Journeys in Education: Recent Episodes
Douglas Clark
You’re in the right place. Welcome to the ‘Journeys in Education’ Podcast where we chat about education then, now and in the future. We chat about mental health and wellbeing. What are our guests passionate about? What are we passionate about? We’ll have a right good chat about that too! Remember that the three most import things in education are Relationships, Relationships and Relationships, so relax, be happy and join us.
Ewan Aitken has been in his current role as Chief Executive of Cyrenians for 7 years. Cyrenians is a charity that works with people at the margins – the forgotten, ignored and dismissed – to give them a self-determined and settled life. He's also been an ordained Minister and leader of Edinburgh City Council.
Sir John Timpson and I talk about family, how and why he and his late Wife Alex adopted more than 90 children, what a saintly yet wonderfully eccentric woman Alex was and amongst many other things, why there are only colleagues in Timpsons, not management and employees. We also get to here John's view on Attachment and why employing former prisoners has been quite as successful as it has been for their business.
Gordon Goldie and Wife Lynne lost their 18yr old daughter Sarah in March 2016. Her body was recovered from the River Clyde by the Glasgow Humane Society and as a thank you, family and friends got together and raised just over £10,000 in a year. Gordon then joined as a member and was later asked to join the board of directors where he has been Vice Chairman for the last three years.
His story is of Resilience, an incredible outlook on life and he's a man who has managed to, in spite of enduring the most horrific catastrophe, move on with his life.
Stephen Bennett, multi BAFTA winning Director and proud Glaswegian is known for giving voice to others to tell their story. This time round, it’s him telling his own story.
His debut feature 'Eminent Monsters' is a film about psychological torture carried out by the UK, USA and Canada and was screened at the UN Human Rights Council in June 2019.
His pioneering and influential other work includes 'Brian Cox's Russia', 'Dunblane: Our Story', 'The Boys of Ballinkinrain', the follow-up ‘Warriors: Revisiting the boys of Ballinkinrain’, 'Darren McGarvey's Scotland', 'Murder in a Small Town', and 'Darren McGarvey's Class Wars'. A breathtaking body of work from someone who is ultimately a down to earth family man.
Zoe Venditozzi is a support for learning Teacher in Dundee, an author and is co-host of the Witches of Scotland Podcast, which tells us of those Scottish women accused, prosecuted, convicted, and ultimately executed as Witches.
This Podcast is part of a wider Witches of Scotland Campaign which has the stated aims of:
- A pardon for all of those convicted of witchcraft in Scotland.
- An apology for all of those who were accused of witches.
- A national monument for all those affected by the miscarriage of justice.
Bruce Adamson is the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland. He has spearheaded the drive for Scotland to now be on the cusp of accepting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Domestic Law, the first part of the UK to do so and he's a man with strong views on many things, including the mental health of our young people, involving them in decisions that affect them, raising the age of criminal responsibility beyond 8, (yes EIGHT) as it currently stands and the current rhetoric around the Weans 'catching up' the curriculum.
Leslee Udwin is a Global Activist, former BAFTA winning film director and winner of the United Nations Women for Peace Activist Award.
Her documentary 'India's Daughter' led to her turning her back on her previous life to found THINK EQUAL.
THINK EQUAL is the initiative that will end the discriminatory mindset and cycle of violence across the globe, focussing on the Social and Emotional Learning of early years children becoming part of Curricula across the planet.
"Please Scotland, Please".
A continuation of my chat with Darren where we talk about teachers being legally mandated to physically assault children, Pollok Free State and the release of Darren McGarvey's Class Wars on BBC Scotland and iPlayer.
This weeks guest will always put his head above the parapet when sharing his views. Activism, social commentary, identity, class, nationalism, drug use.
Writer of the book 'Poverty Safari'.
Star of 'Darren McGarvey's Class Wars' on the BBC.
When talking about poverty to promote his new multi part programme, he describes it thus: “without a doubt it’s the biggest ugliest issue facing society”.
Open, honest and yet considered, I chat with Darren ‘Loki the Scottish Rapper’ McGarvey.
Iain Smith is the Scottish Lawyer of the year for 2020 and a well known advocate when it comes to the 'ACE's' movement in Scotland. He went from a disastrous start with his schooling to becoming school 'DUX' and Head Boy. It wasn't until he was in his 40's that he discovered he was Dyslexic.
Iain works across the criminal justice system to ensure it better understands issues such as Adverse Childhood Experiences and being Trauma Informed. A strong believer in 'presiding with kindness', one of his tweets reads thus: "When you see Junkie, Ned, Scum, Jakeball, Perp, Addict, Offender-try to see Struggling Adult, Abused Child, Trauma, Neglect, Self Harm.
