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WELCOME

I have worked in education for more than 25 years, trying to impart my love of modern and ancient languages, literature and philosophy to generations of pupils in various international settings.  Contemplating ethical, educational and philosophical questions has always interested me, and debating them with so many young people over the years has been invigorating.  Many of the columns and essays on this website draw from the experiences I could gather in some excellent and diverse schools around the globe.

To access individual blogs, please use the submenus.  Blogs have been arranged into six topic areas.  In the slideshow boxes at the bottom of this page you find brief summaries of their key ideas.

The latest blog has been added on 22 November 2020, after a rather long break from blogging! It deals with a few ethical and political questions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Feedback on any of my blogs can be sent here.

"Portrait of the Blogger as a Young Girl" (When children were absorbed in a book rather than glued to a screen)

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL REFLECTIONS

BEING AN IB EXAMINER

About the excitement of being part of a global academic community and the responsibility of setting fair standards for international assessment.

ON EDUCATIONAL TOPICS

ON CONFIRMATION BIAS

Unwittingly, we all look for evidence that confirms rather than challenges our preconceived ideas.  Let us change this approach and work towards greater openness and greater academic and personal integrity and humility.

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SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS

RULES - BE FLEXIBLE, NOT RIGID

Probably summing up my educational philosophy:  be firm rather than stern and combine high expectations and aspirations with some degree of flexibility in the application of rules.

BIG IDEAS AND ETHICAL QUESTIONS

ON FRIENDSHIP (PART ONE)

What Horace can teach us about friendship, tolerance, generosity and the acceptance of each other's imperfections.

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ON LEADERSHIP CONCEPTS

BOARDING AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

Eight strong reasons why experience in boarding education and management is an excellent preparation for whole school leadership.

SYDNEY SIGHTS AND MUSINGS

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Watching the sun rise at the Opera House, and then returning in the evening to watch The Eighth Wonder, the dramatic history of this amazing building.  A reflection.

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