George Best: Angel or Devil?

Just watched the extremely thought-provoking programme ‘The Truth About George Best’ on Channel 5. Despite his liver transplant he is back on the drink and looks and talks like a dead man walking.

George Best was the first football superstar. He was in the same season once voted English and European Footballer of the year. At 17 he was a regular in the Manchester United team, which with him later won the European Cup in 1968. At 27 he was finished. Tragic in that he was so gifted it wasn’t true. Now at 57 he is riding shotgun with the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

As one who knows, take your sister’s advice and ‘Try a little harder.’

Best wishes.

Big Brother: The Most Dangerous Programme On Television

My 13 year old daughter Toni has been keeping me updated on her favourite programme 'Big Brother'. It is the talk of the playground.

The big news this week has of course been the drunken brawl between Victor and Emma, now the subject of a police investigation.

As a result the University of Central England in Birmigham have told criminologist Professor David Wilson to sever his connection with the programme with immediate effect. He is the shows resident 'psychologist' by all accounts.

It is outrageous that BB be allowed to have any connection with psychology. It demeans my subject, and gives the programme a legitimacy it doesn't deserve. It gives the impression, especially to daft wee girls like Toni that this is all 'normal'. The people, the situation, the 'science' behind it etc. The weans see all this as 'real'.

I think this is one of the most dangerous programmes on the TV.

Some years ago I asked a group of teenagers what message they got from the the movie Trainspotting. It was that it was OK to take heroin, as at the end of the day you could do what the hero of the movie did, which was chuck it and walk away with not too much of a problem.

Aye, sure. You'll be right enough. As we say in Kilmarnock!

Students Make Me Greet At Times!

I was standing in our departmental workroom today, and being the last week of courses it was busy with students to'ing and fro'ing getting their coursework in etc. The next thing I knew one of my HND students Graeme went into his bag and handed me a Parker Pen as a wee present 'for all you've done for me'. I was blown away, mainly because male teachers generally don't get anything from male students! I thanked him and left to go outside for a ciggie as this had really got to me. I am meant to be a tough no-nonsense Glaswegian! Ha.

When I came back upstairs, there were even more gifts and cards from my HND group from the likes of Victoria, Elaine, Kay and Leigh. I then saw them all saying their goodbyes to my historian colleague Una. This gave me an opportunity to say thanks and cheerio as well. It was patently obvious that they all have really enjoyed their time at Kilmarnock College, and were going to miss it. All are away to University to do either psychology or social sciences. Many have been accpted into second year and some into third. Many have been with us for four years, starting at the 'bottom' doing modules and Intermediates, and have now surpassed their wildest dreams. As I always told them would heppen if they followed 'the script.'

I stood at the window watching them all go through the gate for the last time and a tear rolled down my face. More than one actually. I will particularly miss Victoria's intensity, Leigh's poems, and Elaine and Kay's dedication to task. As for Graeme I've always missed him, as his attendance was rubbish! But you have an exceptional excuse my friend.

Bon voyage my finest. Go take the world on, and come back some day to tell us how you have done.

Congratulations To Crystal, Jillian, Marilyn, Richard,and Robert

Congratulations are in order for the gallant band above, who are what's left of my Friday afternoon NC modular psychology class. The reason being that today they conducted an experiment with a random sample of the general public. A task that would phase folk doing psychology at higher levels. But not these guys. They did everything right, and are now away to collate their results and come to some conclusions. Then endeth their last module in Cognitive Psychology.

They are all then off to do their own thing. Some to do Social Care, others to come back and try for some more Intermediates and Highers. And some even are finding work! Their introductory year at Kilmarnock College has given them the confidence to continue. And so they shall, onwards and upwards. Future success depends upon current experience, and if you are not experienced in the qualifications game its always a good idea to start at a level you are comfortable with.

I wish all the above the very best for the future. You have performed really well.

Just Cruising Along

The last few days have been uneventful in the stress department. Mind you I am not a England supporter!

