THE BETHS TONIGHT 🥰🥰🥰

G.T.D.F! decolonialfutures.net

Wells, K. et al. (2024) ‘Israel’s war on Gaza and the violation of children’s rights’, Children’s geographies, 22(2), pp. 197–200. Available at: doi.org/10.1080/1473....

Humans are diverse, yet this drive to standardise differences which may stem from fear, wanting security and control do not encourage real criticality.

I cannot stand being fearful, so I think I have been constantly churning bravery - grateful for the kind words, the humility and compassion shown to me. Mostly by my parents - I hit the jackpot there, and I feel thankful. They have their own faults but, they were the best parents for me. I miss them

I am in a strange fork-road, driven by compassion but also, sudden discernment that power dynamics exist everywhere. It exists, because it is what is being reproduced constantly. Those that take without inherently understanding or awareness, will always keep taking. So, boundaries matter.

'We project something we made up. There are different ways of knowing, different ways of being..". carolblack.org/schooling-th...

Away with the rain, Stared until heard I find wishes aglow Moreover and thereafter None the same The Sun shines again And my heart thinks Peeled, healing.

"Theft" Scratch my skin With your time Lost in the seconds Wave, I sigh Never ending flow, Be the thief Bereft.

Thank you for inviting me to chat with you in June's PRAXIS podcast, @melalygreen.bsky.social , and to @openuniversity.bsky.social , particularly Paulette Johnson for the opportunity to participate in the 2024-2025 reciprocal mentorship programme. open.spotify.com/episode/1VlE...

♥️💚🤍🖤

Passive Aggression is something I will never understand as an EAL speaker in the UK. I work hard trying to be clear and concise and it gets 'read' out of context by those who assume that it's passive aggression. If I wished to express aggression, I would not waste my time saying otherwise. Pucha.

Constantly, on repeat. Finally seeing them, soon!

No module this term for me to read but, keeping my study habits active by reading articles. Wells, K. 2011. The politics of life: governing childhood. Global Studies of Childhood, 1(1)  available at journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2304/...

Micrarium / 1880 THAT

Walked to Camden Town via the canal today. Saw monkeys 'near' the aviary, really felt sorry for them. Pub lunch and watched a canal boat go through a lock (round of applause). Food shop afterwards. Potatoes, carrots and parsnips were 15p in Sains. Broccoli, carrots, potatoes, 8p in Aldi! 🤯

Final essay submitted, in time for the Easter break.

Nayak, S. (2022) ‘An intersectional model of reflection: is social work fit for purpose in an intersectionally racist world?’, Critical and radical social work, 10(2), pp. 319–334. Available at: doi.org/10.1332/2049....

The past week has been a blur.Finally heading home to London via a Rail replacement bus from Colchester, then back to critical reading and writing my last assignment for #EducationPowerAndResistance re: 'Critical Unschooling and the role of Parental and Community engagement as Acts of Resistance'.

First time in Newcastle, @newcastleuni.bsky.social, academic conference and presenting to non-OU folk. Grateful to @openuniversity.bsky.social for the chance to champion EHE children and give them a voice in research. But, the project belongs to my co-researchers: Ell, Ann, Lori and Ari. #BCUR2025

My project abstract for #BCUR25 at @newcastleuni.bsky.social

Missed our train as Lumo didn't have the platform up on the board or via the Trainline app and no staff around to help us early in the morning. Had a choice of forking out new train tickets or getting the 1040am train but will miss my presentation slot. Now enroute to Newcastle! 🫠

Pleasantness that advocates "local spaces for local people". Preserving the idyllic whiteness. Old fashion traditions of Englishness. And I switched off. Too tired, have to pack, prep for an early journey to Newcastle tomorrow. And do errands.

Normalised Micro-aggressions: Our uber driver was pleasant, but he focused on engaging with my white (male presenting) partner despite the account belonging to me, which is fine until he started talking about villages beginning to be overcrowded due to people relocating from the city.

High tide was at 10am, sea water temp was 10 degrees, dipped in and out of 6 times and attempted to swim. First dip is always painful. Took 6 markers, lungs feel clearer, Nose unblocked

Reset

My partner's dad has dementia and his condition has gotten worse. I lost mama to Dementia during the lockdowns. My heart aches up to now that I didn't get to look after her. I thought we had time, didn't predict a pandemic. So, now that they need help and care - would do all we can to be there

The issue about neoliberalism is the individualistic selfishness it creates. The lack of relational autonomy and genuine care for others is quite scary, but it is unnoticed. Understanding the importance of connection, 'community' and 'family' (chosen and genetic) is important.

I've always thought I was a bit shy but, I realise that I am not. I mistake it for sensitivity as I get overwhelmed easily, so I move away from the source of discomfort/nervousness/fear perhaps? I do things while frightened, often wondering how or why,maybe, because I find more joy in all of it

Went back to West Mersea to care for our elders. Beach combed for trinkets. Did not have time for a swim, maybe next time.

'Affirmative action' may not be the solution for genuine diversity especially as being considered for something should be based on complex capabilities that requires criticality. Although, multiculturalism is something I have always been drawn to; an internal pull to find similarity in chaos.

EeeEe!

Ice cold dip

😅

Quiet Museum

Finally done. Just need to edit, do the final referencing checks and I can leisurely submit before Monday's deadline. 😭🥰😶‍🌫️🥳

Literature review again, 1,500 words using 10 articles. Deadline: 24th Feb Monday. Got my articles, but need time and cognitive workload to do it.

"..imagination is "schooled" to accept service in place of value." Illich, I. (1971/1972), Deschooling Society. London, Marion Boyers Publishers.

If learning is internalised and externalised uniquely by each individual, then expectations and outcomes would be as well.

Today's #EHE / Home Ed learning spaces were in Cambridge. We visited Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences and University Museum Of Zoology. 😍

The youngest created, edited and uploaded a 'Minecraft Backrooms showcase' video this week youtu.be/qvPzqb1anMk

Early British settlers (prior to the Angles and Saxons) had dark skin. - Adi, H (2019), Black British History: New Perspectives, London, Zed, pp.1-15.

Studying and note taking for tonight's class. This week's topic will focus on the African Diaspora. Looking forward to Dr. William Ackah's lecture.

So many things happening all at once, taking a break requires so many steps! 🤯

thestrand.ca/the-failures... Contemporary cognitive science supports the idea that the intelligence quotient is not enough to foresee the academic ability of a child, despite its quantitative nature making it attractive to those who use it to categorize.

"It may be that it is not some underlying intellectual ability, or 'intelligence', that causes children to do well in school, but rather that activity at school enables them to do well in IQ tests" - Banyard, P. and Byford, J. and McAvoy, J. (2021)

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Cross-posting here and Mastodon is the 'social media' version of watching a video in my laptop then, looking at my phone to catch a completely different one. 😅

No rice but still good. Breakfast De La Cass. French kiss. 👨🏾‍🍳

I guess typos and mistakes can be deleted.