Confected outrage doesn’t change facts about family thecritic.co.uk/confected-outr… children’s interests are disregarded in UKdebate&policy making...the sacrifice of adult freedoms, necessary to prioritise the nurture of children, is incompatible with a doctrine of individual autonomy.

The point is not about elf on the shelf: it's about social fabric and the future of Western liberal society. M&S marketing pushes the pursuit of individual freedom. Why mock when Katharine Birbalsingh pushes back with tradition/responsibility?

A remarkable article in Sunday Times on the Scottish curriculum. When Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence was introduced in 2010, I was told repeatedly that its skills-based focus was superior to knowledge-rich approaches I & others supported. 13 years on & what do we see?

You need to create an environment where poor behaviour is less likely to happen. 1. Consistency from staff: have systems that everyone must follow. Ie slanting, counting out books. 2. Consistent classrooms: visualisers for all, desks in rows, not much on walls. 3.Narration of

Work and Play - a short essay by Micheal Oakeshott on the distinction between work (use of the world's resources for the satisfaction of our wants) & play. "The word "school" ....comes from the Greek word skole, which means “leisure” or “free time.” firstthings.com/article/1995/0…

"in a TikTok and Instagram world of instant gratification and momentary fads, the focus of classical education on arts and literature dating back hundreds or thousands of years instills a respect for contemplation and things that are lasting." quillette.com/2024/02/09/the…

Anyone who has anything to do with children needs to read both of these. ⁦Abigail Shrier⁩ and ⁦Jonathan Haidt⁩ are brilliant. So much of what they say explains the happy culture at Michaela. As I have always said, it is about so much more than academic results.

Nice summary of the discussion between Richard Dawkins and Ayaan Hirsi Ali shar.es/ag5yHA

Many older members of Gen Z testify that "it was the damn phones." Can anyone find Gen Zers who testify in favor of the phone-based childhood? Who are glad that their generation got smartphones and social media in middle school? This is so powerful, so haunting

Children and teachers in England are significantly better off thanks to Nick Gibb 's time at DfE. We need to continue to build on his reforms so we're preparing all children for freedom through reason, virtue and wisdom.

Well worth a read by @LawrenceEFoley "A generation ago, English literature A Level was a staple, a badge of honour for the intellectually curious. Now, it languishes, a wilting flower in the arid landscape of pragmatism and ‘future-proof’ skills."

Thank you Rebecca Cramer. "Smartphones have no place in childhood or in schools". Or as some else once said, "the day you give your child a smartphone is the last day of their childhood".

"We marinate children in bleak narratives, assuming, wrongly, that this will inoculate them against disappointment or failure." But research by UPenn's Jer Clifton has found "these beliefs are not protective — they’re harmful." nationalreview.com/magazine/2025/…

I'm looking forward to joining this conversation about my favourite topic, Classical Liberal Education (not least because I'm still getting mine), on Times Radio at 12:30

Outrageous. But speaks volumes about over-reach of our state. I used to think families were better protected under Tories, but lets not forget it was Jeremy Hunt who sent the clear message that Mums should go back to work when their child is not 3 years old, but 9 months!