Julian Girdham
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sccenglish.bsky.social
Julian Girdham
@sccenglish.bsky.social
1.3K followers 400 following 1.3K posts
Thinking, Writing, Reading, (English) Teaching.

https://www.juliangirdham.com

The Fortnightly newsletter is now at 193+ editions: https://www.juliangirdham.com/the-fortnightly.

https://linktr.ee/juliangirdham

#edchatie
Posts Replies Media Videos
sccenglish.bsky.social
RIP Brian Patten.
Cover of Brian Patten’s Love Poems. Brian Patten’s poem In the Dying of Anything.
September 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Fortnightly 192 is out in the morning.

Free sub link:
juliangirdham.substack.com
Fortnightly 192: Nicholas Carr’s Superbloom, Rachel Cusk’s novel Parade, Caoilinn Hughes’s short story ‘Two Hands’, Kyra Davis Lurie talking to Alan Alda about élite Black Americans in the 1940s and Gatsby, James Marriott on the decline of reading, Daisy Christodoulou talking to Ian Leslie on the associated ‘stupidogenic society’, Conor Murphy on Shakespeare in the curriculum, Mary Oliver’s poetry, Timothy Snyder on Ukraine. And still more.
September 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
In one week:

Webinar - An Introduction to Teaching ‘Othello’.

Date: Wednesday 10th September

Time: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Target Audience: Senior Cycle English teachers
via @TraleeESC @ClareEdCentre @NavanESC

Free registration:
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Poster for webinar 'An introduction to teaching Othello', Weds 10th September, 7pm.
September 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Bought my copy of the Hughes in 1980, and used it lots in the early years of teaching, especially the first section about animals.
June 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Patrick Kavanagh.
MEMORY OF MY FATHER Every old man I see Reminds me of my father When he had fallen in love with death One time when sheaves were gathered. That man I saw in Gardiner Street Stumble on the kerb was one, He stared at me half-eyed, I might have been his son. And I remember the musician Faltering over his fiddle In Bayswater, London. He too set me the riddle. Every old man I see In October-coloured weather Seems to say to me "I was once your father."
June 15, 2025 at 9:15 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Rereading Anita Brookner. These 1980s editions are pleasing. Size, illustrations, and decent resilience.
Covers of 6 Anita Brookner novels.
June 8, 2025 at 10:17 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
@biblioracle.bsky.social excited to find it’s now a TV series according to Google AI. When’s Episode 2 out?
May 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
At the English Meet on Thursday 8th May I'll argue that AI is antithetical to English as a classroom subject.

Draft summary slide below. #edchatie

Tiny number of free tickets left:
eventbrite.ie/e/english-me...
PP slide of values of AI (left) and English as a subject (right) showing how antithetical they are.
April 23, 2025 at 10:04 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Exactly. But officialdom is as ever determined by sunk cost fallacy.

Today @inotenews.bsky.social released a measured response to this issue, among others.

www.juliangirdham.com/blog/inote-r...
INOTE on AI in English Leaving Cert: full text in link.
April 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
The impossibility of controlling AI in the reformed Leaving Certificate. Today’s Irish Times. #edchatie
‘It’s impossible’: Will teachers be able to stop cheating for new Leaving Cert coursework? https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2025/04/22/its-impossible-will-teachers-really-be-able-to-authenticate-leaving-cert-students-coursework/
April 22, 2025 at 7:56 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Next.
Cover of More Than Words by John Warner.
April 20, 2025 at 9:40 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Beauty.
Panels from Siena exhibition at National Gallery.
April 19, 2025 at 7:58 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Sunday morning reading.
Cover of novel ‘Perfection’.
April 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Tonight, from 8.30-9.30pm.

The final #edchatie session this academic year is on the topic of Leaving Certificate reform.

All welcome: join in by using #edchatie between those hours.
Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
#edchatie

Last discussion this term is on Monday, 8.30-9.30pm.

Leaving Certificate reform!
Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 9:42 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Monday evening, right here. Last #edchatie of the term is on the hot topic of Leaving Certificate reform.

8.30-9.30pm.

All welcome. No sign-up needed.

Pls repost and pass the word.
Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social (This topic is highlighted with a black outline.) April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Patrick Kavanagh.
March 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
Breda O'Brien in today's 'Irish Times' on the stress awaiting students as a result of Leaving Certificate reform proposals. #edchatie
March 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
sccenglish.bsky.social
The final #edchatie this term is on Monday 7th April, when I'll be hosting on a hot topic in Irish education, which affects everyone from primary through to third-level:

Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons.
A promotional poster for "#EdChatie on Bluesky," a series of education discussions held on Monday evenings from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. The poster has a yellow background with bold purple and red text. It lists six session topics with dates and hosts: Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social (This topic is highlighted with a black outline.)
March 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
#edchatie returns on Monday evening, 8.30-9.30pm.

The topic:
"ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders."

Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social.

Pls pass the word, and join in!
Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codie1cory.bsky.social (This topic is highlighted with a black outline.) April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
That was quite something.
March 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
For the day that’s in it.
March 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
And two weeks after that I'll be here with 'Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons'. #edchatie
#EdChatie on Bluesky" All sessions on Monday evenings, 8:30-9:30 pm. Jan 13th: How can Ireland address its teacher recruitment and retention crisis? Host: @humphreyjones.bsky.social Jan 27th: AI in Irish education. Host: @john-hurley.bsky.social Feb 10th: Cognitive Science in Irish education. Host: @patjburke.bsky.social (circled in black) Feb 24th: Supporting additional needs in Irish schools: barriers and opportunities. Host: @trinagolden.bsky.social Mar 10th: Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities. Host: @joerolston.bsky.social Mar 24th: ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders. Host: @codiel1cory@bsky.social April 7th: Leaving Certificate reform: pros and cons. Host: @sccenglish.bsky.social
March 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
#edchatie
Some may be interested in this book edited by @stulock.bsky.social

www.juliangirdham.com/blog/the-res...
March 10, 2025 at 9:19 PM
sccenglish.bsky.social
'The Big Mac of School Leadership': this feels like a graphic waiting to happen. #edchatie

Along the lines of this beauty.
March 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM