sluggerotoole--2020-05-12--Queen’s Quarter superblock – Freeing a city quarter from vehicle traffic and pedestrianising Botanic

Queen’s Quarter superblock – Freeing a city quarter from vehicle traffic and pedestrianising Botanic Avenue…

Following Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon ’ s announcement of a new Walking and Cycling Champion , to lead the emergency measures needed to immediately increase active travel space and priority , we take a closer look at one aspect of plans : superblocks .
The term has been used to describe work to reduce traffic levels within areas of Barcelona , and Bikefast has proposed a superblock-style approach to re-configuring Belfast ’ s Linen Quarter .
Coronavirus has claimed many lives and devastated families , and will continue to do so – in greater numbers if we are unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergence from lockdown looks like .
Communities have seen one small ray of light in the last two months of sacrifice and stress – a huge increase in walking and cycling within their immediate areas .
It ’ s been widely recognised that enabling this to continue would be good for public health , the environment , more liveable places and critically in the short to medium term , getting people to safely access and support local small businesses and community hubs when they begin to reopen .
The new normal may mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widened pavements and pop-up bike lanes on arterial streets .
But many communities will have seen the benefit of living without the usual volumes of through-traffic , and wish to prevent a return .
An example of how this could be simply achieved is demonstrated with the Queen ’ s Quarter .
The area is bounded by Donegall Pass to the north , University Road to the west , Botanic Gardens and the Lagan to the south and the Ormeau Road to the east .
The area is blighted by traffic and daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-way streets ( eg College Square , The Crescent , The Holylands ) and access-only streets ( eg Mount Charles ) prevent area-wide unfettered access .
A residents ’ parking scheme has been in place on Rugby Road and College Park Avenue since 2018 .
The easy permeability is one of the main issues .
Three distinct East-West routes are fed by a quick North-South escape from city congestion through Botanic Avenue and the streets of “ The Holylands ” on the southern end of the area .
A Metro bus route between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corridor runs through the area along University Avenue and Botanic Avenue .
The southern extension of the “ Glider ” bus rapid transit system is due to run along the length of the Ormeau Road in a few years .
How to create the superblock A handful of minor road closures and barriers to vehicle access could fundamentally change the area .
Snipping University Street beside the Union Theological College would cut off the popular eastbound rat run along University Square to the Ormeau Road .
Raising barriers to vehicles on several other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic-free plaza , with residents ’ vehicle access possible throughout the approach streets .
Botanic Avenue suffers from being a quasi arterial corridor , despite only linking to other more strategic arterials .
The only real justification is the Metro 7 bus route , which links with Botanic railway station .
Without through-traffic , the cafes , restaurants , hotels and independent shops could flourish with the surrounding high density resident population , daily influx of university students and its nightlife venues .
Smaller access-only streets would have virtually no traffic movements allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance .
A more generously spaced and safer cycleway could be created along University Square by removing one side of ( free ) parking , with the other side regulated to encourage the use of alternative travel and churn .
Cameron Street is deluged with ( free ) commuter parking every day , adding to city congestion .
Closing it up , apart from residents and business access at either end , would reduce congestion and allow a much-needed inner city greenway-style park to be developed instead .
With Botanic Avenue closed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along University Street , where parking would be halved and regulated .
Having the Metro 7 route turning between the Quarter and the Ormeau Road on a signal controlled junction , instead of patiently waiting for a break in rush hour traffic emerging from University Street , would improve journey reliability .
Instead of high permeability with North-South route and three East-West routes , the superblock plan would drastically cut through-traffic access and volumes .
The North-South route for traffic is completely removed , while East-West is travel is permitted on University Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reaching access-only streets in the Quarter .
This is also to ensure balance of East-West travel to ensure flows are not simply displaced onto Donegall Pass .
Close monitoring would assess any impact in the short term and further calming measures could be deployed is needed .
The superblock idea takes damaging traffic off unsuitable streets and passes it around the edges .
A reduction in overall vehicle levels could be seen too as people adjust to new route planning , alternative options , and a parking supply which is reduced and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would need to cover the whole area to ensure that residents and local businesses and their visitors are prioritised .
It ’ s just a concept , to demonstrate the types of interventions which areas of Belfast other towns and cities around the country could benefit from .
Is there a potential superblock sitting in plain sight in your area ?
Let us know .
This post was originally published on Bikefast .
“ No Alibis Bookstore Belfast ( 83 Botanic Avenue ) ” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA

Following Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon’s announcement of a new Walking and Cycling Champion, to lead the emergency measures needed to immediately increase active travel space and priority, we take a closer look at one aspect of plans: superblocks.
The term has been used to describe work to reduce traffic levels within areas of Barcelona, and Bikefast has proposed a superblock-style approach to re-configuring Belfast’s Linen Quarter.
Coronavirus has claimed many lives and devastated families, and will continue to do so – in greater numbers if we are unable to manage social distancing requirements in whatever the emergence from lockdown looks like. Communities have seen one small ray of light in the last two months of sacrifice and stress – a huge increase in walking and cycling within their immediate areas.
It’s been widely recognised that enabling this to continue would be good for public health, the environment, more liveable places and critically in the short to medium term, getting people to safely access and support local small businesses and community hubs when they begin to reopen.
The new normal may mean less vehicle access to city centres, widened pavements and pop-up bike lanes on arterial streets. But many communities will have seen the benefit of living without the usual volumes of through-traffic, and wish to prevent a return.
An example of how this could be simply achieved is demonstrated with the Queen’s Quarter.
The area is bounded by Donegall Pass to the north, University Road to the west, Botanic Gardens and the Lagan to the south and the Ormeau Road to the east.
The area is blighted by traffic and daily commuter parking. Only a handful of one-way streets (eg College Square, The Crescent, The Holylands) and access-only streets (eg Mount Charles) prevent area-wide unfettered access. A residents’ parking scheme has been in place on Rugby Road and College Park Avenue since 2018.
The easy permeability is one of the main issues. Three distinct East-West routes are fed by a quick North-South escape from city congestion through Botanic Avenue and the streets of “The Holylands” on the southern end of the area.
A Metro bus route between the city centre and the southern Ormeau corridor runs through the area along University Avenue and Botanic Avenue. The southern extension of the “Glider” bus rapid transit system is due to run along the length of the Ormeau Road in a few years.
How to create the superblock
A handful of minor road closures and barriers to vehicle access could fundamentally change the area. Snipping University Street beside the Union Theological College would cut off the popular eastbound rat run along University Square to the Ormeau Road.
Raising barriers to vehicles on several other streets would leave Botanic Avenue as a traffic-free plaza, with residents’ vehicle access possible throughout the approach streets.
Botanic Avenue suffers from being a quasi arterial corridor, despite only linking to other more strategic arterials. The only real justification is the Metro 7 bus route, which links with Botanic railway station. Without through-traffic, the cafes, restaurants, hotels and independent shops could flourish with the surrounding high density resident population, daily influx of university students and its nightlife venues.
Smaller access-only streets would have virtually no traffic movements allowing for easy walking and cycling at comfortable distance.
A more generously spaced and safer cycleway could be created along University Square by removing one side of (free) parking, with the other side regulated to encourage the use of alternative travel and churn.
Cameron Street is deluged with (free) commuter parking every day, adding to city congestion. Closing it up, apart from residents and business access at either end, would reduce congestion and allow a much-needed inner city greenway-style park to be developed instead.
With Botanic Avenue closed to through-traffic, Metro 7 could be rerouted along University Street, where parking would be halved and regulated.
Having the Metro 7 route turning between the Quarter and the Ormeau Road on a signal controlled junction, instead of patiently waiting for a break in rush hour traffic emerging from University Street, would improve journey reliability.
Instead of high permeability with North-South route and three East-West routes, the superblock plan would drastically cut through-traffic access and volumes.
The North-South route for traffic is completely removed, while East-West is travel is permitted on University Street to maintain good public transport links and for reaching access-only streets in the Quarter. This is also to ensure balance of East-West travel to ensure flows are not simply displaced onto Donegall Pass. Close monitoring would assess any impact in the short term and further calming measures could be deployed is needed.
The superblock idea takes damaging traffic off unsuitable streets and passes it around the edges. A reduction in overall vehicle levels could be seen too as people adjust to new route planning, alternative options, and a parking supply which is reduced and better controlled. Residents’ parking schemes would need to cover the whole area to ensure that residents and local businesses and their visitors are prioritised.
It’s just a concept, to demonstrate the types of interventions which areas of Belfast other towns and cities around the country could benefit from. Is there a potential superblock sitting in plain sight in your area? Let us know.
This post was originally published on Bikefast.
“No Alibis Bookstore Belfast ( 83 Botanic Avenue)” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-12--Air France ordered to curb competition with rail in France…

