Ten years on

Reflections on a learning experience 

I know I tend to hoard what I'd call resources to do with work, be it books, papers, certificates and bits of card. "It'll all be useful one day" is my internal mantra. I've been cutting down on books by allowing them to be more widely available at work; that in itself has been liberating as in recent times I've gone back to more 'hands on' hard copy reading.

Whilst preparing this week for a session on resilience I went to my cupboard and found amongst other things the workbook from the excellent St Christopher's multi professional week I attended in May 2006. I recall thinking the whole experience had been exciting and stimulating. Do they still do it? Yes, see http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/education/diary and one is coming up soon.

The attendees came from across the world and we were truly multi professional, adding further texture to the week.

The opportunity to learn from David Oliviere, Malcolm Payne, Nigel Sykes, Barbara Monroe, Nigel Hartley, Avril Jackson, amongst other talented colleagues was so invigorating.

I still remember much of what was said and done; from giving instructions on making tea, digital pebbles, spirituality, teamwork and with role play thrown in the international participants were challenged to think, act and learn.

So what's brought this all about? I'm still teaching on occasion so a dive into the resources led to me think about the workbook. I was sure there were pearls of wisdom to find and was right (on managing stress and teamwork). So ten years later I can hold the pages and how that itself has changed. Hospice UK can put entire conference abstracts, posters and videos on line - an example of the revolution in the way we communicate and produce materials. I wonder what those who will attend my session will recall of the session next week, and in 10 years time. How will they access our presentation, will a virtual channel have the same physical and intellectual resonance as my purple covered booklet? 

Maybe the physical presence of thoughts, ideas and reflections last longer in the memory? I need an educationalist to confirm that; may be though that the way that week was organised and led has left this influential mark. It's a  been a powerful experience revisiting these materials; reflection and development distilling an enervating week in one afternoon.

Extraordinary times

We hear today of the death of one man at the hands of a nation state who wanted him dead. The news of Osama Bin Laden's death fills me with unease as do the accompanying pictures of celebrations outside the White House. Was this justice? It does not feel like that - yes his death is symbolic given the aftermath of the Sept 11th and July 7th bombings; I am not convinced it is that simple and in time we may come to rue his passing without a process of some kind having been held. I am not advocating judicially sanctioned death either - the USA is one place it can take place so we must be realistic about that as a possibility.
Perhaps having clear evidence was a problem for the USA? As Bin Laden claimed responsibility for terrorist deeds I assume there was no felt need for a judicial process.
I am not an American so may have a greater detachment from the emotions behind Sept 11th; July 7th was closer to home - and indeed friends nearby, though even then it had not filled me with a desire to see another person killed. It reminds me of the circle of violence often referred to in Northern Ireland that has for the majority now been broken, bringing an end to violent actions motivated by revenge. Many veteran soldiers of both World Wars have in my hearing adovcated not going to war as the best policy.
Humans do seem to have a capacity for retribution that gets in the way of thinking in the long term; surely finding other ways to address injustice and intolerance are vital. Answers are not easy to come by and cleverer people than I struggle to find these.
I cannot celebrate the news of this death - there will be many others who die today - without remark when other actions by nation sates might have prevented their deaths through action on poverty, ill health and education. I would prefer those actions as worth mentioning on the news and celebrating the lives saved, to what we have heard today.