for a Significant Learning
breaks your heart. i might start Experience.
blubbing. get a grip! these A face pops in at a door. it is
tots are sharks when they smell the Senior Crumlin. A grim visage.
weakness. When they smell “You tell ‘im, sir!! Put him
blood. i don’t want to end up like under heavy Manners!”
Mr Donut! i zip through register. it pops out. Will this lesson
i get to C. i get to “Crumlin”. ever begin?
Not another one! Not another “Now .. where was i?”
from that dread tribe! is there no “Right!” says the satirical
end to Crumlins? Billy Boy.
“William Crumlin!’’ “Ah, yes … right!”
“Yes, sir. here, sir! Billy Boy Only another 1,500 hours of
Crumlin! Son of Albert, sir!” this perky buffoon...
And brother of Ronald. the Highlife:StudentsfromtwoeastLondon6thformcolleges,BrookeHouseandNewham,experiencedaweekinthe
Lord of Misrule. i taught him • Ian Whitwham is a London lifeofanOxfordUniversityundergraduatelastmonth.TheylivedatPembrokeCollege,workedintheuniversity
for years. Well, we shared a secondary school teacher. libraries,wroteessaysfortutorials,andwentpuntingontheriver.Theyarepicturedhereinamentoringsession.
edxl GCE Map AD 277x188 4/9/08 13:54 Page 1
Due to the enormous success of the ‘Getting-Ready-To-Teach’
events held earlier this year, they are again being offered for a
range of subjects from the end of September.
These full-day events, taking place across the country, are essential
for teachers who are delivering the new GCE 2008 specifications.
Delegates will:
• Understand the new specification structure
• Learn about potential learning and teaching strategies
• Understand the assessment implications
• Discuss effective course planning and assignment design.
Early bird booking rates apply. Places are limited. Please visit www.edexcel.com/training
for more information or to pre-register your place, or call 0844 576 0025.
20 SecEd • September 11 2008
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