Finding your element

I have begun reading Sir Ken Robinson's book, The Element- How finding your passion changes everything. The reason I picked up this book was that I have been concerned for some time about our education system. The book is a reflective look at who we are as human beings and how extraordinarily unique we can be if we don't just accept common assumptions about intelligence, creativity and education. I think it is a book that our politicians should read as they attempt to change our education system. He makes wonderful insights into what assumptions education is for. For example "...the education system as it is and what the Government in New Zealand wants to continue with stiffles some of the most important capacities that young people need to make their way in the increasingly demanding world of the 21st Century" (page 14) But our leaders continue to fall into the trap that there is only one method or way and that all students fall into the same standards, which increases conformity rather than creativity. Our Prime Minister talks about developing innovative and creative thinking and throwing money into this, but does not see the significance of being pro active in developing this in our education system.

When a child begins school, they are full of questions and wondering, but along their journey of education they learn that this is not accpetable and that they have to conform to a certain way of learning. The reason for this is because our leaders know best. No not true at all. No one knows what the future entails. What type of work and jobs will there be for our students? What ways of learning? We need to be dynamic and allow ourselves and our future citizens the right to find their own paths.

I think the previous Government got it right with the new NZ Curriculum, but the implementation of the National standards will drain away the depth and scope the curriculum has for discovering new ways of learning and will send us yet again into a slow boiling pot where we don't notice that we are being boiled alive. The question we should be asking ourselves and others is not How intelligent are you? but How are you intelligent. I will be doing this when I return to school.

If you are an advocate for freedom of speech and desire a day when one can develop and follow their passions then read this book and make a difference to our society and education system. I choose to. I plan to design a petition to parliment asking the public to stand with me and ask the Government to allow a time for trialling the NAtional Standards that has been forced into schools by what I see as bullying and short sightedness. And I can say that because our Education Minister as been reported as saying "If teachers do not implement the National Standards they are breaking the law" PLease make your comments.

Guitar Music

Who remembers the days of the band Dream Mary? No one probably except those who were in it and a few dedicated followers. I picked up my guitar today after a time of it just hanging on the wall. I started reminiscing of days my friends and I decided to start up a band in the basement of our local church and not just any church band, this was the second U2. I looked on the back of the photos and our first gig was almost 20 years ago to the day 17th February 1990. I couldn't get this photo in this post becasue I couldn't get it to rotate landscape.


The stage was set and we began our music with u2's I will follow. I remember listening to it afterwards because we had recorded it through our sound system onto a tape recorder. My guitar was out of tune. The other eventful thing that happened that night was the roof of the stage fell down and because I was the tallest I was left holding the beam up while the rest of the band members took our very expensive gear off stage. (Do you sense some sacrasm in my words).


The fact is I wouldn't change a thing. We were young and felt that we could do anything. I reckon that is a good thing to have. Over the years I still beleive in dreams. I still believe that the human soul is invincible but we become refined in our actions, thinking and moods. My guitar playing, I think has improved becausue I realise now that it is about the band or the music rather than oneself. In the immortal words of my guitar hero Edge who said " What are you saying with it? not can you play this lick? It's about what you are saying with your insturment. It's the same with life. What am I saying with my life? Not what can I do. Yes action can speak larger than words, but in the saying you are doing. It's about finding yourself with all the noise and being content with it. It's about living it rather than meeting a goal. I have learnt over the twenty years in my guitar playing that the notes do actually mean something. Each note has become expensive. You just don't throw them around. Another thought from Edge. I hope you can make your own paralells to our lives in these words. When I read this in Bill Flanagan's book U2 At the end of the world, it made sense to me.

This photo was taken on March 24th 1990 at the big bop boogie concert outside the Founders Theatre Hamilton NZ

First day of school

My daughter has been nervous most of the holidays about going to school this year. She starts High School and will be attending our local school. The problem has been that almost all her friends are going to other larger schools. It is a dilema for parents. We want to do everything to make our kids happy while at the same time getting the best for our kids without being snobby about it. Our gut feelings have kicked in to say that where we are sending her is best for her. We really believe that she will succeed wherever she goes, but the size of the school is important. She is right into drama and we know for a fact that this school has an awesome drama teacher.

