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"responsibility," "resilience," "gratitude" -- checks all of the proper values and attitudes for the business of life.

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Feb 11Liked by The Equiano Project

Thanks and kudos for the informative and insightful interview. Birbalsingh is doing really important work, both at her school and with educators beyond.

One thought: At least some students might infer from low expectations that educators think the students aren’t capable of doing more. If so, it’s not a recipe for developing self-confidence or a willingness to try and risk failure, the experience of which brings with it so many important life lessons.

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Feb 11Liked by The Equiano Project

…and life skills.

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Feb 11·edited Feb 11Liked by The Equiano Project

Years ago before any of us had heard of 'woke', I wrote to The Voice Newspaper (self-styled Britain's favourite Black newspaper) and suggested that they produce one edition that does not mention racism. Their writers would be free to write about anything that interests them that has nothing to do with race. If anything The Voice has become more preoccupied with race and committed to everything woke.

The old philosopher's joke is that 'politicians take a complex issue and simplify it so that everyone can understand it, philosophers take a simple issue and complicate it so that no one can understand it. Today race activists and commentators have politicised every aspect of life, art, education, sport etc.

Katharine Birbalsingh reminds me of my aunt also a committed teacher (now 96 years old), among many catchphrases where, 'when you're black in this country you have to work twice as hard' her attitude to educating children 'give it to them when they don't want it so it's there when they need it'.

(If she read this she would correct my grammar and punctuation).

Older readers will remember the brilliant maverick football manager Brian Clough who had many battles with the powers that be. There was a biography of Clough call 'nobody says thank you' - that's a shame, maybe we should say thank you a bit more, thanks Katharine Birbalsingh.

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This has made my weekend! Thank you! :-)

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author

That's what we like to hear!

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