It is Autumn, one season I like at the beginning, then when days get shorter and cloudy I feel sad because of the falling of leaves. I like the colours and the sunny days which we have now ,but days can be also gloomy and our days are colder, not like in the summer time when I can lie in the sun and enjoy the sun and its rays.
It is also the season of colours and I can associate it to the great poet Keats who wrote his ode To Autumn.
If I had to choose a picture to describe this season , it would be a tree with plenty of yellow leaves. It would be a pumpkin on a table, reminding me that nature will have to continue its life cycle also when leaves have fallen and the earth seems to be sleeping under the snow.
These days when we feel that the world might risk more wars and we need to remember that only peace can make our world a better place where we can live together.
On September 11 2001 I was at home in the sittingroom, it was 3 p.m. in Italy. I was working at home and teaching German , we were working on some grammar revision with a student. We turned on the TV as the girl I was teaching had told me about the event and we saw images from New York and the Twin Towers which were burning. I was speechless and wondered what was going on. I finished my lesson and couldn' t but continue watching what was happening there. I was not aware of the great violence which would destroy the hopes of thousands of people.
Today after 16 years such images are still in my eyes: I am not American but I cannot forget what happened there. It was the beginning of a new war which would change our lives forever.
Since then we have experienced violence in squares and streets in different countries and in the name of a religion which is used to spread the ideas of attacks and violence against women and men that believe in freedom.
I have read articles about what happened and also in Europe we have come to terms with the great conflicts between some values which belong to the civilized world and the ideas which are carried out by some people who follow the voice of hatre and violence.
Today many young men are continuing their attacks against those who consider enemies. We cannot forget and as a teacher I will never forget what was documented online and in the news: innocent people died because others believed in the power of destruction and wanted to kill other people because of their religion and beliefs.
As an educator involved in teaching the values of democracy and respect of the others I will use some documents online to teach my students about the beginning of the 21st century: September 11 2001
Since 2016 the British Prime Minister has continued her work that is aimed at leaving the UE.
However, some people who supported Brexit have changed their minds , some educators and businessmen living in the City are afraid of the next steps because things might change and create more problems . People living in Scotland would also like to choose to part of the UE.
The European Union has never been loved by the Britsh people. Those who chose to leave thought that European Laws and money spent to support the poorest areas in Europe were not good for the British.
The issue of immigrants was also one of the main reasons for choosing to leave.
There are a lot of problems in the UK but it is true that a lot of jobs are not done by the British people: immigrants and other European citizens work in fields where no British man or woman would work.
Personally I feel that Britain has always felt an island and British citizens do not always share a European attitude. They also live in the past, when Britain had a great Empire. First of all, they are British citizens.
In education Britain has been chosen for the quality of many university courses and for studying English. Educators and many students have visited the UK many times and most of the tourist industry relies on people coming to Britain to study and to visit its famous landmarks.
If they leave Europe , there will be fewer students and people who choose to go to Britain to study and work.
The world of finance is also worried. What will London be like once most institutions have left it?
A city like London relies on the presence of a cosmopolitan society where people come and choose to live.
This is an interesting document which I found online and which I might use with my students to discuss the issue of Brexit. We love Britain and most of our students visit it and study there. The future might be different. The projects supported by the European Union will not be able to finance mobility of teachers and students. We will choose Ireland and other European partners but it will not be the same. My hope is that things might change and Britain doesn't leave Europe.
I was online tonight and I could follow some hashtags for this important event which was remembered online by Unesco and many educators .
Why is Literacy important?
Literacy is fundamental to peace and sustainable development. Everyone in the world should be able to learn to read and write. #LiteracyDaypic.twitter.com/JILaYzfINe
What we do need to do is to underline the importance of literacy when talking about the right to education for everybody. I cannot but support this important day !
Today, we reaffirm the importance of literacy in Canada and throughout the world. All should be able to learn to read and write #LiteracyDaypic.twitter.com/aybupU5QNP