Euro 2004 has been rare. First couple of games threw up their surprises, such as a poor Portuguese performance against eventual winners Greece. Then came the England-France match, which saw England go down 1-2 after a great goal by Lampard, and two late stunners from Zidane. Best game for goals was last night's Sweden against Bulgaria. Bulgaria were the better team, and 1-0 down against the run of play then Henrik Larsson scored two in a minute. At 32 he had retired from international football, and it took the intervention of the Swedish Prime Minister, and a 100 000+ petition from Swedish football fans to persuade him to return. What a fairy tale in the twilight of his career. And lots more to come.

Got a wonderful surprise last night when a friend and her husband turned up at the door with four hanging baskets for us. Four hanging suitcases more like! They are just magnificent Polly. Thank you very much. And you too Jimmy for clambering up the ladder to put up the brackets. I’d have broken my neck, or ended up drilling holes you could put your fist through!

Yesterday I also received my acceptance for Glasgow University to start a wee course come September. If I say ‘wee’ too often I might persuade myself it is, when in fact it lasts six years! By the end of it I should have the initials ‘Dr.’ before my name, which will be cool. Glasgow University told me to beat it when I applied at 18, so it’s with a grin on my face I end up at the place that initially knocked me back! I say ‘end up’ as this is definitely it. No more studying after this shift.

And talking of shifts, I better get into work.

Scoop Keegan

I was chuffed to nuts to open my 'Kilmarnock Standard' this week and see an article about 'Gerard Keegan & His Psychology Site'. Lo' and behold a few pages further on I figure again! This time flagged up as a guest speaker at the Kilmarnock College Open day on the 16th June. I glow inside when I see my name associated with good things in the papers! Then great dread takes over, as I think about what can happen when you stick your head above the parapet in life.

In the days when I enjoyed a small refreshment, I used to run around with the KS journalists. I loved their company. Still do, but I don't see them that much anymore. Their sense of humour is superb. Its as black as coal. I always wanted to be a journalist but didn't think I was good enough.

We had a newspaper at College called 'Polygraph', which I used to enjoy writing for. In 1978 I read a book called 'A Sense of Freedom' by Jimmy Boyle. At the time Jimmy was Scotland's most notorious criminal. He book was about his life, his journey through the Scottish Penal system, and the sense of freedom he enjoyed when eventually arriving at the Special Unit in Glasgow's Barlinnie jail. Here he discovered his creative side, becoming a sculptor and author. I was inspired by the book, and wrote to Jimmy in The Bar L to see if I could come out and see him for a story.

In no time at all I had set up a visit, and persuaded Ronnie Nicol (who then lived in Wardneuk, Kilmarnock) to come with me. We got off the bus outside the prison looking the part. I was carrying a ghetto blaster cassette recorder, and Ronnie a huge camera around his neck, and box of attachments. We must have looked a right pair as we walked up to the gate. Hippie student journalists on a story!

An extremely big Prison officer approached us and asked us what we wanted. I said we were up to see Jimmy Boyle and gave him our letters from him. In no time at all we were in the Governor of the Special Units office surrounded by four senior warders. People kept coming and going and whispering in this guys ear. The phones were red hot as we were checked out by God knows who. Special Branch, the Scottish Office, Strathclyde Polis, our University, Jimmy himself etc. etc. Eventually the governor authorised our unuathorised visit! We even got a cup of tea and a biscuit. As we got up to leave to be taken down to see Jimmy, he gently advised us to leave our cameras and tape recorder in his safe keeping, '...because you know lads there are a few thieves in here'! Even as dimwit students we realised that it wouldn't be a good idea at all to report on anything that day!

Our visit went well. We spent about four hours with Jimmy as he showed us the Special Unit and his art, and shared with us his hopes for the future. Which was quite simply Freedom. Jimmy again asked that nothing be written 'in case it jeopardized my parole'. No problem we assured him. Absolutely none, Jimmy. One reason being that Jimmy was once alleged to have nailed a bloke to the floor!

The next day I got two phone calls to my office from him. By this time I was fast going off journalism as a career. While the conversation was cheery enough the subscript was again, 'Don't write anything son'. The deciding factor to stick to something safer came the day after when I opened the office door to be greeted by a friend of Jimmy's Paddy Meehan, who said he was just passing the Uni and thought he's drop in! Paddy, who is now dead, was 'well known to the police'. His purpose was to ensure no scribbling was going down regards his chum Jimmy inside. As I saw Paddy off the premises, I came back into my office and on the back of the chair the Editor of Polygraph Alistair Richardson has put a sign, 'Scoop Keegan'. Aye, that will be right. Never a word has been written about my meeting with Jimmy Boyle until now. 25+ years later.

