Jude Smith

I was teaching about Pearl Harbour today. I was talking about Japan using Pearl Harbour to control the timing of when the USA went to war. And so watching the Iranian sailor crisis unfurl it makes me ponder. Now would be a good time for Iran to fight (or accept the inevitable air strikes), whilst it would be a bad time for the USa and UK.. I just wonder..

So this weekend I spent an unhealthy amount of time looking at the terrible explosionfest that is Pearl Harbor! It has three good clips in for looking at the lead up to the USA declaring war. I got it all set, made notes on how it would link into today's lessons.. .. And then school had a partial power failure that meant I had no electricity! ... I will leave you to imagine the words that tumbled from my mouth! Bah!!!

.. of me as "Miss Smith".. this was yesterday.. 7.45- leave house, head for School 7.50- coffee stop- alas no pastries to help while away the morning 8.05- arrive in school, stagger into staffroom (must empty bag, too much paperwork) 8.10- find year seven books, check what I have planned fits, grab work for excluded student, write instructions for her, give to head of year. 8.20- pick up note from mentor about student. His grades have dropped under my care. Write note saying will catch up with him today but not my fault he can’t grasp abstract concepts! Wonder about how to help him improve. 8.25- plan lessons for rest of day- 6 lessons to sort. 8.35- chat with staff member asking me to check friend’s piece of work. 8.40- check piece of work, write up comments. 8.45- read notes on year ten mentee- note down to catch up with him and make him do some work! 8.55- create worksheets and resources for child soldier lesson, maybe use next week? 9.10- head to classroom 9.15- Year 7...

I think he may have just pulled it off! A 2p drop in income tax as your parting shot! Well done! When it lands in April 2008 it should give Gordon a nice platform for a May election, while the Tories try to work out how they can still be teh party of low taxes. He's cut in with help for the less well off before David and his Eton chums can cut the upper rate! Very proud of you Gordon!

Calorie offsetting. I eat a cream cake. Someone in California does twenty minutes on a stepper. The universal balance is restored! Happy days.

So the inevitable has happened. Mike Newell just got sacked. He's been outspoken, allegedly sexist, has annoyed the board and has lost a few too many games.. but it was fun. thanks Mike.

As I type the BBC news site keeps adding to the list of people who have resigned government positions in order to vote against Trident. I'm wondering of this may push TB out. If Gordon Brown has to be 'away' for any vote we'll surely know its near! Watch this space.