I’ve researched the bridge extensively for a book, published by the Victoria Falls Bridge Company, who run historic tours of the bridge, entitled ‘Sun, Steel and Spray’.

You can find out more about the bridge and the book at the website (linked above). Andrew, if you get in touch I’ll send you a complimentary copy!

However there is much wrong with it which, in my view, can be traced back to the deprofessionalisation of teachers back in the eighties when the system became heavily centralised. As teachers we could no longer tailor what we taught to children’s needs and this created a host of problems, one of which, as you point out, is the boredom, and underachievement of the bright students. Another is a narrow focus on what is easily measurable and the consequent neglect of what is not.

Sadly, in the UK, we have had a system since Margaret Thatcher became Minister of Education, that has been extremely centralised with little opportunity for adventurous teachers (who migrate to the private education sector), in which we fit children to the curriculum rather than the other way about. Sadly this has been promoted equally by all political parties. Sadly, I see no signs of significant change in thinking emerging from any part of the current political spectrum.

“The function of universities is the induction of the intellectually qualified in the rigors of rational discourse. It is not to remedy the deficiencies of primary and secondary education.” Thus spake Jeremy Gauntlet, SC.

still in Namibia?

Keep going!!!