This is an interesting story from railjournal.com ONE of three conditions imposed on Air France in exchange for a €7bn coronavirus aid package is to stop competing with TGV services where rail offers a viable alternative .
The ban on short-haul domestic air travel will apply to routes where trains offer a journey time of 2h 30min or less .
This means Air France will no longer be able to sell tickets for domestic travel on flights between Paris and Bordeaux , Lyon , Nantes or Rennes .
Only passengers using these flights to connect with flights to other destinations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The plane should no longer be a means of transporting [ people ] in one hour or one hour 15 minutes which could be done at lower cost of CO by train in two hours or two hours 30 , ” Le Marie told BFM TV .
“ This must be the rule and we will enforce it.
” Seems like a common-sense move to me .
I never understood why people would favour a plane over a train for short distances .
Plane journeys are always horrible whereas a train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once you factor in having to arrive 2 hours before your flight , the endless security queues etc the journey time can be similar .
Obviously being an Island we have no choice but to fly ( yes I know we also have ferries ) if you want to go outside of Ireland but in Britain , it does seem a bit pointless having internal flights from Edinburgh to London , Manchester to London etc if there is a decent train service as an option .
Renationialise the railways and invest in proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
Photo by music4life is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

This is an interesting story from railjournal.com
ONE of three conditions imposed on Air France in exchange for a €7bn coronavirus aid package is to stop competing with TGV services where rail offers a viable alternative. The ban on short-haul domestic air travel will apply to routes where trains offer a journey time of 2h 30min or less. This means Air France will no longer be able to sell tickets for domestic travel on flights between Paris and Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes or Rennes. Only passengers using these flights to connect with flights to other destinations will be allowed to travel by air. “The plane should no longer be a means of transporting [people] in one hour or one hour 15 minutes which could be done at lower cost of CO 2 by train in two hours or two hours 30,” Le Marie told BFM TV. “This must be the rule and we will enforce it.”
Seems like a common-sense move to me. I never understood why people would favour a plane over a train for short distances. Plane journeys are always horrible whereas a train journey can be a relaxing experience. Once you factor in having to arrive 2 hours before your flight, the endless security queues etc the journey time can be similar.
Obviously being an Island we have no choice but to fly (yes I know we also have ferries) if you want to go outside of Ireland but in Britain, it does seem a bit pointless having internal flights from Edinburgh to London, Manchester to London etc if there is a decent train service as an option.
Renationialise the railways and invest in proper services that make train travel the preferred choice.
Photo by music4life is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-12--Culture Unconfined Day #2: “Only connect… Live in fragments no longer”

One feature of Liverpool Uni ’ s one-week online festival is just how eclectic it is .
It ’ s an exposition , not a lecture .
If you missed Róisín playing in Cardiff yesterday , go back and have a listen .
Even if Bach isn ’ t your thing , the Ciaccona alone at the end is worth it .
Documentary Theatre used to be more of a thing in the 1970s .
Judging by the reception of Red Fox Theatre ’ s Catch of the Day in Dingle , we could do with a return to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly ’ s original doc is here .
There ’ s three events today but the one at 1pm , the first is ‘ sold ’ out ( tickets were so popular the University extended its Zoom licence to fit people in ) .
Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile ‘ s work focuses on the cultural lives of C18/C19 Irish-speaking immigrants to the US .
4 pm .
What if… by Spanner in the Works Theatre .
The subject is the Shankhill Road bombing of 1993 , and it follows the story of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter who died even as her body shielded the one surviving bomber .
Only for 14+ .
7 pm Ian Prowse Locally well known Merseyside musician who is beginning to break out after many years .
His ‘ Does This Train Stop on Merseyside ?
‘ about the complex ( often traumatic ) history of his home city was recorded by Christy Moore .
Overall I ’ m enjoying the loosened connections .
There ’ s no tiresome effort to define what it is to be Irish , but I see how these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and much healthier ) placemaking/sensemaking process in which less strident voices are enabled to emerge .
What we are finding , after the divergences of the northern conflict , is that we are indeed an eclectic island ( and off-island ) people who don ’ t really know ourselves .
Time to gather our senses , quietly , one by one .
Or as the novelist EM Foster once put it… “ the skill most of us will require in the future is sensemaking .
if you need help with that – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profession ” by celinecelines is licensed under CC BY-SA

One feature of Liverpool Uni’s one-week online festival is just how eclectic it is. It’s an exposition, not a lecture. If you missed Róisín playing in Cardiff yesterday, go back and have a listen. Even if Bach isn’t your thing, the Ciaccona alone at the end is worth it.
Documentary Theatre used to be more of a thing in the 1970s. Judging by the reception of Red Fox Theatre’s Catch of the Day in Dingle, we could do with a return to the deliberate dramatisation/celebration of local stories. Ronan Kelly’s original doc is here.
There’s three events today but the one at 1pm, the first is ‘sold’ out (tickets were so popular the University extended its Zoom licence to fit people in). Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile‘s work focuses on the cultural lives of C18/C19 Irish-speaking immigrants to the US.
4 pm. What if… by Spanner in the Works Theatre. The subject is the Shankhill Road bombing of 1993, and it follows the story of one mother and her struggle to honour her daughter who died even as her body shielded the one surviving bomber. Only for 14+.
7 pm Ian Prowse Locally well known Merseyside musician who is beginning to break out after many years. His ‘Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?‘ about the complex (often traumatic) history of his home city was recorded by Christy Moore.
Overall I’m enjoying the loosened connections. There’s no tiresome effort to define what it is to be Irish, but I see how these stories could be placed in a wider (and much healthier) placemaking/sensemaking process in which less strident voices are enabled to emerge.
What we are finding, after the divergences of the northern conflict, is that we are indeed an eclectic island (and off-island) people who don’t really know ourselves. Time to gather our senses, quietly, one by one. Or as the novelist EM Foster once put it…
Only connect! … Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.
“the skill most of us will require in the future is sensemaking. if you need help with that – contact me, that’s my profession” by celinecelines is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-12--Establishment of biosecurity zones could allow different regions of Ireland to safely emerge from lo

Establishment of biosecurity zones could allow different regions of Ireland to safely emerge from lockdown at different speeds

The Northern Ireland Executive announced their roadmap to relaxing coronavirus restrictions today , following similar publications for England and the Republic of Ireland .
Unlike the Irish government ’ s plan , no dates were released with the plan , although there is an aspiration to progress through the plan ’ s five stages by the end of 2020 .
Progress on lifting restrictions depends on the all-important R0 figure , the number of people with Covid-19 who subsequently infect others .
However , calculating R0 is difficult and necessarily imprecise .
An alternative way of measuring the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of days taken for the number of cases to double .
The maps above show the number of reported Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people for counties in the Republic of Ireland and council areas in Northern Ireland .
Across all of Northern Ireland , the case doubling rate is 69 days , whilst in the Republic the rate is 80 days , indicating that growth is slower in the Republic .
For comparison , countries that have been comparatively successful such as South Korea and Germany have case of doubling rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate across the UK as a whole is 33.6 , indicating that growth of cases in England is substantially higher than both Northern Ireland and the south .
The table below summarises the data from the charts ; I wasn ’ t able to work out the case doubling rate for County Limerick as the case count data had been revised .
Differences in the amount of tests carried out on both sides of the border means that caution is needed when comparing data between the two jurisdictions .
However , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had more cases per capita than Northern Ireland since the start of the outbreak , but that cases are now growing at a slower rate .
However , the westernmost council areas of Northern Ireland ( Derry City and Strabane , and Fermanagh and Omagh ) have both had low case numbers overall and are now showing signs of having significantly slowed the growth of new cases .
For the seven days to the 12th of May , both of these council areas have only had five new cases each ; there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Northern Ireland over the same period .
If such low case growth is sustained , then it should be possible to implement the “ test , trace , isolate ” phase in these areas and partially release the lockdown even if case growth in other areas remains too high to consider easing restrictions .
If a “ biosecurity zone ” was created , encompassing the two westernmost council areas , with a mandatory 14 day quarantine required for anyone other than essential workers entering the zone , then it may allow restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area whilst mitigating against the risk of a second wave of infections .
Similar quarantine restrictions for anyone entering other areas of Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland , Great Britain or elsewhere could be implemented at the same time .
The next stage of the battle against the coronavirus will require proper implementation of the “ test , trace , isolate ” plan , effective use of contact tracing apps , and may require uncomfortable restrictions on freedom of movement .
The wasted opportunity at the start of March whilst the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity ” strategy will be forever lost , but for one reason or another Northern Ireland seems to have had fewer cases per population than other places in these islands over this initial phase of the pandemic .
As the lockdown is gradually eased , consideration should be given to adopting a localised approach and moving at different speeds .