Last night I missed another much safer scoop! My pal Jason Bryce of James Watt Kilwinning had organised an end of term party for his psychology students, and I decided to go down to Kilwinning to get some pics and a story to put up on the site. Caroline gave me a lift but unfortunately we had a row about where we were going and decided to come home.

End of story. Ha!

A Sense Of Boredom

It’s about 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday 9th June, and I’m sitting at my PC bored out my skull! The TV tonight is gawd awful. All channels, including Sky. There is nothing on that takes my fancy. Holby City or The Bill just doesn’t turn me on.

Spent the day marking students work, and filling in related forms and registers. I am always amazed at the amount of marking I generate. My Principal once asked me how much I do in a year, to which I replied ‘About 4 feet!’ It’s got even worse since then. At the minute I have 5 boxes and 4 bags of it. But fret not dear reader as I’m making progress. The attendant administration is almost finished, and I cross my fingers that I haven’t missed anyone out.

I once credited an apprentice with a half-module in Job Seeking Skills when I shouldn’t, and got a row from the then Depute Principal and my also now retired Head of Department. (Like he was going to Oxford or something!) There must be tens of thousands of errors and mistakes made on educational forms every year. The exponential increase in daft paperwork dramatically increases the probability of things going awry. And inevitably its the student who is affected in some way.

I’ve just had a brilliant idea.

Why don’t they issue us teachers with a hand held scanner? Even better make students wear electronic tags! A bit like a supermarket, when they’ve filled their trolley with accumulated assessments they pass thru the scanner and get their certificate from a till-like device at the door. EPOS – the Educational Point Of Sale!!

You could save millions a year. You wouldn’t need too many support staff who currently outnumber us teachers in my place 60: 40. Nor would you need monolithic exam authorities! Huge self-perpetuating bureaucracies could go at one fell swoop.

Wonder how that would go down in the corridors of power?

The Venus Transit, But Not In Hurlford!

I got up early today to enjoy the Transit of Venus. This is the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon of the planet Venus transversing across the Sun. It occurs approximately every 129 years, and nobody alive today has ever seen this before.

Not that I’m an expert in astronomy or anything! Just that the Venus Transit has captured my imagination over the last two weeks. It is so unique that it has only been reported happening five times previously in our history. The first recorded sighting being in 1639 by Jeremiah Horrox.

In 1768, Captain James Cook set sail on his first epic voyage aboard the Endeavour. This three-year expedition was to become one of the greatest journeys of European exploration, with Cook’s now famous, but accidental discovery of Australia. The reason his voyage was commissioned in the first place is less well known. It was a scientific mission, organized by the Royal Society of London to observe the 1769 transit of Venus from the island of Tahiti.

The significance of such observations later allowed astronomers like American William Harkness in 1894 to work out how far the Sun is from Earth; 92.8 million miles. At the time this calculation was known as ‘the most noblest cause in astronomy.’ It consequently saw astronomers and mathematicians calculate how far the other planets in the solar system are from us.

Ford’s however were the only Transits I saw this morning. The reason being that it was cloudy all day in Hurlford! Just my luck.

I can guarantee I won’t see the next one. Its ETA is 2247.

A Bit Of An Anti-Climax

I meant to post this blog last night but inadvertently deleted it by accident. Nothing worse, eh?

Yesterday 3rd June was Intermediate and Higher Psychology Exam day. I presented two sections at each level. In FE there is always the worry that folk don’t turn up for their exams. Mainly because they take cold feet. As usual some didn’t appear, while others did whom you thought had chucked the course! The latter usually fail before they put pen to paper, for fairly obvious reasons.

My Higher class are all school students. Their age is a big disadvantage in Higher psychology in that the bulk of the candidature are a lot older. Night-time college students, adult returnees in FE etc. This creates false expectations of 17 year olds by our examiners. As a result I will be delighted if I get a 75% pass rate. And I think this
just might happen as they did their level best in all the circumstances. Some walked out early as happens, but the rest remained until the bitter end writing like fury. Superb effort all round.

