Mr Russell How to Shorten School Assemblies
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Issue 3 Email: [email protected] December 2009 1 THE PUPILS’ VOICE Issue 3, Decemeber 2009 www.pupilsvoice.com JUMBO crossword insidensiidede See Pg.16 FChairman, Co-editor and layout: Hasan Ali Chief Editor: James Jordan Deputy Editor: Sanjeevan Ghag onse ent praestie con eriustio odolupt In the Name of History How to Joe Yate, [email protected] Shorten School Many historically signifi cant Southworth admirers thought events have occurred on the ‘How can we best celebrate Mr 14th of December. In 1542, Southwouth’s birthday?’ Now Assemblies Princess Mary Stuart was what with the Pupil’s Voice’s crowned Queen Mary of Scot- revival, what better way to Alex McCormick, land; in 1961, Tanzania joined honour Mr Southworth than [email protected] the United Nations; and on this with an article? We are sure day in 1942, the reasonably that Mr Southworth, being Apparently, a number of well known (in Greece at least) an award winning teacher, people have been complain- actress Zoe Laskari, was born. will appreciate it when we ing recently that our school say ‘Happy Birthday, sir!’. Not assemblies are becoming too Oh, and Mr Southworth, of only is Mr S a veritable mine long. They are complaining course. Yes, as of Dec 14th of historical information, but a that sometimes assemblies 2009, our very own Mr South- source of good old fashioned run over into lesson time, worth, the much loved history wit. and people often claim that teacher, is 67 years young. the assemblies are so boring Now, Mr Southworth’s birth- For those of you who have it feels like they have been day has been celebrated in a not had the privilege to be dragging on for hours on end. variety of diff erent ways over taught by such a ‘legend’ (as However I can inform you that the years – many of you may described by the Chief Exam- it is not, as many people may remember that two years ago, iner at the AQA examining believe, the many references Mr Darby announced his birth- board, for being one of few to Dunbar United or endless day to us all in an assembly to LITTLE MIKE was so happy teachers still teaching the sports reports that have been thunderous applause that - Hanoverian Period at A-Level dragging out our assemblies naturally - lasted for minutes! Zhang, as well as myself) History), I think that it’s time to recently and causing people to Last year, in perhaps a more kindly purchased a birthday fi ll you in on a few details. Mr be bored. There are actually a low-profile manner, many cake for him, before impaling Southworth has been teach- great number of other things people from one of his Y11 it with 66 candles! The image ing at Camp Hill for the last 43 that, although many people history sets (including Messrs of this prestigious event can be years, showing unparalleled many not realise it, are contrib- Genders, Jenkins, Asif and seen above. Now, this year, we dedication in educating the uting to the » continued, PG. 2 » continued, PG. 2 Getting Personal: Mr Russell Having interviewed teachers relatively new to the school, we now turn our attentions to Camp Hill’s ‘Old Guard’, starting with Mr Russell James Jordan, Hasan Ali and Sanjeevan Ghag, [email protected] PV: Could you give us a quick it going and I was looking for in Siberia. Those are my two had on the phone was being summary of your career so far? schools that taught A-Level colourful experiences which recorded and kept. So there Mr R.: My career so far…well French, which is why I started have featured in assemblies. was no chance of building up it’s almost over. I began teach- at Watford. a language expertise as there ing at Watford Boys Grammar PV: Why and for how long were was in France where you could School in ’76 stayed there for PV: What other languages can you in Russia? go and live for a year. eight years and was Head of you speak? Mr R.: Not very long. That was Middle School. I came up to Mr R.: I used to be able to speak the problem, it’s why I’m PV: Did you enjoy France? Camp Hill in ’85 and was Head Russian (a little bit), a little bit of doing French and not Russian Mr R.: Oh yes. I’d fallen in love of Modern Languages, before Latin as well. because, though I did a joint with France at the age of six- going on to be Deputy Head honours at that time in the 70s, teen. I lived in a fairly tough and then