The Northern Ireland Executive announced their roadmap to relaxing coronavirus restrictions today, following similar publications for England and the Republic of Ireland. Unlike the Irish government’s plan, no dates were released with the plan, although there is an aspiration to progress through the plan’s five stages by the end of 2020.
Progress on lifting restrictions depends on the all-important R0 figure, the number of people with Covid-19 who subsequently infect others. However, calculating R0 is difficult and necessarily imprecise. An alternative way of measuring the spread of the virus is the doubling time, the number of days taken for the number of cases to double.
The maps above show the number of reported Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people for counties in the Republic of Ireland and council areas in Northern Ireland. Across all of Northern Ireland, the case doubling rate is 69 days, whilst in the Republic the rate is 80 days, indicating that growth is slower in the Republic. For comparison, countries that have been comparatively successful such as South Korea and Germany have case of doubling rates of 299 and 134 respectively. The rate across the UK as a whole is 33.6, indicating that growth of cases in England is substantially higher than both Northern Ireland and the south.
The table below summarises the data from the charts; I wasn’t able to work out the case doubling rate for County Limerick as the case count data had been revised.
Differences in the amount of tests carried out on both sides of the border means that caution is needed when comparing data between the two jurisdictions. However, there is enough data to suggest that the Republic have had more cases per capita than Northern Ireland since the start of the outbreak, but that cases are now growing at a slower rate.
However, the westernmost council areas of Northern Ireland (Derry City and Strabane, and Fermanagh and Omagh) have both had low case numbers overall and are now showing signs of having significantly slowed the growth of new cases.
For the seven days to the 12th of May, both of these council areas have only had five new cases each; there have been 302 cases in the rest of Northern Ireland over the same period. If such low case growth is sustained, then it should be possible to implement the “test, trace, isolate” phase in these areas and partially release the lockdown even if case growth in other areas remains too high to consider easing restrictions.
If a “biosecurity zone” was created, encompassing the two westernmost council areas, with a mandatory 14 day quarantine required for anyone other than essential workers entering the zone, then it may allow restrictions to be eased more quickly in this area whilst mitigating against the risk of a second wave of infections. Similar quarantine restrictions for anyone entering other areas of Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain or elsewhere could be implemented at the same time.
The next stage of the battle against the coronavirus will require proper implementation of the “test, trace, isolate” plan, effective use of contact tracing apps, and may require uncomfortable restrictions on freedom of movement.
The wasted opportunity at the start of March whilst the British government pursued its now-discredited “herd immunity” strategy will be forever lost, but for one reason or another Northern Ireland seems to have had fewer cases per population than other places in these islands over this initial phase of the pandemic. As the lockdown is gradually eased, consideration should be given to adopting a localised approach and moving at different speeds.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-12--Re-placing Christianity After Lockdown

Re-placing Christianity After Lockdown

“ The time has come , ” he said .
“ The kingdom of God has come near.
” – Mark 1:15 “ We will not save a place we do not love .
We can not love a place we do not know.
” – Baba Dioum ( Senegalese Environmentalist ) Ched Myers ’ writing on Watershed Discipleship advocates for a Christianity that recognises we are in a watershed moment of interlocking crises of climate , consumption and ecological degradation .
He calls for a refocussing of radical Christian discipleship on a bioregional basis of environmental resiliency and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and what the Christian responses should be , remain contested within our evangelical sub-culture .
If concepts like “ saving nature , ” “ creation care ” and especially “ social justice ” fail to offer enough stimulus for churches in Northern Ireland to radically rethink their engagement with the world…has this pandemic presented us the watershed moment ?
Since the middle of March churches across Northern Ireland have stepped into action helping the self-isolated , the shielded , and the marginalised in our communities with coordinated , practical support .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collaboration , and building new relationships through necessity with community organisations and statutory agencies .
In recent weeks the mainstream evangelical church in Northern Ireland has been near to those in need , and largely without the time to work out a comfortable theology of engagement alongside it .
Perhaps this will come with hindsight , and when it does , it must be broader and bolder than how to transition from well-received online communication back to physical buildings .
How will our churches ’ worship ( as witness to the world ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be ( i ) slower , ( ii ) smaller , and ( iii ) poorer ?
When we worship needs to take into consideration how this pandemic has slowed down the pace of family and community life .
Lockdown has led to a resultant slowdown in how we navigate many of the tasks we previously juggled : shopping for food , accessing public services , and family responsibilities are just some of these .
As conditions shift with social distancing measures still in place , will the usual busy church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings , youth ministry , and uniformed organisations crank into gear again ?
If so , churches that have been life-giving during lockdown could soon be life-draining afterwards .
When families are intentionally going for walks together , and a socially spaced conversation with a neighbour provides welcoming focus and a break rather than an unwelcome distraction , churches should pay attention to these unforced expressions of community .
Where we worship should reflect how our world now looks a little bit smaller .
During this pandemic we can participate in worship services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our living rooms .
In the words of Krish Kandiah , “ there ’ s never been an easier time to go to church.
” This shift to online services exposes a digital divide .
Churches with an already established online presence , strong corporate branding , and a capacity for high production values , will continue to thrive and attract new followers at this time , while many smaller congregations are simply not able to compete with a slick and polished online product .
Coming out of lockdown , there could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been unable to harness this technology to sustain their ministry .
Perhaps our big-box worship centres and mega-churches have a responsibility to point new followers towards their smaller local neighbourhood partners in ministry .
If are encouraged to shop local , perhaps we can we foster a culture of “ worshipping local.
” How churches worship in communities that are now poorer as a result of COVID-19 will perhaps be the most significant expression of a new watershed discipleship .
Four in ten people financially impacted by coronavirus have seen half of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this many church leaders are faced with the reality of a drop in financial giving .
There are also broader considerations about the future relationship between evangelical Christianity and economic aspiration .
The perception of “ redemption and lift ” is still alive and well .
Some of the wealthiest churches in Northern Ireland manage the largest food bank operations in the country .
How do we navigate the contradiction of operating a food bank during the week , and standing-over what could pass for a country club on a Sunday ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ church to be good news for the poor solely for the duration of lockdown .
Over the last few intense months , as engaged churches have made themselves known to others around them through practical expressions of Christ ’ s love , engaging with community groups , key workers , politicians , local businesses etc , it is crucial that we reflect on what we now know about the places we inhabit .
For us and many of our most marginalised neighbours , the Kingdom of God has never been nearer .
Becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community may even lead us to ask bigger and better questions than were previously being asked about concepts like creation care or social inequality .
As Wendell Berry puts it : “ The real question is not how to care for the planet , but how to care for each of the planet ’ s millions of human and natural neighbourhoods , each of its millions of small pieces and parcels of land , each one of which is in some precious way different to others.
” The time has come .

