Tag Archives: education

There’s Nothing Nice About The Word Nice

My old English teacher, Mrs. Hulme, reigned supreme in a rusty portakabin on the outer edges of my grammar school’s grounds. Double English with her on a freezing Monday morning was always a delight as she sat hunched behind her desk, as miserable as the rest of us at the thought of seventy minutes ofContinue reading “There’s Nothing Nice About The Word Nice”

Homeschooling Is Hard

I consider myself a reasonably intelligent chap. I’ve got qualifications, a degree in Modern History no less, and I’m pretty good when it comes to quiz show general knowledge. I read and I write and I like to think I’m fairly eloquent when it comes to conversation. When my nerves or shyness don’t get theContinue reading “Homeschooling Is Hard”

Let’s Not Laugh At OCD

The selection of ‘humorous’ memes posted below are the tip of the comedic iceberg when it comes to trivialisation and misunderstanding of this horrific and debilitating mental illness. It ruins lives, it takes lives, it strips it’s victims of every last shred of pride and self-respect they ever possessed. It’s a constant, tormenting voice. TheContinue reading “Let’s Not Laugh At OCD”

We Live In A World Of Purple Pens

Rebecca starts at her new school today. She is extremely excited about this and last night was a bit like Christmas Eve in our house as she bounced around, getting ready for the big day. Yesterday, Fionnuala took her out to get the last bits and pieces she needed. The school had helpfully shared aContinue reading “We Live In A World Of Purple Pens”

Hannah The Campaigner

We are not protestors by nature but yesterday took to the streets of Belfast with many other concerned parents to protest against plans by the Education Authority to close seven special needs schools in the Greater Belfast area and merge them into three ‘super schools’ which would be created to cater for students with physicalContinue reading “Hannah The Campaigner”

That Back To School Feeling

The hatchlings return to school this week and you can feel the autumnal crackle in the air as another soggy Irish summer drips to an end. This summer has been one of illness, chaos and upheaval for us. We have struggled to make sense of it all and at times have felt adrift, spinning helplesslyContinue reading “That Back To School Feeling”