Rhyme and no reason

uk Okay for you long suffering blog readers a quick quiz. I was riding on my motor bike along one of the sandy roads leading into Basse when I met, standing in the middle of road a bull, a large bull, one that would have put the fear of God into most Spanish bullfighters. So what did I do; 1. Drive like a madman towards the bull with engine flaring and horn blaring scaring it away? 2. Wait until the bull became bored and decided to walk away therefore driving onwards on a clear road? 3. Turn tail and run away as fast as my engine would carry me? The answer was a combination of 2 & 3. The bull and I decided to stop and stare at each other for what seemed a lifetime before it decided to kick up some dust and trot, no, charge towards me. Now bulls are faster than they look and my motor bike is much slower that it appears so as I struggled away I was grateful for some washing drying on a nearby wall which distracted the aggressor. I did arrive home safely and I am certain there is a Steve McQueen film where something similar happened, Does anyone know what he did and what film it was?
Meanwhile Lynn has been doing a study of National Examination papers which added to revelations about Gambian text books adds to our knowledge about why educational standards are so low. Another question for you; What is the opposite of night? Day, I hear you cry, wrong, according to a grade 6 Gambian textbook the answer is morning. Now a multi-choice question; Find the most appropriate word to replace the one underlined. Girls like initiating their mothers. Choose from a)wording, b)worrying, c)copying and d)obeying. Now even if you forget the word initiating there are real arguments in our experience for b) worrying and c) copying. Lynn is meeting with the examination board this week. We will let you know what happens.
Finally, this week we have been reflecting on time served or rather worked. One head teacher asked us for permission to return to the Kombo for a week to see his family. We, of course, said he should wait until a holiday period. Yet there he was on Friday morning waiting for a bus to Banjul. Now we have no authority to say yes or no but it made us consider the amount of time we work with people before they disappear into the ether. In twenty weeks we have seen our Director for around six weeks, one SEO for approximately twelve, another for two, the PEO for five and another SEO has not yet shown his face in the region. They seem to be able to take time off without question. Consequently our role of acting as advisors to the education directorate is and always will be limited by who is present and how long they stay. Needless to say in the UK and we guess in any first world country each of these people would have been removed from post for neglecting their duties.
Finally a poem; taken from the wall of the education office training room after an English workshop. One two buckle my shoe, three four knock at the door, five six pick up sticks seven eight lay them straight, nine ten a big fat cock. Nuf said!
Espanol

1 Comment to “Rhyme and no reason”

  1. By Pam, February 4, 2010 @ 04:37

    Priceless Poem – I’m still laughing! You have quite the job on your hands guys…..how long does it take to re-write all the textbooks? I’m thinking more than the 32 weeks remaining? Good luck with the Board Lynn!

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