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.”
– Mark 1:15 “
We will not save a place we do not love. We cannot love a place we do not know.”
– Baba Dioum (Senegalese Environmentalist)
Ched Myers’ writing on Watershed Discipleship advocates for a Christianity that recognises we are in a watershed moment of interlocking crises of climate, consumption and ecological degradation. He calls for a refocussing of radical Christian discipleship on a bioregional basis of environmental resiliency and social justice. The gravity of these crises, and what the Christian responses should be, remain contested within our evangelical sub-culture.
If concepts like “saving nature,” “creation care” and especially “social justice” fail to offer enough stimulus for churches in Northern Ireland to radically rethink their engagement with the world…has this pandemic presented us the watershed moment?
Since the middle of March churches across Northern Ireland have stepped into action helping the self-isolated, the shielded, and the marginalised in our communities with coordinated, practical support. The responses have been swift, involving cross-denominational collaboration, and building new relationships through necessity with community organisations and statutory agencies.
In recent weeks the mainstream evangelical church in Northern Ireland has been near to those in need, and largely without the time to work out a comfortable theology of engagement alongside it. Perhaps this will come with hindsight, and when it does, it must be broader and bolder than how to transition from well-received online communication back to physical buildings.
How will our churches’ worship (as witness to the world) respond to a post-pandemic Northern Irish society that will be (i) slower, (ii) smaller, and (iii) poorer?
When we worship needs to take into consideration how this pandemic has slowed down the pace of family and community life.
Lockdown has led to a resultant slowdown in how we navigate many of the tasks we previously juggled: shopping for food, accessing public services, and family responsibilities are just some of these. As conditions shift with social distancing measures still in place, will the usual busy church calendar of multiple Sunday services, committee meetings, youth ministry, and uniformed organisations crank into gear again? If so, churches that have been life-giving during lockdown could soon be life-draining afterwards.
When families are intentionally going for walks together, and a socially spaced conversation with a neighbour provides welcoming focus and a break rather than an unwelcome distraction, churches should pay attention to these unforced expressions of community.
Where we worship should reflect how our world now looks a little bit smaller.
During this pandemic we can participate in worship services all over the world from the comfort of our living rooms. In the words of Krish Kandiah, “there’s never been an easier time to go to church.”
This shift to online services exposes a digital divide. Churches with an already established online presence, strong corporate branding, and a capacity for high production values, will continue to thrive and attract new followers at this time, while many smaller congregations are simply not able to compete with a slick and polished online product.
Coming out of lockdown, there could be implications for smaller churches that have been unable to harness this technology to sustain their ministry. Perhaps our big-box worship centres and mega-churches have a responsibility to point new followers towards their smaller local neighbourhood partners in ministry. If are encouraged to shop local, perhaps we can we foster a culture of “worshipping local.”
How churches worship in communities that are now poorer as a result of COVID-19 will perhaps be the most significant expression of a new watershed discipleship.
Four in ten people financially impacted by coronavirus have seen half of their income wiped out. In the midst of this many church leaders are faced with the reality of a drop in financial giving.
There are also broader considerations about the future relationship between evangelical Christianity and economic aspiration. The perception of “redemption and lift” is still alive and well. Some of the wealthiest churches in Northern Ireland manage the largest food bank operations in the country. How do we navigate the contradiction of operating a food bank during the week, and standing-over what could pass for a country club on a Sunday?
It’s not enough for the church to be good news for the poor solely for the duration of lockdown.
Over the last few intense months, as engaged churches have made themselves known to others around them through practical expressions of Christ’s love, engaging with community groups, key workers, politicians, local businesses etc, it is crucial that we reflect on what we now know about the places we inhabit.
For us and many of our most marginalised neighbours, the Kingdom of God has never been nearer.
Becoming re-placed in the intricacies of an actual community may even lead us to ask bigger and better questions than were previously being asked about concepts like creation care or social inequality.
As Wendell Berry puts it:
“The real question is not how to care for the planet, but how to care for each of the planet’s millions of human and natural neighbourhoods, each of its millions of small pieces and parcels of land, each one of which is in some precious way different to others.”
The time has come.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-13--Born to be mild on my funky moped…

Born to be mild on my funky moped…

It was a Saturday afternoon in 1977 , and I was on the top deck of a bus going up the Whiterock Road .
There was just me at the back and a group of lads at the front .
And the bus passed a British Army foot patrol .
And the lads started shouting abuse out the windows .
But the foot patrol gave chase , Ran after the bus shouting at the driver to stop .
And as they gained ground , the youths shouted at the driver to go faster .
And as the bus stopped and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stairs , I thought “ hmm this is not good ” .
They looked at me and ignored me .
Although it was a Saturday , I was wearing a suit .
Tip for those of you worrying about what to do when the Troubles start up again… always wear a suit .
For some strange reason , the British Army are conditioned to think that their enemies only wear denim .
Of course , the youths on the bus thought they were dead men… or at least severely beaten up men… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughed at them saying things like “ you ’ re not so mouthy now Paddy ” .
And the youths got very sheepish , and it could have been a lot worse .
But as this kind of thing was happening far too often , I decided I would buy a motorcycle .
Travelling on a bus or in a black taxi or even just walking , I always thought that my fate was in the hands of other people .
So the next week , I went to Donegall Pass and bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the word ? )
gloves and a white full face Bell helmet .
If I looked the part… the Honda C50 didn ’ t .
But to be clear , it IS a motorcycle NOT a moped .
Being a biker of sorts , I had to get a provisional driving licence .
Forty-plus years later , I can ’ t recall if Provisional licences then had photo ID , but at least it was some kind of identification .
Of course , motorcycles are very cool .
Easy Rider and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad boy biker .
I was really in a position to impress Theresa and Barbara .
After all , if I was an American biker called Jimmy and I went to a candy store .
I could meet a girl called Betty who wouldn ’ t mind I came from the wrong side of the tracks .
She would fall for me… the Leader of the Pack .
( Admittedly it may not end well ) .
Don ’ t mention Twinkle and Terry .
It is challenging to strike up a pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you only have a Honda C50 .
My best friend and co-worker , Peter probably got it right when I parked the C50 in the car park .
I might have thought “ Easy Rider ” but he said I was “ born to be …MILD ” And the three local yobs who shared another Honda C50 ( no helmet , no licence , no insurance ) creatively and obscenely amended the words of Jasper Carrott ’ s “ Funky Moped ” just for me but if I could get the speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whiterock Road , I could not hear the derision .
And they missed the point… because if I got the speed up to 33mph as I passed the grandstand on the Dundrod Circuit , I felt like I was on my way to meet Suzi Quatro… down at , down at , down at Devil Gate Drive .
One morning , I went outside and I noticed that the brake light was missing .
Stolen .
Later that evening , the three yobs were riding around and had a brake light in full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me in a way that the Sioux or Apaches have scalps of their enemies .
Not much I could do about it except go over on a Saturday on a bus to Castlereagh Road to a motorcycle parts shop to get a new brake light .
My mother would not let me go alone to East Belfast .
But a few days later , something strange happened .
The three yobs were at my front door , and they had… incredibly and coincidently… found my brake light .
Someone had stolen it… hidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found it .
Well I had too much dignity to accept my own brake light from the thieves who stole it .
So I just said “ its all sorted …forget it ” But there was a look of panic across the three faces .
They looked at each other .
Then one leaned towards me “ Mister , please take it…The men at the corner said we have to give it to you ” .
So down at the corner of the cul-de-sac were two guys looking towards us .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to remember the faces .
And I got the message and took the brake light .
Now who were those two guys who clearly had enough influence to persuade three lawless thugs to return stolen property ?
See… the mantra that I always heard from unionist leaning bosses and British Army spokesman on TV was that nationalists in Ballymurphy .
Ardoyne , Andytown etc were really unionists at heart and were intimidated by republican paramilitaries .
But within the demographic in these working class areas ( and Id guess the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ etc ) there was a sizeable demographic of people termed “ quiet ” , “ good living ” , “ Christian ” whatever and two guys watching at the corner of the cul-de-sac understood the nuances .
A sniper in Springmartin intent on killing or a carload from the Village bent on abduction and torture would not have cared .
And the foot patrol chasing a bus up the Whiterock Road would have been problematic… but wearing a suit helped .
“ Honda C50 LA ” by FaceMePLS is licensed under CC BY

