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Blog 39
Originally posted on Islington Play CEO: I know it has been a while since my last blog. I was waiting til I felt a bit more settled and knew what to say but I can see that this is not going to happen anytime soon so here I am. I am feeling overwhelmed by social… Continue reading
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BBC news story flagrantly manipulates statistics on school accident claims
Originally posted on Rethinking Childhood: A major news story on the BBC website this morning uses false comparisons and basic errors to create a highly misleading picture about the sums paid out for accident claims in schools. Far from revealing a ‘claims culture’, the figures actually show that payouts make up a tiny proportion of… Continue reading
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Reforming play equipment and surfacing Standards: a few thoughts
I think it fair to say that within the broad community of play advocates – play designers, landscape architects, play provision providers, pedagogues – play equipment and surfacing Standards have not been a hot topic of debate or contention. For some they were, and continue to be, a form of assurance as to the ‘safety’… Continue reading
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I am compelled to share this
Truly, there are no boundaries to the surreal. Or perhaps Rockhampton Regional Council wishes to demonstrate its sense of humour. Or a particular world view taken to its logical conclusion – reductio ad absurdum With thanks to Liselle Wolmarans and Free Range Kids Continue reading
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It’s not all progress
Preamble I want in the article that follows, and the next one, to consider aspects of the resistance, current and developing, to what can be called the ‘pro-risk’ movement in respect of play and outdoor learning. In this, I’m as interested in the subjective, internalised, self-oppression experienced by at least some – I hazard to… Continue reading
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A renewed, misguided ASTM attempt to change surfacing standards, a Guardian editorial and risk-benefit assessment
‘Bicycle helmets save lives’ a Guardian editorial pointed out today (27.09.2016) referrencing recent Australian research. The editorial then posed the question: Should wearing cycle helmets be made compulsory? Now read on for the editorial’s succinct explication of a form of reasoning we have come to know as risk-benefit assessment. ‘From the point of view of… Continue reading
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An alert and call for action – a new Standard threat to play provision
This is an alert. An alert to all those – across Europe and wider – where European play equipment and surfacing standards are held, or will be held, to apply. A new Standard is being proposed, one that will further undermine play provision. Proposed change The particular proposed change I focus on here (there are… Continue reading
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There is a link, I promise: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and play
I accept that at first blush it might seem odd to link words such as play, children, teenagers, risk-taking to the international trade talks currently being conducted between the European Union and the United States of America. But there is a link, and it is potentially a threatening one. The talks, known as the Transatlantic… Continue reading
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Follow-up: copy of email from anti-sats test strike campaign – thought you might like to know
Wow what a 24 hours! KS1 SPaG cancelled, national media outlets getting in touch with us to speak to YOU our lovely supporters up and down the country about the incredible #KidsStrike3rdMay events YOU are organising, mentioned in the New Day newspaper and on BBC Radio 4 breakfast news! We also hit the 10,000 likers mark… Continue reading
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Bernard Spiegal 