Today the new Government delivered its first Queen’s Speech, an annual event where the Queen announces the Government’s legislative agenda for the forthcoming year.
Read what the NAS has to say about the Queen’s speech HERE.
Category Archives: uk
Worst Teaching Assistant in the world?!
43 year old Teaching Assistant Rachael Reagan has been found guilty of Child Cruelty after authorities have found that she has been abusing a seven year old girl in school.
It has been reported that Rachael taped the child to a chair, shut her in her storeroom and tied her shoes with her shoelaces. She also stuck Post-it notes to the child’s fingers to stop her from sucking them. She was also reported ti have kicked her student and called her names.
I wonder how this TA got away with doing these cruel things for ao long!
Click HERE for the full story
Hammertime: Lewis Hamilton is the 2014 Formula 1 Champion
Lewis Hamilton has become the 2014 Formula One champion after winning in Abu Dhabi today. He becomes the fourth British F1 driver to win more than one Championship after Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart.
Lewis started today’s title-decider race brillianly, jumping in front of title rival and team mate Nico Rosberg ahead of the first corner. Nico later had technical issues which made him drop further down the grid, and thus failing to fight for the championship.
Mental Growth
Five months ago after the Canadian Grand Prix, I wrote that Lewis’ mind needs to be stronger than ever if he wanted to win this year’s title. From then on, he won 7 out of 12 races, including 5 straight ones. He overcames adversities and challenges – as evidenced by his performance after the incident at Spa, Belgium.
He has shown tremendous maturity throughout the year which, in my opinion, has been instrumental in his success. Despite being as emotional as he has always been, he has shown that he was able to use negative experiences to fuel his performance in the right way. Although he has taken risks this season, they have been more measured and more under control than what we have seen in the past.
Young Lewis and Young Nico
His relationship with his team mate, Nico Rosberg – much scrutinized by the media – has deteriorated throughout the season, but Lewis was able to keep his mind focused.
Support Network
Undoubtedly, his family, girlfriend, team and friends have helped him keep his focus throughout the year. His close relationship with his dad – which seemed to have been lost over the recent years – has returned. Anthony Hamilton has been a regular sight in Lewis’ garage throughout the year. I am certain that his presence – let alone his advice- has helped.
Let’s not forget THE CAR
Mercedes Benz has dominated this F1 season, winning a record-breaking 16 grand prix this season, which made Lewis’ job a little easier. This year’s 11-race wins has been the best year of Lewis’ F1 career.
What’s next?
Even though the rest of the teams in the F1 paddock would have plenty of time to improve their cars before next season, I am convinced that Mercedes will still have an edge. It may take at least two years before the rest of the field can catch up on them.
The future looks bright for Lewis. I predict at least two more titles!
Just Another Day at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
Whoever thought of today’s prompt probably has not been to the Northwest of England! 😉
Today’s Prompt: You’re at the beach with some friends and/or family, enjoying the sun, nibbling on some watermelon. All of a sudden, within seconds, the weather shifts and hale starts descending form the sky. Write a post about what happens next.
Let me tell you a little something about the Northwest of England: it always rains here!! ‘Summer’ usually consists of a week or two (if we’re lucky) of sunshine and a few months of rain. You can wake up to blistering heat, but then as soon as you walk out of your house, it’ll be raining so hard your umbrella will be shredded.
Today’s prompt simply describes a typical summer day out at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool. What do we do when a hailstorm suddenly comes on a sunny day? Well, we pack our bags, go to the nearest fish and chips shop and have some lunch. This will be follwed by an enormous cup of tea with friends who would collectively sigh and exclaim, ‘typical!’
In the meantime, let me remind you of why we bother to go to Blackpool on a great day:
Funniest Teacher Tweets on Michael Gove’a Sacking
From headteachers dancing to teachers ticking their Christmas and birthday lists, these tweets compiled at Buzzfeed will sure make you laugh: click HERE
Michael Gove has been Sacked!!!!
Radical and controversial UK Education Secretary Michael Gove has been demoted to chief whip by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Read more at the Guardian.
Teacher stabbed to death by a student
The BBC reported that a female teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College has been stabbed to death. A 15 year old male student has been arrested.
Autism Hangout: Anti-Bullying
Last week, I joined Autism Campaigner Kevin Healey and a few others to discuss Autism and Bullying.
Watch below:
The Science of Dr. Who
The Science of Dr. Who starring Prof. Brian Cox and Matt Smith (a.k.a. The 11th Dr.) is a scientific look at the beloved British programme. Enjoy!
UK Supermarkets Asda and Tesco Apologise for Disgraceful and Offensive Costume
UK supermarket giant Asda has apologised for their hugely inappropriate halloween costume marketed as the ‘Mental Patient Fancy Dress Costume’ which featured fake blood, a mask and a fake meat cleaver. They have withdrawn the sale of the said product and pledged to donate £25,000 to Charity Mind after they were bombarded with tweets from offended individuals such as ex-footballer Stan Collymore and charities such as Rethink Mental Illness.
Tesco, who had a similarly absurd ‘psycho ward’ costume (boiler suit, mask and machete) also withdrew their product subsequently and like Asda, have issued offical apologies.
As an advocate for teaching mental health awareness and diversity, I am hugely offended and horrified by the sale and advertisement of the costumes. We are still living in an age where people with mental illnesses are stigmatized, and stupid publicity stunts such as this is totally unacceptable. Not only does it fuel the negative stereotype but it also gives the masses an opportunity to publicly mock those who are living with mental illnesses. I am sure that they are aware of the fact that several people have killed themselves because they could not live with the stigma.
In addition, neither of these costumes accurately depict people with mental illness. Having visited many psychiatric wards and mental institutions, and having worked with people with psychiatric conditions, I have not seen anyone who dressed and looked like the pictures on Asda’s and Tesco’s advertisements. The mentally ill need support, understanding and acceptance. They certainly do not need any public mockery such as this. Apologies and donations are not enough.
Understanding and Embracing Diversity 