It was a Saturday afternoon in 1977, and I was on the top deck of a bus going up the Whiterock Road.
There was just me at the back and a group of lads at the front.
And the bus passed a British Army foot patrol. And the lads started shouting abuse out the windows.
So far… so normal.
But the foot patrol gave chase, Ran after the bus shouting at the driver to stop. And as they gained ground, the youths shouted at the driver to go faster.
And as the bus stopped and the Army got on board came up the stairs, I thought “hmm this is not good”.
They looked at me and ignored me. Although it was a Saturday, I was wearing a suit. Tip for those of you worrying about what to do when the Troubles start up again… always wear a suit. For some strange reason, the British Army are conditioned to think that their enemies only wear denim.
Of course, the youths on the bus thought they were dead men… or at least severely beaten up men… but actually the “Brits” just laughed at them saying things like “you’re not so mouthy now Paddy”. And the youths got very sheepish, and it could have been a lot worse.
But as this kind of thing was happening far too often, I decided I would buy a motorcycle.
Travelling on a bus or in a black taxi or even just walking, I always thought that my fate was in the hands of other people.
Besides motorcycles are cool.
So the next week, I went to Donegall Pass and bought a Honda C50… and Paniers (is that the word?) gloves and a white full face Bell helmet.
If I looked the part… the Honda C50 didn’t.
But to be clear, it IS a motorcycle NOT a moped.
Being a biker of sorts, I had to get a provisional driving licence. Forty-plus years later, I can’t recall if Provisional licences then had photo ID, but at least it was some kind of identification.
Of course, motorcycles are very cool. Easy Rider and all that!. And girls love a bad boy biker. I was really in a position to impress Theresa and Barbara.
After all, if I was an American biker called Jimmy and I went to a candy store. I could meet a girl called Betty who wouldn’t mind I came from the wrong side of the tracks. She would fall for me… the Leader of the Pack. (Admittedly it may not end well). Don’t mention Twinkle and Terry.
It is challenging to strike up a pose as a the Leader of the Pack when you only have a Honda C50.
My best friend and co-worker, Peter probably got it right when I parked the C50 in the car park. I might have thought “Easy Rider” but he said I was “born to be …MILD”
And the three local yobs who shared another Honda C50 (no helmet, no licence, no insurance) creatively and obscenely amended the words of Jasper Carrott’s “Funky Moped” just for me but if I could get the speed up to 15mph before I got to Whiterock Road, I could not hear the derision.
Besides…the joke was on them….it wasn’t a Moped.
And they missed the point… because if I got the speed up to 33mph as I passed the grandstand on the Dundrod Circuit, I felt like I was on my way to meet Suzi Quatro… down at, down at, down at Devil Gate Drive.
One morning, I went outside and I noticed that the brake light was missing. Stolen.
Later that evening, the three yobs were riding around and had a brake light in full working order. Indeed they drove past me in a way that the Sioux or Apaches have scalps of their enemies.
Not much I could do about it except go over on a Saturday on a bus to Castlereagh Road to a motorcycle parts shop to get a new brake light. My mother would not let me go alone to East Belfast.
So a new brake light fitted.
But a few days later, something strange happened. The three yobs were at my front door, and they had… incredibly and coincidently… found my brake light. Someone had stolen it… hidden it and by chance the three yobs found it.
Well I had too much dignity to accept my own brake light from the thieves who stole it. So I just said “its all sorted …forget it”
But there was a look of panic across the three faces.
They looked at each other.
“Take it” they pleaded.
“No” I said.
Then one leaned towards me “Mister, please take it…The men at the corner said we have to give it to you”.
So down at the corner of the cul-de-sac were two guys looking towards us. And I looked away from them as I did not want to remember the faces.
And I got the message and took the brake light.
Now who were those two guys who clearly had enough influence to persuade three lawless thugs to return stolen property?
See… the mantra that I always heard from unionist leaning bosses and British Army spokesman on TV was that nationalists in Ballymurphy. Ardoyne, Andytown etc were really unionists at heart and were intimidated by republican paramilitaries.
Undoubtedly the atmosphere was scary.
But within the demographic in these working class areas (and Id guess the same in unionist Glencairn, Rathcoole and Gilnahirk etc) there was a sizeable demographic of people termed “quiet”, “good living”, “Christian” whatever and two guys watching at the corner of the cul-de-sac understood the nuances.
A sniper in Springmartin intent on killing or a carload from the Village bent on abduction and torture would not have cared. And the foot patrol chasing a bus up the Whiterock Road would have been problematic… but wearing a suit helped.
“Honda C50 LA” by FaceMePLS is licensed under CC BY


sluggerotoole--2020-05-13--Culture Unconfined Day #3: “They made me numb, they made me not feel…”

If there is one theme that linked yesterday ’ s programme it was ‘ recovery ’ .
For Dr Deirdre Ní Chonghaile it was the discovery of the lives of post-famine Irish immigrants in Philadelphia in over 1200 songs gathered by one priest from people all over Ireland .
The delicate paper on which many of the documents were written reflect the passing of a fluent Irish speaking society that was vibrant on arrival .
But there ’ s little evidence that Irish , whilst vibrant amongst first-generation , lasted more than another one or two .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human memories fade .
And in the troubles , few memories have faded faster or have fewer and less obvious memorials than the vast majority of the innocents who died .
What if , was altogether rawer and more recent .
Victims of all sorts of trauma are easy to identify from the very precise recall of detail in pinch points of their distress .
“ And I couldn ’ t see his hands because he was hiding the gloves he had on ” says the Gina Murray character of the bomber who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has had a profound effect on audiences on the Shankill and at last year ’ s Feile on the Falls .
1 pm Lunchtime Concert , with Jamie Kenny Associate Principal Double Bass with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and from Donegal .
The programme includes Gajdos , Berio , and er , Suggs .
There ’ s a listen and learn activity pack for kids here .
4 pm Maradona kicking the habit , is a gripping 60-minute documentary which joins the former star in Havana , Cuba , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s produced by talented Northern Ireland based Double Band Films .
7 pm The MakeyUppers are Gemma Walker-Farren and Sorcha Shanahan , professional performers and theatre-makers , and in these times of # MeToo , # TimesUp , and # IBelieveHer they felt they were being called to action and Alternative Bedtime Stories is the result .
Only for 16+ .
Photo by jarmoluk is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

If there is one theme that linked yesterday’s programme it was ‘recovery’. For Dr Deirdre Ní Chonghaile it was the discovery of the lives of post-famine Irish immigrants in Philadelphia in over 1200 songs gathered by one priest from people all over Ireland.
The delicate paper on which many of the documents were written reflect the passing of a fluent Irish speaking society that was vibrant on arrival. But there’s little evidence that Irish, whilst vibrant amongst first-generation, lasted more than another one or two.
It’s a reminder of how quickly precise and human memories fade. And in the troubles, few memories have faded faster or have fewer and less obvious memorials than the vast majority of the innocents who died.
What if, was altogether rawer and more recent. Victims of all sorts of trauma are easy to identify from the very precise recall of detail in pinch points of their distress.
“And I couldn’t see his hands because he was hiding the gloves he had on” says the Gina Murray character of the bomber who had called out “help me”. It has had a profound effect on audiences on the Shankill and at last year’s Feile on the Falls.
1 pm Lunchtime Concert, with Jamie Kenny Associate Principal Double Bass with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and from Donegal. The programme includes Gajdos, Berio, and er, Suggs. There’s a listen and learn activity pack for kids here.
4 pm Maradona kicking the habit, is a gripping 60-minute documentary which joins the former star in Havana, Cuba, at the La Pradera health spa. It’s produced by talented Northern Ireland based Double Band Films.
7 pm The MakeyUppers are Gemma Walker-Farren and Sorcha Shanahan, professional performers and theatre-makers, and in these times of #MeToo, #TimesUp, and #IBelieveHer they felt they were being called to action and Alternative Bedtime Stories is the result. Only for 16+.
Photo by jarmoluk is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-13--Time to make academic selection History