Graeme Armstrong is from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, where his teenage years were spent within the gang culture of the area. Graeme defied the odds and you have to say a lot of people’s expectations to complete an honours degree at Stirling University, this in spite of the fact that he was struggling with his own drug addiction, alcohol abuse and violence. He returned to Stirling to complete a Master of letters in creative writing in 2013, graduating with merit in 2015. His debut novel, ‘The Young Team’, whilst not a biography, was certainly inspired by his own experiences and his is a voice that deserves to be listened to.
An Inverclyde showcase this week as I chat with Hugh O'Donnell, proudly born, bred and now working in the area. He is a man that proves the path to Academic and indeed any kind of success isn't always smooth.
Jim McColl OBE is one of Scotland’s best known and most successful Businessmen and Entrepreneurs.
He undoubtedly splits opinion amongst many but one thing is indisputably true; this is a man who from a modest background has achieved much.
He has repeatedly shown how dear Scotland is to him, in particular the prospects of her young people. He has been unafraid to both support and challenge Scottish Education, continuing to do so today.
The 7th of 9 children, Kevin Neary grew up in Govan on the southside of Glasgow and remembers violence in the home and in the community from as young as the age of 4. After a move to West Lothian with the family, he had left school in 1982 at age 14, and was in prison by 1986 at the age of 17.
After leaving prison he co-founded and now works as a mentor for ‘Aid and Abet’ a charity that works with the vision of ‘once you leave prison you need never go back’.
Jim Sporleder retired in 2014 as Principal of Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Washington. Under Jim’s leadership, Lincoln became a “Trauma Informed” school, encapsulated within the Paradigm shift from “What is wrong with this student?” to “What is this student going through?” Jim, not unnaturally, believes that valuing a students voice is the key to generating trust and indeed a relationship between adult and child. Lincoln gained national and it’s fair to say international attention due to a dramatic drop in out of school suspensions, increased graduation rates and the number of students going on to post-secondary education. These dramatic changes at Lincoln were captured in the seminal Jamie Redford documentary 'PAPER TIGERS', released in 2015.
James Docherty is one of the most ‘well kent’ faces in Scotland in relation to Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how they relate to Scotland in particular. It is James’s personal experience of, which then informs his professional practice around navigating both the care and criminal justice system through his work with Community Justice and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit. This episode will change your view of how society can best help those in need x.
Margaret can rightly lay claim to the title, (which I am bestowing upon her here!) as the Queen of Teacher CPD in Scotland. Her involvement in some of the key developments within Scottish Education for a generation is to be marvelled at, as are her '3 key beliefs' surrounding education. A special chat with a special lady x
Mike Stevenson is a disruptor, he inspires people to swim against the tide of convention, he is quite simply an inspiration. When the recession of 2008 hit badly, he set up 'Thinktastic' as “an antidote to the doom and gloom”.
Nowadays he has a UK wide reputation as an inspirational speaker, trainer and creative consultant.
Mike’s motivational work with schools was given special recognition on three successive years with a Business in the Community award for Raising the Attainment of Young People.
“…an extraordinary person, a fantastic speaker, who conveys a positive spirit and inspiring attitude. He is very humble, entertaining, engaging and positively challenging in his approach. He will have an impact on any organisation.”
Iain Smith is the Scottish Lawyer of the year for 2020 and a well known advocate when it comes to the 'ACE's' movement in Scotland. He went from a disastrous start with his schooling to becoming school 'DUX' and Head Boy. It wasn't until he was in his 40's that he discovered he was Dyslexic.
Iain works across the criminal justice system to ensure it better understands issues such as Adverse Childhood Experiences and being Trauma Informed. A strong believer in 'presiding with kindness', one of his tweets reads thus: "When you see Junkie, Ned, Scum, Jakeball, Perp, Addict, Offender-try to see Struggling Adult, Abused Child, Trauma, Neglect, Self Harm.
A chat you cannot afford to miss.
Stevie Blom was formerly and will always be remembered as one of the most talented competitive cyclists in Scotland. Self confidence was a big problem for him but that all changed when he started cycling and joined the Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club. That journey led to him reaching a supremely high level of fitness and to him competing and winning national titles and medals.
In 2013 things took a darker turn. Cycling results dipped, confidence, shattered, work becoming difficult to deal with. Eventually the diagnosis of chronic Kidney disease came through.
Rebuilding his life in the aftermath with the determination of the champion cyclist that he was, he started a renal charity, ‘Return to Life’ to help others and promote awareness, especially with organ donors.
His story demands to be told; his bravery and perseverance will be an inspiration to anyone that hears it
Anne Pia is a former Teacher and HMI Schools and Colleges Inspector in Scotland but so much more besides! She grew up in a Scots-Italian home in Edinburgh, describing herself as something of a hybrid.
She believes that magic happens in classrooms when teachers have the freedom to create, initiate and explore. When children and young people don't feel stifled, or uninvolved, you'll find out what makes them tick, she advocates. She has written a number of books and poetry collections, including her memoir, 'Language of my Choosing' as well as her new book, released on 19 November 2020, 'Keeping Away The Spiders'.
