Curiosity Hub Update
Barry Evans
Happy New Year to all Waymakers! At this time of reflection over the first term and looking ahead to the next, I thought long and hard about this first blog entry. What should the focus be?
There are the practical and functional challenges of getting to Springfield, getting organised and prepared while balancing other jobs and responsibilities at home. There are even greater challenges of switching mindsets and approaches based on my other roles as a (non-home ed) parent of two, a self-employed drama workshop leader, a school music teacher and year 2 teacher - not to mention tutoring school curriculum subjects and writing children’s shows; all require principles and attitudes that are sometimes in direct conflict with each other. How about staying on top of the developing ‘Waymakers Approach’ (whatever that may become) and helping the young people with us thrive? Then there are all the new developments in neuropsychology, brain function and pedagogy, not to mention the seemingly daily barrage of old Ken Robinson clips my socials and search engines send me in their algorithmic wisdom (if you don’t know about this genial education commentator and revolutionary, I would heartily recommend dipping into him BUT at your own pace).
What to do and discuss? I shall at some point return to all of the above, but in the end, as it should always be, it will be about the children: the wonderful mixing pot of personalities and outlooks which is our Curiosity Hubbers. Over the past term, we have tried to create a club atmosphere where the young people felt they could be themselves and explore who they are. It has been wonderful getting to know them and, even more importantly, getting to see them getting to know each other. At the end of it all, approaches, pedagogy and principles aside, it really is just about spending time together, being human and being together. Whatever lies ahead in the next term, through discussions and consensus about moving forward together, that’s really what it’s all about.