Time to make academic selection History

Writing in last Friday ’ s Guardian on the 75th anniversary of VE Day , and seeking possible parallels between the social changes that followed the war and those which might ensue from the Covid pandemic , Dame Joan Bakewell singled out the significance of the introduction of the 11-plus examinations in 1944 , which she credited with having ‘ completely transformed schooling in Britain ’ .
While most of the welfare state provisions that followed the war were piloted through by Clement Atlee ’ s post-war Labour government , the Education Act was a legacy of the outgoing Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R.A. ‘ Rab ’ Butler .
The Butler Act applied to England and Wales while similar legislation was introduced in Scotland in 1945 and here in Northern Ireland by the unionist Education Minister , Samuel Hall-Thompson , in 1947 .
As Professor Graham Walker of QUB has shown , the latter act goes against the grain of a narrative of discriminatory unionist rule in Northern Ireland and provided the foundations for greater social mobility among Catholics , which in turn influenced their politicisation during the 1960s and the rise of the civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in a positive light as enhancing post-war social mobility throughout the UK and offering greater educational opportunity to children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds , such as Joan Bakewell , ‘ the granddaughter of factory workers ’ , for whom it led to a grammar school education .
By the 1970s , no longer seen as suitable for educational assessment or required for the purpose for which it was intended , the 11-plus was phased out in many parts of the UK , except Northern Ireland where it was retained largely in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The elder of my two primary school-aged children was born in 2008 , the year in which the then Sinn Féin Minister for Education , Caitriona Ruane , abolished the old 11-plus .
In my house we laughingly hoped the system would be fixed before the new arrival would need to worry about it eleven years down the line … how wrong we were .
No legislative provision was made for a replacement for the 11-plus and a period of political social distancing within the Executive ensued for much of 2008 .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abolition of the 11-plus has been filled by two different consortia offering their own transfer tests .
The GL exam offered by the Post Primary Transfer Consortium is favoured by Catholic Grammar Schools , while the AQE-operated tests are used by most other schools .
In effect this has created a system of ‘ Catholic ’ and a ‘ Protestant ’ transfer tests ; at least in the old 11-plus system everyone sat the same test .
I remain bewildered as to how , in the context of our ‘ peace process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – we managed to make a bad system worse and to sectarianise it .
The AQE comprises three one-hour tests containing 64 questions , 32 each in numerical and verbal reasoning .
These take place usually on three separate Saturdays in November .
On the fourth Saturday GL students sit a three-hour multi-choice exam based on similar content .
Therefore , the many students who keep their options open and sit both exams are faced with 6 hours of examination on four consecutive Saturday mornings in November , when they should be having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artistic classes .
The students in question are 10 and 11 years old .
I teach in a university where my students are at least ten years older , and we do not impose such a rigorous assessment procedure on them .
Among the many social problems that remain unsolved in our society , educational under-achievement is a serious one .
If the old 11-plus was designed to rectify this in its time , the current transfer test serves only to accentuate it and to expose , entrench and extend class divisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tutors preparing students for these tests .
The children of affluent families often enjoy a head-start on their contemporaries whose family budgets might not stretch to financing such extra-curricular tuition , especially if they have also had to pay the £50 fee for sitting the AQE .
The tests , and the many practice and sample tests set as homework by schools in the run-up to the real thing , are text heavy and those children whose parents or guardians might not be native English-speakers must surely be at a considerable disadvantage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homework .
The text-heavy nature is also problematic for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dyscalculia .
While they can benefit from an additional time allocation of fifteen minutes , this is a meagre adaptation .
The tests take place in large grammar schools .
This requires a means of transport to the test centre for 10am on Saturday mornings .
Public transport often operates reduced schedules on weekends and might not be as plentiful in rural as in urban centres .
Again , those who have access to a car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transfer tests often have siblings who , because the tests now take place on Saturdays rather than during school hours , will require a carer to be at home while one adult accompanies the child sitting the test to the test centre .
Single-parent/guardian families , those where one parent/guardian might work shifts on a Saturday morning , or those with no extended family to call upon are further disadvantaged by the timing and location of the tests .
Taking children at such a young age out of a familiar school environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gym set up as a test centre , probably the first time in their lives they will have experienced such a strange setting , can also be an extremely un-nerving experience , even if grammar schools do their best to invite them to a familiarisation session some weeks ahead of the tests .
The emotional toll that this process takes on students is exacerbated by waiting for results ( late January ) , the disappointment of possibly not attaining the marks hoped for ( especially if most of their friends have done so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear about a school place ( this year ’ s cohort will not now learn this until 4 June ) .
Much of Primary 6 and Primary 7 is dedicated to preparing for these tests , so that the children are tested rather than educated for much of their last 2 ( or even 4 ) years of primary school .
The second half of Primary 7 subsequently turns into glorified childcare , as teachers try to find a means of occupying their time .
Regrettably for this year ’ s Primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow as a reward for their efforts – such as school trips and plays or musicals – have been cancelled due to Covid .
If the process as described above wasn ’ t bad enough , the content of these tests is woefully outdated .
It reflects a very old-fashioned ‘ reading , ( w ) riting and ( a ) rithmetic ’ approach to education that was popular around the time that the 11-plus was introduced in the 1940s .
As an historian I was astounded to see an excerpt from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Anthony Froude , set as a comprehension passage on a practice paper .
While a university historian might assign Froude to a module on historiography , his suitability for primary school comprehension is questionable .
Literacy questions often ask the reader to identify the rhyming words in a set poem ; of course those well-tutored in the technique of answering these questions will know that all they need to do is to scan down the final word of each line to identify these , with the result that they come away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the content or context of the passage .
Primary schools here closed in mid-March and are unlikely to re-open until September , and then possibly not even at full capacity .
In effect , Primary 6 students will have missed out on at least three months of essential preparation for these tests , that no amount of online instruction will compensate for .
Yet , these students are only being offered a delay of a mere two weeks in the timetable for the exams .
Parents are understandably concerned about the potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children ’ s ability to perform to the best of their ability in the transfer tests .
If social distancing is still in place will the tests even be able to proceed ?
We no longer live in the 1940s .
A system designed to enhance social mobility and educational attainment is now so structurally unequal that it has precisely the opposite impact – students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds are being left further behind by those whose parents can afford private tutors , who have the means to pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , home support and transport to ensure their child can attend on the days of the exams .
The questions over the format and timing of this year ’ s transfer test offer an opportunity , that was not grasped back in 2008 , to explore alternatives to a system that is no longer fit for the purpose for which it was intended originally .
The time has come to abolish the transfer test and find a new school selection process that educates rather than tests students , reduces the emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fulfils the original purpose of the 11-plus of closing rather than widening the gulf in educational attainment .
Dr Marie Coleman is a Reader in History at Queen ’ s University Belfast and the parent of two primary-school-aged children .
The views expressed her are her own personal ones .

Writing in last Friday’s Guardian on the 75th anniversary of VE Day , and seeking possible parallels between the social changes that followed the war and those which might ensue from the Covid pandemic, Dame Joan Bakewell singled out the significance of the introduction of the 11-plus examinations in 1944, which she credited with having ‘completely transformed schooling in Britain’.
While most of the welfare state provisions that followed the war were piloted through by Clement Atlee’s post-war Labour government, the Education Act was a legacy of the outgoing Conservative president of the Board of Education, R.A. ‘Rab’ Butler. The Butler Act applied to England and Wales while similar legislation was introduced in Scotland in 1945 and here in Northern Ireland by the unionist Education Minister, Samuel Hall-Thompson, in 1947.
As Professor Graham Walker of QUB has shown, the latter act goes against the grain of a narrative of discriminatory unionist rule in Northern Ireland and provided the foundations for greater social mobility among Catholics, which in turn influenced their politicisation during the 1960s and the rise of the civil rights movement.
The 11-plus system is generally seen in a positive light as enhancing post-war social mobility throughout the UK and offering greater educational opportunity to children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, such as Joan Bakewell, ‘the granddaughter of factory workers’, for whom it led to a grammar school education. By the 1970s, no longer seen as suitable for educational assessment or required for the purpose for which it was intended, the 11-plus was phased out in many parts of the UK, except Northern Ireland where it was retained largely in its original form for over sixty years.
The elder of my two primary school-aged children was born in 2008, the year in which the then Sinn Féin Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane, abolished the old 11-plus. In my house we laughingly hoped the system would be fixed before the new arrival would need to worry about it eleven years down the line … how wrong we were.
No legislative provision was made for a replacement for the 11-plus and a period of political social distancing within the Executive ensued for much of 2008. As a result, the vacuum left by the abolition of the 11-plus has been filled by two different consortia offering their own transfer tests. The GL exam offered by the Post Primary Transfer Consortium is favoured by Catholic Grammar Schools, while the AQE-operated tests are used by most other schools. In effect this has created a system of ‘Catholic’ and a ‘Protestant’ transfer tests; at least in the old 11-plus system everyone sat the same test. I remain bewildered as to how, in the context of our ‘peace process’ – problematic as it can be – we managed to make a bad system worse and to sectarianise it.
The AQE comprises three one-hour tests containing 64 questions, 32 each in numerical and verbal reasoning. These take place usually on three separate Saturdays in November. On the fourth Saturday GL students sit a three-hour multi-choice exam based on similar content. Therefore, the many students who keep their options open and sit both exams are faced with 6 hours of examination on four consecutive Saturday mornings in November, when they should be having a lie-in, playing sports or attending artistic classes. The students in question are 10 and 11 years old. I teach in a university where my students are at least ten years older, and we do not impose such a rigorous assessment procedure on them.
Among the many social problems that remain unsolved in our society, educational under-achievement is a serious one. If the old 11-plus was designed to rectify this in its time, the current transfer test serves only to accentuate it and to expose, entrench and extend class divisions. There is a thriving market in private tutors preparing students for these tests. The children of affluent families often enjoy a head-start on their contemporaries whose family budgets might not stretch to financing such extra-curricular tuition, especially if they have also had to pay the £50 fee for sitting the AQE.
The tests, and the many practice and sample tests set as homework by schools in the run-up to the real thing, are text heavy and those children whose parents or guardians might not be native English-speakers must surely be at a considerable disadvantage in seeking to help their children with such homework. The text-heavy nature is also problematic for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. While they can benefit from an additional time allocation of fifteen minutes, this is a meagre adaptation.
The tests take place in large grammar schools. This requires a means of transport to the test centre for 10am on Saturday mornings. Public transport often operates reduced schedules on weekends and might not be as plentiful in rural as in urban centres. Again, those who have access to a car are at an advantage. Children sitting the transfer tests often have siblings who, because the tests now take place on Saturdays rather than during school hours, will require a carer to be at home while one adult accompanies the child sitting the test to the test centre. Single-parent/guardian families, those where one parent/guardian might work shifts on a Saturday morning, or those with no extended family to call upon are further disadvantaged by the timing and location of the tests.
Taking children at such a young age out of a familiar school environment and piling them into a grammar school gym set up as a test centre, probably the first time in their lives they will have experienced such a strange setting, can also be an extremely un-nerving experience, even if grammar schools do their best to invite them to a familiarisation session some weeks ahead of the tests. The emotional toll that this process takes on students is exacerbated by waiting for results (late January), the disappointment of possibly not attaining the marks hoped for (especially if most of their friends have done so), and the eternally long wait to hear about a school place (this year’s cohort will not now learn this until 4 June).
Much of Primary 6 and Primary 7 is dedicated to preparing for these tests, so that the children are tested rather than educated for much of their last 2 (or even 4) years of primary school. The second half of Primary 7 subsequently turns into glorified childcare, as teachers try to find a means of occupying their time. Regrettably for this year’s Primary 7s many of the fun activities that follow as a reward for their efforts – such as school trips and plays or musicals – have been cancelled due to Covid.
If the process as described above wasn’t bad enough, the content of these tests is woefully outdated. It reflects a very old-fashioned ‘reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic’ approach to education that was popular around the time that the 11-plus was introduced in the 1940s. As an historian I was astounded to see an excerpt from the work of the nineteenth-century naval historian, James Anthony Froude, set as a comprehension passage on a practice paper. While a university historian might assign Froude to a module on historiography, his suitability for primary school comprehension is questionable. Literacy questions often ask the reader to identify the rhyming words in a set poem; of course those well-tutored in the technique of answering these questions will know that all they need to do is to scan down the final word of each line to identify these, with the result that they come away from the exercise with little or no sense of the content or context of the passage.
Primary schools here closed in mid-March and are unlikely to re-open until September, and then possibly not even at full capacity. In effect, Primary 6 students will have missed out on at least three months of essential preparation for these tests, that no amount of online instruction will compensate for. Yet, these students are only being offered a delay of a mere two weeks in the timetable for the exams. Parents are understandably concerned about the potentially detrimental impact of this time lag on their children’s ability to perform to the best of their ability in the transfer tests. If social distancing is still in place will the tests even be able to proceed?
We no longer live in the 1940s. A system designed to enhance social mobility and educational attainment is now so structurally unequal that it has precisely the opposite impact – students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds are being left further behind by those whose parents can afford private tutors, who have the means to pay for the test fee, and who have the time, home support and transport to ensure their child can attend on the days of the exams. The questions over the format and timing of this year’s transfer test offer an opportunity, that was not grasped back in 2008, to explore alternatives to a system that is no longer fit for the purpose for which it was intended originally. The time has come to abolish the transfer test and find a new school selection process that educates rather than tests students, reduces the emotional stress on them and their families, and fulfils the original purpose of the 11-plus of closing rather than widening the gulf in educational attainment.
Dr Marie Coleman is a Reader in History at Queen’s University Belfast and the parent of two primary-school-aged children. The views expressed her are her own personal ones.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-13--No news is… no problem for Radio Ulster

