Freedom - a view from the North

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.

Quite a controversial quote here, especially as the majority of wonderful people who read my blog are in fact English. I mean no offence here friends. It is just that I have been reading so much about the appalling plans by the UK government to take away the freedom of English parents to home educate their children, that I find this quite apt in the circumstances. It is a frightening prospect. Everyday I find more and more to worry about. Information can be found here and here, and here.
Fortunately for me, I live in Scotland, where these measures will not apply - our SNP government have said they have no plans to implement a similar review. Hopefully Mr BrownBalls will take some notice of the huge response to their 'proposals' If, as is supsected, they do not, I look forward to welcoming any home educators and their children to this land - there is plenty room to grow here. Its a sad day for democracy though when people are forced to become refugees in their own country over doing the best for their children.
I was in the National Museum of Scotland the other day. The entrance to the ground floor exhibition contains one of my favourite items - The Monymusk Reliquary. On the walls are inscribed the names of all the Kings of Scotland, and also the above quote from the Declaration of Arbroath is highlighted in beautiful calligraphy. As I read these familiar words, my eye travelled down to the long bench below. Sitting there looking very tired and subdued was a group of children from a daycare nursery wearing their high visiility vest uniforms and all strapped together with one of these. Ironic? Poignant? Or a warning?
Well - there are still 5320 of us at least!

Unconditional

My wonderful word of the week is UNCONDITIONAL. I like this word; it is somehow very complete. Since reading Alfie Kohn's Unconditional Parenting, I have tried to mother in this way - not always successfully, but I give it my best effort.
One of the lectures given by Mr Kohn is called The costs of overemphasizing achievement. Well, with apologies to the man himself, I am about to emphasise a wonderful achievement.
Today the Scottish Higher results were announced. My 18 year old son, Kenneth, achieved 4B s!!!!
Chemistry, Maths, Physics and History.
He also received an UNCONDITIONAL offer of a place at Heriot-Watt University (his first choice) to do a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry - with a year in Australia!!!!
We are just so happy - this was no small achievement. Kenneth has severe dyslexia and has overcome many difficulties to make this happen. Although he has had support, in the end it was all down to him - intrinsically motivated to prove to himself and the world that he could.
Unconditional - love it - live it.

Wonderful Word Wednesday

Today I am going a wee bit academic for my wonderful word. Back to my first anatomy and physiology lectures in fact. This word randomly jumped into my mind last week, but i am wondering if it is related to James and his love of water - the sea, puddles, harbours and rain are all favourites right now, but try to get him in the bath or shower - no way!
So, my word is Hydrophillic - which means water loving, as opposed to hydrophobic - both words fit James at the moment :)
These words are terms used to describe the molecules which make up the cell membrane - the phospholipid bilayer. The molecules have hydrophillic heads and hydrophobic tails and look a bit like this:This is how the membrane that surrounds all our cells is made up. I could go on, but I'm sure it is searchable if you want all the hydrogen bonding and negatively charged ions and stuff.
Hydrophillic - my word of the week. Thank you Tired Mummy for Wonderful Word.