I've just discovered the power of Ted. No, not that loveable bear, the only truly enlightened member of the Robinson family. Instead, Ted, the power of ideas, ideas worth spreading.
Just google Ted or download a free Ted App to your iPad and you will have access to a wide range of inspirational thinkers and their ideas. Each speaker completes his or her talk in a few minutes - between 4 and 20 minute presentations seem to be the norm.
The talk that got me hooked was Nigel Marsh's 'How to make work-life balance work'. Now work-life balance has been a bit of a problem for me over the last five years. What with two school reorganisations (thanks LA!), the changing of the college age range, the doubling of the college population and the construction of new buildings, to mention only the highlights, there has been little room for sleep, never mind balance. So you can imagine why this talk grabbed my attention.
I won't spoil it for staff and parents by summarising the talk's message. It lasted 10 minutes and made me smile. It also made me think a little. It certainly was an idea worth spreading.
For students 'inspired' by my assembly this week, Martin Jacques's 'Understanding the rise of China' might be a good introduction to Ted. Enjoy.
In my assembly this week I drew on a terrific TV programme I watched on the BBC iPLayer, Abraham Lincoln, saint or sinner? Lincoln is a fascinating character. President of the USA during the American Civil War, he faced almost unimaginable pressures to unite the country. As leader of the Union North facing the Confederate South he waged a war of attrition which resulted in the death of some 620,000 soldiers and the destruction of southern cities on a scale that beggars belief.
Was the cost of this war justified? History has answered in the affirmative, elevating Lincoln to the stature of saint. The ending of slavery, the engine of the southern plantation economy, and the prevention of a permanent division of the American continent are seen as unique achievements. With Lincoln's assassination only days after the end of the war, these achievements elevated Lincoln, ensuring his unique place in history.
And yet, as the programme pointed out Lincoln's views on slavery and racial equality would not have passed the test of acceptability today. He was very much a man of his time, reflecting the priorities and prejudices of a man of his background and experiences. It was only after the American Congress took the lead in abolishing slavery that he eventually signed an Act to free the slaves. Even his decision to wage total war to keep America united can be portrayed as an unwillingness to compromise in the face of extreme human suffering.
So were does that leave us? Was he a saint or a sinner? I guess the answer is neither. No man can be all good or all bad. What he achived was herculean. But he had, like all politicians, to make compromises, shift his ground when circumstances dictated. He would not have survived in politics if he hadn't have trimmed his sails on occasions. He was undoubtably the most accomplished politician of his age, achieving astonishing results. He was also a man who demonstrated great personal growth, he was a better person making better decisions by the end of the war. And perhaps that is his greatest accomplishment.
If you want to see the programme for yourself you will find it on the BBC iPlayer, BBC 4. Enjoy.
Over the last two years with all the changes the college has experienced it has been difficult to find the time to really listen to students. But now that we have successfully met the challenges of reorganisation and received a glowing endorsement from Ofsted, it is time to focus once again on student views.
To help us meet this new challenge we need to breath new life into the student committees. A start to this task was made this week. Mr Parrott took three Year 10 students - Jo Crossley (KY), Maddy Dale (NS) and Jordon Butcher (HC) - to Leicester to work with other students in other schools to produce a plan to improve the flow of ideas between students and staff.
Mr Parrott reports that this initiative was a great success and that Jo, Maddy and Jordon will be rolling out their plan in the next few weeks. It is my hope and expectation that in the very near future student views will once again influence the way we operate in the college.
By the way you will have noticed that our builders have marked out the floor plan for our new extension. Building will start next week and we will be moving in to the extension at Christmas.