Tag: education

A Summer's School Pick-Up!

Sutton: A Typical Summer School Pick-Up! (20.8.2026)

Of course, we live in South-West Greater London (Sutton & Cheam) – which used to be East Surrey until 1965. The place is countryfied and full of trees and parks – the trees are in the streets – planted down the side of the pavements (my dad said – when he visited in 2000 – that this is “posh”). Sutton used to be terribly wealthy in all areas, but now is just a place that well-off people like to live despite the economy completely collapsing). Obviously, I am here just by accident. I ended-up here more or less by accident due to a relationship, etc. Still, we are where we are and have to make the most of it. The schools are good and we are providing the best education we can for our two daughters. This is my partner “Gee” (left) walking with “Kai-Lin” (right) – I am the rear-guard holding the ‘phone. Earlier that day, me and Gee had attended a School Assembly – within which all the children demonstrated to their parents what they had laerned over the last academic year (September-July).

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Originally opened in 1920, Croydon Airport played a pivotal role in advancing aviation in the aftermath of World War 1.

UK: Croydon Aerodrome Open as Museum! (11.6.2026)

As far as I am aware, this place was originally called the “Croydon Aerodrome” – and only later became an “Airport”. As it is located just outside Sutton (in Purley Way) – I have seen it described as “Sutton Airport”. I also have a dim memory that the area was used in WWI by the Royal Flying Corps – and possibly a place for launching Airships and/or Balloons – although this information is missing in this article (although I have linked the museum above). The single comment left below states that the museum has been open since 2000 – but this is news to me and I live near this area. I thought it served as a hotel and perhaps part of it still does. I know that the UK’s last Hangman – Albert Pierrepoint – used Croydon Airport when travelling around London gaols plying his deadly trade (probably in 1953). It was very rare for ordinary working-class people to use air travel prior to the 1970s (the Beatles did in the 1960s onward – as they were mega-rich and famous by then) – but Albert Pierrepoint’s travel was paid for him by the Home Office – his employer.

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Jazz Fusion in the Confederacy

CSA: Jazz – An Interesting Assessment of “Black Freedom” in the Post-Confederate Period! (4.6.2026)

He had come from the British colony of the West Indies – and was surprised to observe how cognitively undeveloped the slave population was in America. In the West Indies the British had established “Re-Education Camps” which all former-slaves had to be held within. They were daily taught how to read and write, how to count, and how to civilly interact with one another (and other people). They were taught cleanliness and hygiene, etc. This included medical understanding and religious practice (Protestant Christianity). When each individual successfully passed all the sets tests and examinations – they were declared a “Free Citizen” and released into general society. Another way of gaining this status was to join the British Army and serve in Africa for the UK government. Men who survived 20-years gained British Citizenship and the right to settle in England as an Englishman – a great honour. Jefferson Davis wanted a phased reduction and abolition of slavery once the sovereign status of each State had been decided. He certainly had no intention of extending or preserving the institution – but you can see from the above quote that the North preserved slavery well into the 20th century – but gave it a thin-veneer of a faux “freedom”. Just as Davis promised the Native Americans their own country – he promised all Black men who supported the Confederacy “Freedom” and “Citizenship”. Because the North did not bother to transition the former slave populations – America is today riddled with all kinds of sociological ills. As matters stand, a “forced” assimilation does not seem to be working.

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Surrey: WWII Anderson Shelter – Rural Life Living Museum! (29.5.2026)

The fact that thousands of working-class people in London took to the Tube tunnels for safety demonstrates just how few people possessed these shelters. My mother’s family – which lived in Lewisham – did possess one of these “Anderson Shelters” – and it saved their lives when Hitler’s bombers finally came! During September, 1941, Hitler targetted the working-class areas of London with the intention of either wiping-out the working-class (and preventing them joining the British Armed Forces) or scaring them so much that they would not volunteer to fight Hitler. Hitler destroyed large parts of Lewisham – which included my mother’s family home. They had took cover in the shelter and as my grandfather was piling-up the sand-bags around the door – when the bombs fell that destotyed their house and street!

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Field-Stripping Devices is an Important Skill!

Surrey: Gee & Kai-Lin Field Strip & Assemble a Wooden Stool! (29.5.2026)

Anyway, we visited the “Rural Life Living Museum” (ob May 28th, 2026) – not far from the log-cabin area we were staying at in Tilford (a bourgeois cesspit of wealth). We have visited similar places not far from Sutton, and also in Oxford, Devon, and Cornwall. Many Moons ago, I visited places like this in the Lake District and in Scotland. They are essentially centres of education for school-children – and for adults to reminisce. My childhood (pre-Star Wars) was a very different reality to that which exists today. The working-class pre-1977 were very localised in mentality – with the middle-class attending university and developing a world-wide appreciation. This difference in education always benefits the middle-class who understand more and are able to use this knowledge to keep the workers in their place. Stll, it was a good day out and I will have to author a number of posts to cover it all.

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The Spinning Jenny - Weaving machine

Surrey: Visiting Farnham Museum! (27.5.2026)

These former workers adopted the mannerisms, culture, and dress of their social betters (the “aristocracy”) and were even able to “purchase” an education for their children. This new bourgeoisie (the “Merchants”) were even able to stand for election in Parliament. After purchasing weapons and raising armies – the bourgeoisie eventually seized control of the means of production (following the English Civil Wars). They now comprise one of the most conservative strands in UK society – and certainly maintain this air of elitism in Farnham. A local book-dealer even tried to sell me Das Kapital Vols I, II, & III (printed in the USSR in hardback) for £100 – claiming they were “rare”. In fact, a full set is usually four volumes and I often find them on the bottom shelves of old book-shops – usually attracting dust – as no one cares for their content. I do collect them and usually spend around £5 per copy. Imagine that – a bookseller in Farnham attempted to reduce Marx’s critique of capitalism to yet another vehicle of that capitalism! But that is the way capitalism works and is exactly how Farnham has attracted its wealth and conservativism. Florence Nightingale gets a mention – Gee trained as a Midwife at St Thomas Hospital (London) – which maintains a Museum recording the life of Florence Nightingale. Indeed, Gee is designated as a “Florence Nightingale Midwife”.

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