Running in the cold. Talking about children’s reading. Libraries. Bad behaviour. And protestors.,

 It was cold when I went out running this morning. The weathermen had warned us that a drop in temperature was coming but it was still something of a shock to the system. Mind you, judging by one of those things Facebook does where they send you memories - this day in such and such a year - there seem to have been years when we have had frost in the early mornings at this time of year. So I suppose I should be thankful that it didn’t rain on me.

My phone rang as I was on my way home: my daughter. Was I at home? she wanted to know. Could she drop in for a coffee and a catch-up? She’s been a bit busy lately and we don’t seem to have had a proper natter. So she went for a bit of stomp round while I showered and then we had coffee and toast - a family breakfast. 

One thing we talked about was children’s books and the importance of libraries, especially for those children whose families have few books or indeed no books at home. She has moved her class library into a corner alcove, making it a special place that the children in her class really appreciate. Here’s a link to yet another article about the imprtance of libraries. 

Libraries will only exist for as long as we borrow from them. Consider it your civic duty | Jodi Wilson | The Guardian

The writer tells of her experience of libraries in Australia, but much of what she says applies to the UK as well. I’m not sure that writers receive royalties in the Uk when their books are borrowed from libraries as she says they do in Australia but it sounds like an excellent idea. This is certainly true: 

“In a world as noisy as ours, we need the quiet space of libraries for solace and safety. They are community hubs that serve whoever walks through the door but they also foster hope – in the power of words and in the people who write and read them.”

Keep on using your library. Use it or lose it! 

We also talked about children’s comics, how the likes of the Dandy and the Beano encouraged generations of children to improve their reading skills. Do children still enjoy Dennis the Menace? 

And Desperate Dan with his favourite food, cow pie with the horns poking through the pie crust? 

I see lots of Disney-related magazines for children in shops but not those weekly comics we used to read. Actually, in my case, I only got to read them when we helped out at church jumble sales as my father disapproved of their silliness and had us read sensible comics like the Swift and the Eagle. Those were the days. 

I came across this article about behaviour in schools in Italy. Here’s an extract:

“Middle school and high school pupils who score five or less out of 10 on conduct will fail the year and face having to repeat it even if their academic standard is up to par. High school students who only score six on conduct will have to do a civic education test. Marks in behaviour will also greatly influence the sitting of the crucial maturità school-leaving exam.

Giuseppe Valditara, the education minister in Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, said: “The grades-for-conduct reform restores the importance of individual responsibility, makes respect of people and public goods central and restores the authoritativeness of teachers.” Meloni has previously said the change would “bring back respect” in schools.”

Does being made to repeat a year improve things, academically or behaviour-wise? I wonder. Does naming and shaming work? 

Here’s something else. This was on yesterday evening’s Facebook post from a friend of mine

"A group of Jewish and Palestinian protesters are being arrested after blocking a street near the UN in New York City where the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the general assembly.

At least 25 people from Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestinian Youth Movement have been arrested so far.

This is the first of several actions planned today, with protesters calling for Netanyahu to be arrested and for an end of US support – military, fuel and diplomatic – for Israel as the death toll in Gaza and Lebanon continues to rise."

Guardian update 14:39)

Goodness! Heaven forfend that they upset anyone! 

We live in troubled times.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!