Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Black History Month

Nothing wrong with being grumpy.

We had drug dealers three doors down.

But worse was the house at the bottom of the garden. Planning permission granted for a children's facility for kids with behavioural issues.

That took a concerted campaign to stop.

Seems to me that this tread has deteriorated into one about history, historical myths, historical grievances and who did what to whom and when. Its all complete nonsense. Its dead. It doesnt matter any longer and it certainly should not influence our lives now. History is bunk.

We have a choice between two extremes. Either we can integrate our society to the point where skin colour and racial history doesnt matter and isnt even thought of or we can ghetto-ise our society as the Yanks have done so that we have a form of apartheid with communities of African Brits and Indian Brits and Godknowswhat brits all living in seperate hostile communities. I know which I would prefer and so in my view racists events which emphasise difference like Black History Month should be criminalised every bit as much as the use of the N word or "Blacks not welcome" signs that I used to see in my youth.

Whatever you think about the wisdom of allowing it to happen, we have huge numbers of people of non white european ethnicity living in the UK. If we dont assimilate them then we are in for endless trouble.

Can you ask them if they have any room for two more.

TBM, a little smile for you in an attempt to lighten the thread a little, taken from "The Book Of Fair Devon" 1899-1900 which I dip into every now and again, it's a hoot.

"As to the county's associations with the past - the long list of noble names which Devon has given to the history of our land - is there not a further charm in the recollection of these men and their deeds ? Does not the heart thrill at the mention of the names of such men as Hawkins, Raleigh, Sydney, and Gilbert ? Who can walk upon the Hoe at Plymouth - that historic spot which has looked upon such varied events of history - without recalling the deeds of the "glorious great one's gone" ?"

Great men of their time and never to be forgotten but we have come a long way since this type of presentation in schools, I was reading the passage and imagining the kind of reaction you would have received delivering this to a class of todays teenagers.

In fairness, we do still teach the traditional history, and the kids do still lap up the tales of heroes and their 'derring dos'. I also often weave in anecdotes I picked up from my own varied and diverse past (although gloss over the more dubious and illegal activities!). I didn't start teaching until I was 35 and have had numerous 'careers' ranging from doing dodgy Tarmac drives and working as a Doorman to International Customer Service Manager for Lloyds based in UK/US and HK. I used to have a Library named after me in HK, but not sure it is still there!



Kids today are really not much different from kids years ago. They like excitement and adventure, and a good historian will interweave these elements into the raw facts to make things memorable and inspire further study. The joy is now that, compared to years ago, the world is a much smaller place, and we have a far greater 'bank' of world knowledge we can use...

As an old codger with a granddaughter just started secondary school I am so far out of date with what they are taught these days but I find it very reassuring that they are still taught the traditional history as well as the contemporary and other cultures, these things are important lest we repeat the same mistakes which of course we do but at least we have had a prewarning of possible outcomes.

I like the library door, were you a real swat on the job or did it go with the territory I wonder.

Engagement for me at school was very much about relating to interesting life stories from my teachers one of whom was a Blenheim pilot.
My geography teacher was also a Shakespearian actor at the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich and he got the whole class tickets to watch The Merchant of Venice at 13 years old we loved it and created a lifelong interest in live theatre for several of us and of course we all delivered good geography results for him, it's how it works.

Do what we did. Buy a house with no nearby neighbours.

I prefer to be amongst people.

No, never a swot - more like an effective maverick I got sent to HK in a 'troubleshooter' role. I put a stack of systems and procedures in place, retrained the Management Team and got a Library built for them. They named it after me as a thank you.



Actors make great teachers - they can play the role regardless of what's going on in their lives. I used to dabble a bit at school and University, Did a weeks run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and was involved with the Cambridge Crew of that time (Sue Perkins, Ben Miller, Sacha Baron Cohen etc). I was once a guest on a spoof comedy chat show that Sue did - the other guest was Jim Bowen of Bullseye fame Again, great tales to interweave into my teaching - once you've got the kids used to listening to you, you can teach them properly.

It's so annoying that everything in real life is so complicated.
I remember I was once arguing with an older gentleman (he was about the age I am now,; a little younger) when I was about 30. I was going on about democracy, one man one vote etc. He waited patiently until I'd finished, grinned and said,"I agree with you. I like the field behind your house and I'm going to lease it to 500 gypsies. Don't forget, you will all have one man one vote".
It all (anything) turns out to be so blasted complex...
I've even been told there are people who actually dislike Morgans!!
Luckily, we can all relax with the shared delight in our favourite marque.
Nick