I sat down beside her this morning and chatted about standing tall and being your own person. Not allowing people to walk all over you and picking good friends and making new ones. A heart to heart. She gave me a hug and it seemed to go well. We prayed together for the day. My little girl is growing up. Does a parent ever really know what's going on inside their childs head and heart. You do the best you can and trust in the Lord. Some of it is up to them to make the very best. I like the relationship I have with my daughter, she still loves to give me hugs and loves me being around when she is with her friends. Last year she even dragged me up to dance with her at her school ball. All her friends said " You are dancing with your dad!' She replied "Yeah I like it" That's pretty special I reckon.

Love in action

This week I have had a chance to finish watching the TV series Long way Down Where Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor (actors) travel through Africa on Motorbikes. I had previously read the books and it was good to see it in action.

What struck me the most was yes these guys are rich and could do anything they wanted to for themselves, but they have an opportunity to make a difference. They matched their passion of motorbikes and travel to helping a people in need. Africa is still rife with HIV even though nowadays we don't hear much about it as the media has found other important money making investments. We must never forget that each of us can make a difference. One day I want to get to parts of Africa and be involved in education and changing peoples attitudes. Just look at these kids. They are Africa's future. They can do it.

I found the series inspirational. We have it too easy here. We take things for granted and we expect too much. It's one thing to have high expectations for ourselves but to expect others to give it to us I wonder. These people have hardly anything yet they are content. It makes me think anyway.

Thanks Charlie and Ewan

On a similar vein:

Read this article on the news page of my homepage this morning. It makes an interesting point about what loyalty means. On one side the country taking responsibility for its people and on the other the people being loyal to their country. A famous president once said "It's not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" seems to fit here. I know that Americans appear to be a lot more into patriotism then the common NZer, but I think we need to be a people that do a lot more thinking and doing about serving others. I am not suggesting that we all become socialists, but it does look like this world of ours needs to see a whole lot more love in action.

Young New Zealanders say the country is a great place, but its attraction is not strong enough for them to want to stay.

The finding comes from a survey just released by the Foundation for Youth Development, and TelstraClear.

It shows nearly half of people aged between 15 and 18 see their future as being overseas.

The survey also discovered more than half are worried about what job they will get after studying and 42 percent are concerned they might not be able to afford a house.

Foundation co-founder Graeme Dingle says the survey raises concerns for the country's future.

He says it is possible to change the attitudes, if young people can be helped to feel positive about themselves.

Responsibilty vs Freedom

Didn't sleep too well last night due to the knee aching a bit more than usual, which meant it gave me time to think about things. At school this year our main umbrella idea is responsibility and trying to find ways to teach it within the curriculum. There is as an element of freedom that comes when you understand your responsibilities. If you haven't been responsible for your actions then their is a consequence which usually is of a negative nature and therefore limits your freedom. It might be that others can't trust you. If I was talking to the kids in the class, an easy example for them to understand the concept might be. "what has caused you to be at the office rather than in the class or on the sports field?" Lack of responsibility therefore less freedom.
Rules should be seen as a way of gaining freedom and learning responsibility rather than something that stops us from doing things. Why have the rules been put in place? More often than not, if the rules have be thought through responsibly than they are there so that society can be better - freedom. Of course if we don't follow them then we come into contact with chaos.
I reckon the bible and Christs teaching and the reason he wants us to follow them is the same. I choose to follow these teachings and guidelines because I want to not because I have to therefore there is freedom in that. People say there are too many rules to follow. If you see these rules as a burden rather than a help through life then of course your not going to get the best out of it. Yes freedom does come with a price, but in the case of salvation and in a relationship with a God that truly loves us I see it as a fair deal. His grace is sufficient for me and any who wish to accept it.

A reminder every year

I watch this video at the beginning of every year because it reminds me why I am into teaching. Worth a look. For everybody, not just teachers.

Ken Robinson on creativity

Post Operation

It's funny how things happen. The op went ok. I was sharing a room with another guy and we got talking about everything. It worked out that we had a lot in common. Football mainly, but lots of other aspects of life too. It got me thinking about how easy it should be to strike up conversations with complete strangers and that when you do how enriching and interesting your life can become. What stops us from doing it all the time? I reckon for me it has been a fear of the unknown or what the consequences might be.
It was in fact rather exciting because the unknown was just that unknown, but the joy and contentment gained from having the courage to step out overrides the fear. We had a bit of a heart to heart about life the universe and everything too and we had only known each other for the best part of a day. Yes the operation was a success and yes I most probably can't play football anymore,but I discovered how easy it is to let people know that one is alive and has a life worth living. So the next time you are in a situation and other people are involved but appeared to have no significance with it why not make a significant difference. It's all about relationships.