Weekly Photo Challenge: Relic (of a time of Evil)

A submission to this weeks photo challenge : Relic

I wondered about posting this. However, sometimes relics are designed to make us think; to ponder the evil of mankind on mankind. These relics a salutary reminder of inhumanity to man. These pictures taken from two places in Cambodia are there to speak of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. Cheoung Ek (aka The Killing Fields) is a place where countless innocents were murdered in the 1970’s. S-21 in a prison camp within Phnom Penh where supposed dissidents were tortured and murdered. Some of the relics below are gruesome. Their purpose, to serve as a warning to future generations and to commemorate the dead.You have been warned.

Cheoung Ek

Mausoleum at Cheoung Ek (Filled from top to bottom with Skulls of the murdered)

Skulls of the murdered at Cheoung Ek

Pieces of bones remaining after excavation in 1980

The killing tree where children were murdered

S-21

Torture chamber at S-21

The rules governing the prisoners in the torture chamber

Photos of the condemned

Gallows

Me At My Best = My Best Team

T Minus 37

Last night was my last Faculty Meeting. I have headed up the ICT Faculty for one term short of 6 years, just over half of my time at Lord Williams’s.

It was a strange experience reflecting on the year and proposing actions for the year ahead of which I will have no part.

The ICT faculty is composed of 5 teachers, all specialist. My predecessor used the phrase “small but perfectly formed” which was very apt.

Following last week’s Legoland trip one colleague bought us all a key ring – this is a Lego representation of the ICT Team.

As teachers we spend the vast majority of our days apart, each with our own class of 28 -30 teens. This separateness is compounded by the split site and the fact that most are part-timers. However, it’s a strong team and generally we get on well and support each other. There can be friction at times, even so the key thing is working collectively.

I have always referred to them as Team. Fundamentally because I believe when we are all pulling in the same direction we can achieve more as a group than as individuals. I am the leader of the Team and this means making tough decisions at times, sometimes unpopular decisions, nonetheless everyone has a voice and (I hope) the team feel listened to even when they might not agree.

Thinking about this recently, I suddenly became aware of the fact that a rearrangement of the phrase “My Best Team” becomes “Me At My Best”.

I really believe that my team has been the best and I have been better by being part of the team. As I leave my team in under a week, I leave it in good hands. However, I will miss them.My team (seated) at my leaving do – Punting on the Cherwell River.