Born in Kaitaia, New Zealand, Grayson Hart is a professional Rugby Union player for Bedford Blues. He previously played for both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the Pro 12, now Pro 14, as well as the Blues and the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby. He latterly also turned out for London Scottish and Ealing Trailfinders.
Grayson has had it far from easy however. How he has bounced back from personal and professional adversity is a story worth hearing. He is a hugely positive yet reflective personality, which you'll hear as we talk about his late Dad Ian, and how this loss has affected his whole life since.
He has some very definite views on education and he'll also tell us about his post Rugby career with Pure Sport CBD.
My guest on this weeks episode, Professor Ian Hardin, was born in Montrose Nursing Home in Glasgow but after following his American Army Dad to the US, with his Mum in 1946, he grew up in a very blue collar urban Alabama neighbourhood, surrounded by Iron and Steel fabricating industries. Nobody in the neighborhood had any parent who had gone to college, but his parents always said he was going to college, though with his Dad losing his job all too frequently he wasn’t so sure. However, Ian was a very good student and graduated from Woodlawn High School, ranked #2 out of 325 winning the award for Best Science Student (Baush-Lomb Award). This allowed for a couple of scholarships for Ian to go to Auburn University that made things financially possible.
After graduation, Ian spent over 43 years teaching fiber, textile and polymer chemistry at Auburn University and the University of Georgia.
He is considered an expert in the use of enzymes as substitutes for conventional chemical processing, and in the development of enzymes for unique treatments of fibers and fabrics. He is also very active in the environmental chemistry of textiles and is frequently invited to conferences to speak on the work in his labs regarding the application of enzymes to reduce effluent loads and aquatic toxicity.
His service to places of learning and communities that he has served are breathtaking, both at home in Georgia and abroad, his record, as Ian’s favourite poet Rabbie Burns would say, is “as lang as his airm”!
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay to this down to earth, intellectual heavyweight is that yes, he is indeed Professor Emeritus Ian Russel Hardin but to those that know him, to family and friends he’s just Ian.
A down to Earth, intellectual heavyweight from the U.S. on the day America goes to the Polls to elect a new President?!
Chantal Mrimi is an author, essayist, public speaker, and philanthropist. Since settling in Scotland in 1999 as a refugee from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has become an active citizen in her adopted country of Scotland; she is often described as the stalwart of her community in Fife and is a passionate advocate of human rights, in particular the right of access to education for girls and young women in Africa. She continues to face her complex and traumatic background boldly and openly, something we will talk about.
Her book, The Journey of My Life From Rwanda: The amazing true story of an African woman's life, tells how Chantal was caught up in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, her family’s flight to get away from the tribal warfare there and how sadly, many of her relatives- in fact twenty-seven of them- lost their lives.
This amazing lady has experienced domestic abuse, twice she has found herself homeless, she has battled alcoholism successfully, and dealt with mental health issues that, again, will be a privilege to talk with her about.
Somehow she survived all of this, as well as extreme poverty, believing the only thing that would ever help her navigate dangerous events and make it to a better place, was education. Chantal holds a first degree (with distinction) in Administration Management and an Honours Degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE). Her alma-maters are Abertay University and the Open University.
In September 2018, she was nominated by the public as the Scottish Woman of the Year, an award she won against some amazing competition.
Chantal is truly a unique survivor and we’re delighted that she is sharing some of her thoughts with us today.
Sandra Brown was brought up in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire in Scotland. She was educated at Coatbridge High School, Hamilton College and the Open University, which awarded her an Honours degree in 1978 and a Masters in Education in 1996. She has worked as a primary school deputy headteacher and as a senior lecturer.
Sandra founded the Moira Anderson Foundation based in Airdrie in 2000, which is dedicated to supporting children and adults affected by childhood sexual abuse. More of this later I am sure.
She has written a play called ‘One of our Ain’. It recounts her childhood and the unexplained disappearance of Moira during a snowstorm in Coatbridge in 1957. The one-woman show, presented by Sandra herself, has been staged at the Soho Theatre, London, Oran Mor Theatre, Glasgow and during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Sandra also wrote a best-selling book, (which personally I think should be required reading for every teacher and social worker in Scotland) about the same subject. Called ‘Where There Is Evil’ it ensures that Moira’s memory remains in the public consciousness and highlights the need for best practice around and wider awareness of child protection issues. Proceeds from the book provided the money which allowed Sandra to set up the aforementioned Foundation in Moira’s name.
In 2005, Sandra was voted Scotswoman of the Year by readers of the Glasgow Evening Times and in December 2006, she was awarded the OBE for services to child protection.
She is a Wife, Mum and Grandmother and In Sandra’s own words, It's a good time to interview her with the charity just having received Investors in People’s Platinum Award which only 9% of Scottish businesses hold, and of that lot only 2% have agencies with less than 23 staff- they have 14 plus all their volunteers - and charities come in at 0.5%. A rare thing indeed!