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Another Update on Jerry’s Eye Surgery

Many thanks to the nearly 100 people who were interested in the eye surgery and lent their good wishes. They say the surgery was successful. I took the bandage off my eye in the office. The lens was back where it is supposed to be. They had to drain most of the gel in the back of my eye to find it. It went there through a tear in the capsule. I was conscious through most of the surgery. For example. I remember the macular surgeon saying, “We’re in business!” when he found the lens! It looks like no macular damage in the process, which was a possibility. It is still sore three days later but the vision is getting clearer all the time. I am having trouble putting the two images together but that is getting better, too. They say this was more serious and recovery will take longer. The image was yellowish at first from remaining blood from the process, but that is mostly gone. The other eye is good. And overall, I’m happy. If everything will be OK, I can be patient.

-Jerry Mintz

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Derry Hannam Response To Guardian Story

Derry’s response –

The Guardian has a story about the new East Kent Sudbury School this morning – claims it is a ‘bohemian’ and elitist private school in an area of social deprivation.

Here is my just published letter to the supposedly progressive paper –

“I am a retired state school teacher. I attended a Kent grammar school from a working class background (dad a London bus driver). Most of my primary school friends went to secondary modern schools. I ended up at Oxford University – my primary school friends from secondary moderns did not. In my opinion the 11 plus exam was largely luck so I chose to work as a teacher in a secondary modern school. I was a year 7 Humanities teacher with the same class for half the week. The kids arrived in my class with a terrible sense of failure and having let their parents down. I encouraged them to study things they were interested in and ran the class as a democratic community with a weekly meeting to make and enforce class ‘laws.’ Their confidence began to recover and I had a lot of support from parents. I am still in touch with some of these 60 year-old ‘kids.’ Some, against all the odds, went on to get degrees and one ended up as head of a primary school and a strong believer in ‘student voice.’

It has become very hard for state school teachers who want to work in this way to develop the creativity and curiosity of their pupils. The desperately underfunded state system has become obsessed with testing and is driving many of the best teachers to leave the profession – and many more would if they could.

I am opposed to most private schooling in the UK which functions to reproduce a social elite – (often used by Guardian journalists.) I am deeply attracted to the systems of Finland or Norway where private education is almost non-existent yet innovation is encouraged within their state systems. We need more innovation in our state system and less rigid ‘fear-of-Ofsted’ conformity. Until we have this I support small experiments such as the East Kent Sudbury School which is not aiming to produce a social elite but merely to see what happens if kids are allowed to follow their own interests in a community that is run democratically and grounded in respect for human rights.”

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Complications from Eye Surgery

The cataract surgery for the first eye went well. Frustratingly, the lens in the second eye has rotated and they need to go in again on Wednesday to re-position it. Thanks to all who sent me positive notes. Wish me luck.

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Bay State Learning Seeks Part Time Maker Space/Crafts Tutor and Coordinator

Location: Bay State Learning Center – Dedham, MA

Open Position: Part Time – Maker Space/Crafts Tutor and Coordinator

Dates of Employment: ASAP to June 15, 2019 Hours: 2 days per week from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Compensation: $30.00/HR – Independent Contractor

Only U.S. Citizens or those already approved to work in the U.S. should apply. We are unable to help an international candidate get a work visa for this position.

Who We Are:

BSLC was started in 2014 by George Popham with a simple thought – “The way we teach kids in many public schools just isn’t working. I think there’s a better way”. George had been teaching in public schools for many years and he could see that kids were learning to memorize, follow rules, take tests and complete homework, and though there were likely some skills that they might take with them into adulthood, the most important ones weren’t being taught. They weren’t figuring out how to learn on their own, how to think on their own, or how to manage their own time. Thus BSLC was born and we’ve been encouraging kids to take control of their learning ever since.

Our philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that children are naturally curious & creative and that they thrive in an environment that fosters those traits, not one that thwarts their imagination. It understands that kids learn differently but surely and that no one size fits all. It puts the emphasis on learning that helps teens be prepared to lead a satisfying life, personally and professionally, in a constantly changing & evolving world rather than educating based on yesterday’s needs.

BSLC is built with a core belief that growing to be a compassionate and responsible individual is just as important as growing academically. You will see BSLC teens actively working towards being meaningful community members.

What We Need:

We are looking for a mature, energetic, creative person to manage our Maker/Creative Space at our Center. The right candidate should have some experience working with teens in an educational setting. They should also have some experience working with their hands. We have a creative maker space area that includes weaving, a Cricut Maker, electronics, wood working tools, a pottery wheel, a sewing machine, and various other crafting areas.

How to Apply:

Send an email with your resume and cover letter attached to information@baystatelearning.org.

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: $30/HR – Independent Contractor