No news is… no problem for Radio Ulster

I was in the house the other day ( as we all were ) and I turned on the radio .
Talkback was on with two regular contributors who were presumably disagreeing vigorously about something .
I turned it straight off and four or five days later I still haven ’ t a clue what they were debating .
That doesn ’ t matter because I ’ m pretty certain I know the positions they were taking on it ( whatever it was ) and the tone of how the “ debate ” progressed .
What I definitely know is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t matter .
To anyone .
That ’ s not a good place for the BBC to occupy but it ’ s one the news senior management in Ormeau Avenue have actively sought out .
To be fair , Radio Ulster has its strengths .
It ’ s strong on sport and its evening music shows are eclectic and often informative .
Also , its core breakfast and evening news programmes are still decent ( if too long in the case of the evening ) .
But on the average weekday , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7am and 6pm , no fewer than seven of them are devoted to what they would see as news programmes .
Add to that ninety minutes after lunch that seems to just consist of songs about people in America missing County Tyrone ( or maybe its people in South Belfast missing Tyrone ) , and we ’ ve got just two and a half hours of mainstream music and chat .
How is that possibly sustainable in a place with a population the size of ours where pretty much nothing actually happens ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it look like something IS happening and to make people angry about it .
That ’ s both lazy and dangerous .
To do so it manufactures issues that it knows will generate rants from Norman from Bangor , Sean from Fermanagh , George from the Shankill , Brian from Andersonstown or my personal favourite , Stephen from Antrim who is simply angry at Stephen Nolan rather than the issue under discussion .
It ’ s a very small number of them and they call both the Nolan Show and Talkback on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set our calendars for the shows on ( among others ) St Patrick ’ s Day drunkenness , big Bonfires , Twelfth Day drunkenness , and James McClean not wearing a poppy .
Oh , and should there be an all-Ireland football team every time Northern Ireland loses a match .
To generate the optimum level of fury they ’ ve given profile to some of the most extreme yet politically illiterate voices in society .
They ’ ve created monsters who are not there to take a nuanced position on the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producers want .
It ’ s black and white all the way .
Of the journalists who appear regularly – too many of them have cheapened their already vulnerable profession by effectively adopting roles as verbal combatants , the better ones are simply diminishing themselves as a brand , seemingly taking up positions that will get them invited back rather than using their experience and knowledge to broaden their base .
I can understand that from their perspective .
Newspapers are in terminal decline and they ’ ve still got quite a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their Radio and television profile may be envisaged as an investment in their future .
But it ’ s not .
Their willingness to speak on subjects on which they are clearly not knowledgeable undermines their credibility on subjects on which they are expert .
If they ’ re on too often people will get bored with them .
And that ’ s just the good ones .
Then there are the rejected politicians .
As soon as a seat is lost Talkback is straight on the phone and a regular place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real issue is that we , the public made clear that we no longer wanted to hear from them , so why won ’ t the BBC respect that ?
What ’ s the answer ?
The easy one is to say we get rid of the phone-ins that are so toxic to our political discourse .
There ’ s a lot to be said for that suggestion .
But if Nolan has indeed got the largest audience in “ the country ” ( the last RAJAR figures suggest something akin to 60,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an argument for retaining it .
That post breakfast slot is often devoted to phone-ins in local stations .
But the quality threshold needs to be addressed and the level of debate improved .
Nolan – like it or not – is a genuinely talented broadcaster as he demonstrates on his weekly slots on national Five Live .
But like many broadcasters who become successful in a narrow arena , it looks to me like Stephen has become bigger than his employer , and as a result quality control has gone out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ? )
.
But can the continued existence of Talkback be justified ?
A show dealing with the same issues as Nolan just ninety minutes later , with many of the same pundits and callers ?
Is that really a worthwhile use of BBC money and airtime ?
A Nolan Show for people who like a lie-in ?
Maybe it can , but not in its current format .
Surely there are many other issues that can be addressed .
Consumer programming on Radio Ulster seems to have been relegated to early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasted opportunity .
When I worked in the West Midlands the local BBC station had an Australian guy , Ed Doolan , in the Nolan slot .
Obviously , the issues facing that region were very different to ours , so they didn ’ t have Troubles Porn to fall back on .
Doolan was feared by employers , dodgy retailers , etc and consumers really felt they had an outlet .
Have we scope for that here ?
Definitely .
Also , are the people who are at home , or travelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know the BBC has suffered a similar experience to the Belfast Telegraph in having to replace long established names who had been in place for decades in some cases .
But you have to wonder would Gerry Anderson be given the time of day in 2020 .
Okay , Gerry was special .
He wasn ’ t just a great entertainer ; he also had a top journalist ’ s nose for a story and for making us laugh at our idiosyncrasies and hypocrisies .
That was irreplaceable .
But “ entertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the BBC mission .
That ’ s a serious business and it should be given serious thought .
This issue is probably becoming more visible to more people during lockdown .
There is virtually nothing happening now due to Covid-19 , and there hasn ’ t been for a couple of months .
Yet Radio Ulster devotes three hours daily to the same people phoning in to discuss it with the same people – not one of them experts .
That takes me back to the start of the article .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surely must be starting to grate , even on whatever floor the management is based in Ormeau Avenue .
Assuming they aren ’ t just listening to Spotify .

