Sue James

Stories, Reflections & Journeys

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Up the Down Staircase

Filed Under: Inspiration, Reflections · March 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment ·

Book coverOver a late lunch decided to begin re-reading “Up The Down Staircase” by Bel Kaufman. This time as an ebook. I loved it as a teenager … and again as a new (or nearly new) teacher.

I’m expecting to love it once more … but have only got as far as the end of the introduction, which is brilliant! Such an accurate reflection of the state of education from someone who has observed it over a whole lifetime.

Bel Kaufman was 101 when she wrote this intro in 2012. (She died at 103 in 2014). Her story of how she came to write the book and her astute observations and reflections are wonderful.

Both a sharp criticism of all that is wrong in education and a celebration of those marvellous men and women, the inspired and inspiring teachers who truly make a difference.

I’d recommend this as mandatory reading for everyone who, like me, is passionate about teaching and learning and what our education systems should be doing for our young. :)

Play Time

Filed Under: Reflections, Stories · March 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment ·

Yep … play time … two words. Though I guess it was playtime too  … :) Thoroughly enjoyed Faith Healer, written by Irish playwright Brian Friel back in 1979 during The Troubles.

MTC put on a fantastic production, directed by Judy Davis. A minimalist stage with only a few props allowed the audience to focus on the poetry and emotional power of the script – a fascinating woven tapestry of four independent but linked monologues.

Strong performances from all three actors beautifully delivered the humour and deep tragedy of the story. Colin Friels as the troubled, yet charismatic faith healer, Alison Whyte as his devoted wife/mistress and Paul Blackwell as his long-suffering manager … all were excellent and often nuanced performances..

The whole play was a wonderful and at times very moving illustration of how we create our own realities. And how, as Fred Allen one said:

A human being is nothing but a story with skin around it

Less or Fewer

Filed Under: Just for Fun, Reflections · May 11, 2015 · Leave a Comment ·

image

Ok … so even my best friends will tell you I’m a bit of a grammar pedant. :)

But I’m sure I’m not alone in wincing every time I see the horrible muddle people make when using “less” or “fewer”.

Examples? An an article headline this morning … Less People Want to be Nurses. Or a notice in every lift (elevator) of a large building: If travelling two floors or less please use the stairs if you are able to do so.

And that big building? The campus of a national University! Ouch!!!

[Rant mode ON]

Come on folks … surely it’s not an impossible task to get this one right? For something that is … well … “en masse”, for want of a better word, use LESS. But if you could possibly … perhaps even conceivably count ’em … use FEWER!

So…

That hill has less forest
… and fewer trees.
A beach has less sand
… fewer grains of sand.
Less fruit in the bowl
… fewer pieces of fruit
Less water in the lake
… fewer drops of rain.
We travel less distance
… and fewer kilometers
See less of a crowd
… and fewer people.

MORE practice = LESS confusion + FEWER mistakes! :)

[Rant mode OFF]

I feel better now. ;)

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Books I’ve Read

Sue's bookshelf: read

The Chase
3 of 5 stars
The Chase
by Janet Evanovich
The Heist
3 of 5 stars
The Heist
by Janet Evanovich
Vanish in Plain Sight
3 of 5 stars
Vanish in Plain Sight
by Marta Perry
Eat Me
4 of 5 stars
Eat Me
by Agnès Desarthe
Odd One Out
3 of 5 stars
Odd One Out
by Monica McInerney

goodreads.com