Teachers raise cash to help supply laptops for home schooling
A great philosopher once said of history: “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Teacher Lorna Magoris might have been muttering that to herself when she climbed the stairs in her block to raise money for her pupils to have computers during lockdown.
She stomped up her apartment block steps a repetitive 120 times – a total of 7,500metres – taking nine hours.
It was not punishment for talking in her languages class, but to raise money, because pupils have been missing school.
She was part of a “120 challenge” at the John Roan School in Maze Hill, Greenwich, aiming to raise £14,000 for 120 new laptops to ensure all of its students are able to do remote learning during lockdown.
Staff set themselves ambitious physical, mental and creative challenges inspired by the number ‘120’ across May and beyond.
One teacher ran 120 miles in May on his own. Four history teachers – Elly Porter, Rosie Masson, Sophie Tutt and Rita Stibbe – also ran to raise money.
Yet another, head of PE Daniel Garvey, had his head shaved – but hopefully his hair will have grown back by next term.
The other tasks completed included painting 120 watercolours over 120 days, selling 120 pieces of homemade bunting for £1 per triangle, and playing the piano for 120 minutes per day.
All this helped fulfil the usual function of schools: to keep them off the streets – teachers, that is.
The John Roan School Association staged a lockdown quiz of 12 rounds, prepared by the departments of the school, on June 5.
The school office has not revealed who came bottom of the class.
During the school’s closure, staff found some pupils had no basic computer equipment, and so struggled with online learning.
They distributed its limited stock of laptops and applied for available government funding for older students.
But the shortage was especially bad for younger pupils.
The devices will provide a crucial resource for catching up once they are back.
United Learning agreed to meet half the cost of each device – so each could be bought for just £120.
The John Roan Foundation also agreed to match the final fundraising total.
The total is now only a few pounds short of the target.
Executive head teacher Cath Smith said: “One of the things I have missed most in lockdown has been the sense of community that we are all so used to.
“This fundraising will provide us with critical supplies to help so many of our students. But it will also bring together our staff, parents, students and the wider community in a positive and meaningful way.”
The philosopher who wrote about learning from the past was George Santayana, who also wrote: “History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there.”
So he may have been a bit prejudiced.
To donate click here.
Pictured top: History teacher Sophie Tutt
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