As to my Intermediates, who are full time adult returnees, they were absolute stars. One failed to read the instructions on the paper properly and may have bombed, but the rest should do very well indeed. Of these two deserve special mention.

Norrie Doran for showing great courage, guts and determination. And Polly Barnes who didn’t make the exam, but was as much this group’s teacher as I was. You are both an inspiration.

Exam day is murder for me. I was in, in the morning cajoling, reminding, joking, teasing and teaching right up until they went into the exam at 1.00 p.m. I paced around fretting like an expectant father until the end as I waited to see how all had done. And then, bang! It’s over. They drift off, and many you never see again. I got depressed at this as I always do. You think, ‘Could I have done anything more to make that exam more passable?’ Post exam anxiety disorder! The symptoms being a colossal feeling of anti-climax from the teachers point of view.

What made my mood state even worse was being given my timetable for next session, 20 minutes after I put this years mob into the exam hall! My boss wasn’t to know, but I thought ‘Christ, can you not leave this until later. I have just put the chalk down for THIS year! Gie’s a break’ as we say in Glasgow.

If the powers that be had their way I would be teaching 24/7 all the year round. The policy twonks and politicians think the job is easy. I’ll swap them any day, to help dispel this myth.

By today I had bounced back if not quite to a state of euphoria. I had a rare old natter at lunchtime with Mick Roebuck our Principal, Peter Kerr, Charlie Coyle who are fellow social scientists, and Gianna Devin my Head of Faculty. Mick told us a very funny story about a chemistry teacher of his acquaintance, now retired, who used to teach his class using a ventriloquists dummy perched on his knee. Big Coyle immediately pointed at me and said, ‘I can use you next year as mine to help me teach sociology!’

Excellent stuff if only because a few days earlier, another colleague Joe Lappin who was having coffee with us said, ‘I’ll better away and push back the frontiers of knowledge.’ To which I replied, ‘You’ll be resigning then Joe?!’

My Ray Of Sunshine: This Is For You

Just a short one tonight for maybe obvious reasons?

I was delighted to see a student friend of mine today, whom I thought had fallen by the wayside course-wise. She has had a dreadful time of it in the last few years having to cope with a developing mental health difficulty. This hasn’t helped her educational progress, which hasn’t helped her mental well being. It’s a vicious circle. She is nearly at the winning post however. Just a wee push for the line and she has got a key qualification to get to university to do psychology. her immediate personal goal achieved.

I will miss her, as she is like a ray of sunshine.

D Day and the EU Elections

On the 6th June 2004 Britain will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of D Day. My dad was involved in D Day. He was in the Royal Navy, and on 6th June had the incredibly dangerous job of driving troop landing craft from the ships to the beaches. He never really talked about the war, one reason being that he was sworn to secrecy regards what he later did, which was work at Bletchley Park. Station X successfully broke the German armed forces top-secret codes giving the allies a huge advantage in their ultimately successful fight against Nazi tyranny.

On the 10th June 2004 we have the European Election. A united Europe was, and still is, the key to European nations tearing lumps out of each other. And what do we see happening in Britain? Political chaos. We see the United Kingdom Independence Party and the British National Party gaining ground. We see the Conservative campaign implode as they fight a battle on two fronts. We see absolutely no campaign of any kind from Labour and the Scottish National Party. Either fighting their own electoral corner, or coming down hard on UKIP and the BNP.

I want to vote on June 10th. It’s the first opportunity I’ve had since we went to war with Iraq. I want to register my displeasure at this, and the ‘special relationship’ with an American Administration that tortures people. Trouble is, who for? None of the above deserves my X. And for the rest? The Scottish Socialist party don’t really want us to be in the EU, and if elected want to be mischievous. They are bombed out as I am into more grown up stuff than that. That leaves either the Greens or the Liberal Democrats. I’m in a quandary. Never voted for either before, so whatever happens my vote will be a first.

Who it will be on June 10th you will never know! But t its why the likes of my dad and his generation fought and died in the Second World War. He must be birlin’ in his grave.