Author Archives: jon

So Small, But So Much Life

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We went to the hospital today, Jo having a prenatal screening for Down Syndrome. It all went swimmingly well, and Jo got an ultrasound to boot. Thankfully the little one has a beating heart and was very lively inside Mum’s tummy. S/he wasn’t too keen about being “photographed” though, and tried to turn away from the camera at every possibility.

Version 2 is about 7cm after just 12 weeks, which got us both thinking. Abortions can occur up to 20 weeks or so, which, when seeing our 12-week old offspring, offers a moral dilemma I had never previously thought about. You see, our little thing was definitely human-shaped, with all its organs, and even nails (what was God thinking?). Even abortions at 12 weeks became questionable in my eyes, so a further 8 weeks into the development must mean a very difficult decision.

I was thinking what I would want if we found out the baby was handicapped. Obviously it depends on the severity, but I actually found myself contemplating keeping it. I’m not sure I would able to be completely guilt-free wanting to abort something that size/form. It was all a bit to human.

Still a long way to go, so I continue to keep fingers crossed that we have a healthy baby, and Jo’s pregnancy becomes less painful.

Oh, I’ve just realised I need to make another category to put this entry in. Since we don’t have a name I shall temporarily call it Version 2.

When Junk Food Is Not

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Freya went to a museum today with her school. She took a lunch box with her, which included some organic corn rings, but she wasn’t allowed to eat them. She was a bit upset when she told us about the incident, so I spoke to her teacher, Annie, today, to find out the reason.

Annie explained that she and another teacher had looked at the packet, and although they saw the snacks were organic they thought that the other children might ask questions. When we were notified of Freya’s outing we were told not to pack unhealthy food, so this may have had some of the children wondering why Freya is special (because she is, I say). As well as being organic, the rings were made of corn, corn flour and vegetable oil: no sugar, no preservatives.

I suggested that as an educator Annie should inform the majority, and not penalise the innocent minority, to which she half-mumbled an agreement. It is not only important, but I think vital, that children are made aware of alternate lifestyles, especially when they are based on sound principles, and not just see a crisp packet as junk-food; that the teachers fall into this trap, or take the easy option that requires no thought, is saddening.

This made me think once again of our (the parents) role in bringing up children. I often find myself giving Freya indoctrinated no’s when she asks to do things that are inconvenient to me, or to which have no real underlying thought. Most of the time I am able to catch myself, and change my no to a yes, explaining to Freya that there is no reason why she shouldn’t be allowed to do what she asks and that I don’t know why I said no. There are, of course, times when inconvenience no’s are acceptable. As these occasions seldom crop up I feel fine about it, even if I have no real explanation for Freya.

As it turned out, Freya didn’t even like the snacks when she tried them this evening. I can’t say I blame her, they did taste pretty bland.

Hattrick Press Release #11

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Wolves Speak Out

This Sunday Wolves, currently 4th, meet 3rd place Zorken FF, and Jon R was unusually confident at a press conference today.

“Zorken FF have played 4, with 3 matches being against inexperienced teams. Their league-position is inflated by this, but they now face six consecutive very tough games.”

“I’m confident this will play out as we expect, and we’ll come away with 3 points.”

Jon R will not want to eat his words, as fans agreed a victory this weekend is both necessary and definite.

Tis The Season To Be Poorly

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Today I’m at home with Freya, who spent much of last night throwing up into a bucket, on sheets, on towels and on herself. The joys of Winter are upon us, and often inside us, with one or more of the family having spent much of the last couple of months fighting off numerous illnesses. This time of year is onerous enough, the short days and inclement weather causing fatigue and apathy, so to have the physical and mental burden of perpetual ill-health is irksome, as well as detrimental to our economy.

On the up-side, Freya’s current malady does at least allow me a day away from work, which is particularly tough at the moment. I usually feel pangs of guilt being at home, even when I am ill, so it’s a welcome break to experience a day absent from school without those feelings.

I Know How Basil Fawlty Feels

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Yesterday turned out to be one of those days that deflated my desire to remain at my current place of employment; it concerns not only a number of pupils, but the school’s policies and routines.

The day started with a half-group English lesson with the six-year olds. I’d had an appalling time the last lesson we had as a whole group, which consisted of shouting again and again at children who refused to listen/sit in a ring/generally get involved. I was determined to keep calm this time, using a smooth tone and a placid temperament to resolve any misbehaviour, to try and attain a closer rapport with them; however, this failed to work, and a continuous volley of reminders was necessary to bring the children back to the lesson (of nine pupils, I’d say one was behaving suitably).

I decided to take action, and went to the teachers’ computer room after the lesson to prepare three “first warning” letters. When I got there I found that the printer was not able to perform my request. Usually it is the photocopier that mangles important documents, requiring time to fix that we don’t have, but today it was the computers’ turn to give me the V’s, so I left frustrated and angry, with another item for my to-do list.

Since I was already thinking about letters to parents I thought I’d try my luck franking two other “first warning” letters I’d been unsuccessfully trying to post for four days. Franking requires access to the headmaster’s office, which is only open to teachers certain times of the day. This routine has been enforced to give Naged and Maria alone time to resolve other issues, but it sadly does not work. Along with the franking machine, the office is host to pencils, glue and other assorted stationery, so any teacher unlucky enough to require these essentials at the wrong time will be left wanting.

As a testament to this system’s failure, I have been on four different occasions in four days, and I have either come at a time when visiting times are over, or at a correct time, but no-one is there to help. I did manage to get in through the sub-rectors side door (with her permission) on one occasion, but when I got to my goal I saw the franking machine requires a code. Foiled again.

A splenetic Jon then goes to his 10.10 lesson with class 1. As usual no-one is there. This is because the member of staff outside at that time hasn’t rung the bell for them to return from their break. Had this have been with one of the higher classes I’d have been a bit pissed off by this, especially class 5, who have their National Test this year, but class 1 coming twenty minutes late was actually pleasing, giving me time to calm down and not have to be concerned that my planning would fall short of a full forty-minute lesson.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon went by without problems. I actually had time to sort out loads of paperwork that had accumulated on my desk, though my last lesson, with one of the class 5’s, was most unproductive, with the children showing a general tiredness and lack of concentration. It is these kind of days that have me believing there must be must less stressful ways of teaching English, and I’ve even been considering writing a C.V. for the next time I become disheartened.