I was in the house the other day (as we all were) and I turned on the radio. Talkback was on with two regular contributors who were presumably disagreeing vigorously about something. I turned it straight off and four or five days later I still haven’t a clue what they were debating. That doesn’t matter because I’m pretty certain I know the positions they were taking on it (whatever it was) and the tone of how the “debate” progressed. What I definitely know is that whatever they were saying didn’t matter. To anyone. That’s not a good place for the BBC to occupy but it’s one the news senior management in Ormeau Avenue have actively sought out.
To be fair, Radio Ulster has its strengths. It’s strong on sport and its evening music shows are eclectic and often informative. Also, its core breakfast and evening news programmes are still decent (if too long in the case of the evening). But on the average weekday, of the eleven “daytime” hours between 7am and 6pm, no fewer than seven of them are devoted to what they would see as news programmes. Add to that ninety minutes after lunch that seems to just consist of songs about people in America missing County Tyrone (or maybe its people in South Belfast missing Tyrone), and we’ve got just two and a half hours of mainstream music and chat. How is that possibly sustainable in a place with a population the size of ours where pretty much nothing actually happens?
Simple. Radio Ulster tries to make it look like something IS happening and to make people angry about it. That’s both lazy and dangerous. To do so it manufactures issues that it knows will generate rants from Norman from Bangor, Sean from Fermanagh, George from the Shankill, Brian from Andersonstown or my personal favourite, Stephen from Antrim who is simply angry at Stephen Nolan rather than the issue under discussion. It’s a very small number of them and they call both the Nolan Show and Talkback on a regular basis. So, we can set our calendars for the shows on (among others) St Patrick’s Day drunkenness, big Bonfires, Twelfth Day drunkenness, and James McClean not wearing a poppy. Oh, and should there be an all-Ireland football team every time Northern Ireland loses a match.
To generate the optimum level of fury they’ve given profile to some of the most extreme yet politically illiterate voices in society. They’ve created monsters who are not there to take a nuanced position on the issues. That’s not what the producers want. It’s black and white all the way.
Of the journalists who appear regularly – too many of them have cheapened their already vulnerable profession by effectively adopting roles as verbal combatants, the better ones are simply diminishing themselves as a brand, seemingly taking up positions that will get them invited back rather than using their experience and knowledge to broaden their base. I can understand that from their perspective. Newspapers are in terminal decline and they’ve still got quite a few working years ahead of them. So, their Radio and television profile may be envisaged as an investment in their future. But it’s not. Their willingness to speak on subjects on which they are clearly not knowledgeable undermines their credibility on subjects on which they are expert. If they’re on too often people will get bored with them. And that’s just the good ones.
Then there are the rejected politicians. As soon as a seat is lost Talkback is straight on the phone and a regular place is reserved for them. But the real issue is that we, the public made clear that we no longer wanted to hear from them, so why won’t the BBC respect that?
What’s the answer? The easy one is to say we get rid of the phone-ins that are so toxic to our political discourse. There’s a lot to be said for that suggestion. But if Nolan has indeed got the largest audience in “the country” then maybe there’s an argument for retaining it. That post-breakfast slot is often devoted to phone-ins in local stations. But the quality threshold needs to be addressed and the level of debate improved. Nolan – like it or not – is a genuinely talented broadcaster as he demonstrates on his weekly slots on national Five Live. But like many broadcasters who become successful in a narrow arena, it looks to me like Stephen has become bigger than his employer, and as a result quality control has gone out the window (remember “Radio Face”?).
But can the continued existence of Talkback be justified? A show dealing with the same issues as Nolan just ninety minutes later, with many of the same pundits and callers? Is that really a worthwhile use of BBC money and airtime? A Nolan Show for people who like a lie-in? Maybe it can, but not in its current format. Surely there are many other issues that can be addressed. Consumer programming on Radio Ulster seems to have been relegated to early Saturday morning. That’s a wasted opportunity. When I worked in the West Midlands the local BBC station had an Australian guy, Ed Doolan, in the Nolan slot. Obviously, the issues facing that region were very different to ours, so they didn’t have Troubles Porn to fall back on. Doolan was feared by employers, dodgy retailers, etc and consumers really felt they had an outlet. Have we scope for that here? Definitely.
Also, are the people who are at home, or travelling during the day being sufficiently entertained? I know the BBC has suffered a similar experience to the Belfast Telegraph in having to replace long-established names who had been in place for decades in some cases. But you have to wonder would Gerry Anderson be given the time of day in 2020. Okay, Gerry was special. He wasn’t just a great entertainer; he also had a top journalist’s nose for a story and for making us laugh at our idiosyncrasies and hypocrisies. That was irreplaceable. But “entertain” is one of the three pillars of the BBC mission. That’s a serious business and it should be given serious thought.
This issue is probably becoming more visible to more people during lockdown. There is virtually nothing happening now due to Covid-19, and there hasn’t been for a couple of months. Yet Radio Ulster devotes three hours daily to the same people phoning in to discuss it with the same people – not one of them experts. That takes me back to the start of the article. The vacuous and repetitive nature of those discussions surely must be starting to grate, even on whatever floor the management is based in Ormeau Avenue. Assuming they aren’t just listening to Spotify.
Note: The original mention of RAJAR figures proved to be unverified and thus have been removed.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-14--Without taking calculated risks to return to a new normal, we’re in trouble

Should we consider lifting the lockdown , as Michelle O ’ Neill has suggested , only when the R number gets to 0.5 ?
With the disease likely more prevalent within the population than before lockdown , it seems to my uneducated eye that ’ s a point we may never get to .
My old friend Trevor Ringland makes an important point in a thought-provoking piece in the Belfast Telegraph today : …not everyone is in the same position when it comes to this virus .
There are the elderly and those otherwise vulnerable through health conditions who obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to their precautions and the rest of us have to have the utmost respect for that .
But there ’ s also my own age group – what I would call ‘ the inbetweeners ’ – and there ’ s the younger group of those around 45 and under .
I don ’ t believe that there ’ s any sense in treating all those three as the same when it comes to how we proceed , be it in sporting terms or otherwise .
The lockdown has allowed us to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS time to get prepared ) .
Though it may be politically expedient for some extraordinarily risk-averse politicians to hide behind “ the science ” , the R number is not everything .
As Trevor notes , much as there have been tragic exceptions to the rule , the risk does not fall evenly upon everyone equally .
There ’ s a danger of us lapsing into a weak passivity in the face of this disease .
As the surgeon and public health research Atul Gawande argues in the New Yorker Magazine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s nativist trope of denial ( or even bleach swallowing ) , but rather a regimen for re-entry… …regardless of what model politicians set , more and more people are figuring out how to do what has worked in health care , embracing new norms just as we accepted social distancing .
We see proof of a changing culture every time we step out and find a neighbor in a mask .
Or when we spend time to make our own fit better .
Or when we ’ re asked whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or when we check to see whether the number of covid-19 cases in our community has dropped low enough to warrant reëntry .
If we stick to our combination of precautions—while remaining alert to their limitations—it will .
Whoever it was that decided to veto the setting of timelines in the Executive plans , need ought to consider whether they are in danger becoming part of the problem rather than the solution .
In the meantime , leadership is coming from elsewhere .
For example , Trevor mentions the Golfing Union of Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get underway when the Executive commits itself to real concrete actions .
As science shifts , so should our behaviours .
That means not settling into a comfort zone that may do our own physical and mental health any favours in the long run .
PS , I ’ m off to wash my hands again , and order some masks… Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi is licensed under CC0

Should we consider lifting the lockdown, as Michelle O’Neill has suggested, only when the R number gets to 0.5? With the disease likely more prevalent within the population than before lockdown, it seems to my uneducated eye that’s a point we may never get to.
My old friend Trevor Ringland makes an important point in a thought-provoking piece in the Belfast Telegraph today:
…not everyone is in the same position when it comes to this virus. There are the elderly and those otherwise vulnerable through health conditions who obviously have to be particularly strict when it comes to their precautions and the rest of us have to have the utmost respect for that. But there’s also my own age group – what I would call ‘the inbetweeners’ – and there’s the younger group of those around 45 and under. I don’t believe that there’s any sense in treating all those three as the same when it comes to how we proceed, be it in sporting terms or otherwise.
The lockdown has allowed us to achieve great things (not least giving the NHS time to get prepared). Though it may be politically expedient for some extraordinarily risk-averse politicians to hide behind “the science”, the R number is not everything.
As Trevor notes, much as there have been tragic exceptions to the rule, the risk does not fall evenly upon everyone equally. There’s a danger of us lapsing into a weak passivity in the face of this disease.
As the surgeon and public health research Atul Gawande argues in the New Yorker Magazine, the active way forward lies far from Trump’s nativist trope of denial (or even bleach swallowing), but rather a regimen for re-entry…
…regardless of what model politicians set, more and more people are figuring out how to do what has worked in health care, embracing new norms just as we accepted social distancing. We see proof of a changing culture every time we step out and find a neighbor in a mask. Or when we spend time to make our own fit better. Or when we’re asked whether we have any concerning symptoms today. Or when we check to see whether the number of covid-19 cases in our community has dropped low enough to warrant reëntry. If we stick to our combination of precautions—while remaining alert to their limitations—it will.
Whoever it was that decided to veto the setting of timelines in the Executive plans, need ought to consider whether they are in danger becoming part of the problem rather than the solution. In the meantime, leadership is coming from elsewhere.
For example, Trevor mentions the Golfing Union of Ireland’s plan:
This can only get underway when the Executive commits itself to real concrete actions. As science shifts, so should our behaviours. That means not settling into a comfort zone that may do our own physical and mental health any favours in the long run.
PS, I’m off to wash my hands again, and order some masks…
Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi is licensed under CC0