standing down as PV: Wasn’t there an incident in you weren’t allowed into Russia working class area, on a coun- Deputy Head becoming part Russia when the Soviet Union for extended stays so I had a cil estate in the wrong end of time French, Critical Thinking, collapsed…? month language course there Sheffi eld. There was a teacher General Studies and Games Mr R.: Under Brezhnev I was which was under Brezhnev, and at the grammar school we went teacher. arrested on suspicion of ille- it was a totalitarian regime. Your to who decided he’d try and gal currency transactions, and hotel was bugged, there was get us ready for University. Us PV: What made you become a then under Gorbachov when a radio on all the time which being ordinary people like me, teacher? he went on holiday down to was party propaganda and we had no idea about ordering Mr R.: Lack of imagination I the South Coast and the emer- there was propaganda around food at restaurants and things think - I’d put so much work gency committee carried out in all the streets. You knew full like that. He used to take us to into French I wanted to keep a coup d’état, I was trapped well that any conversation you » continued, PG. 4 ALSO INSIDE: Interview with a Swine Flu – the worst The Noughties Sport - What won’t Cod reviews politician - Gisela kind of Christmas happen in 2010 Pg. 17 Stuart MP Pg. 9 Pg. 16 ‘Camp Hell’ cartoons present? Pg. 20 Pg. 6 Pg. 6 2 THE PUPILS’ VOICE Issue 3, Decemeber 2009 www.pupilsvoice.com If you feel there is something missing in this paper that you think would make it better, feel free to suggest features, along with nominations for the next teacher interviews, by e-mailing [email protected] We also value all of our readers’ feedback, not just pupils at the school. If you have a point to be made, do not hesitate to give constructive advice or criticism to anyone involved in the paper, either in person or by e-mailing the article writers (e-mail is printed with article) or [email protected]. We plan to have a letters page with your comments in the next issue, so NEWS you might even see your view in print! This month’s goings on, in and out of school Editorial In the Name of History... James Jordan, james@pupilsvoice. com Joe Yate, [email protected] And so we reach the third CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 deserving of issue of the new Pupils’ rogues and such accolade, Voice. Again, time seems to scoundrels of so well done have fl own by since the last Camp Hill. This sir! Oh, and I’m issue, but perhaps getting is a daunting told that his to the end of term quickly task in itself, singing isn’t is not such a bad thing. Of but as well half bad either. course, it’s not just Christ- as his role in mas Day that occurs during teaching, he Whether he our holidays, but the new has organised can sing or year, and more interestingly activities such not, all I know a new decade as well. as history trips is that having overseas (most been taught To commemorate this, notably the by him for the a number of contributors renowned Bat- past 3 years, have submitted their own tlefields trips, with another ‘Things of the Decade’, which I urge all 2 years ahead mostly a moment or a music Y10 historians of me, I can album. A decade may be to participate safely say that dwarfed by the new millen- in!), produced he is a credit nium we experienced ‘just’ shows that to Camp Hill, ten years ago, but for all of have aired at the Edinburgh just last year. And the energy and his truly limitless energy us pupils, the ‘noughties’ Fringe Festival and coached and enthusiasm with which and kindness is an example to have taken up over half the hockey and cricket teams, Mr S throws himself into such us all. And I am sure that the our lives. In 1999, despite as well as directing and produc- duties is unbelievable – earn- rest of the school, as well as Mr my mother’s insistence, I ing Camp Hill’s annual drama ing him the Ted Wragge Award Southworth’s pupils past and never really understood production with resounding for Lifetime Achievement in present, will agree with me. the signifi cance of the new success, most recently the the West Midlands. It is evident Happy Birthday, Southy. millennium; nor did I notice production of Sweeny Todd that Mr Southworth is well any change when I woke up on the 1st January (I tried to stay up, but alas, I fell asleep at about 9 o’clock).