Etheldredasplace: 04/03/12

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

Before the serious days set in, some fun from one of my young readers

Rugby at Chavagnes and Leadership Skills

The Rugby team at the International English College in Chavagnes is getting a great reputation in the area for two things. Firstly, the team is winning matches and showing that even small schools can compete. Secondly, some of the other teams' supporter and even coaches have noted the "leadership" qualities of the players. I think that in a small school environment, students have a greater chance of taking responsibility for many different types of activities and for the older boys to be good role models for the younger ones.

Leadership must be taught, and I am a firm believer in leadership training, even at the younger levels. The world is in great need of competent, moral and ingenious leaders. School and home are the breeding grounds for leadership skills.

Some aspects of leadership training involve respect for those who are under one's care, such as the "captains" of the various "houses" for the boys. Sport, of course, encourages leadership skills and even reveals the hidden talents of some boys who may not shine in the classroom environment. Many times, however, those youth who are leaders in academia are also leaders in sports. Rugby, being a traditional English sport, is being played in French schools as well, which surprised me. Of course, I am waiting for the "summer game", cricket to start up, then I shall really pay attention to the matches....

Updates from Spencer

Posted by Supertradmum

Two important notes in the press today. One, from the great Spencer, that the Coptic Christians have removed themselves from constitutional talks in Egypt, as the talks are useless.

"The Coptic Orthodox Church General Council agreed with the approval of all of the council's 20 members to withdraw from the constitutional assembly... as it found it was pointless for the church to be represented following the comments made by the national forces about the way the assembly was formed," the state news agency said, quoting a church statement....

Also, France is managing to do what Britain does not manage, and that is deporting imams and jihadists for preaching militancy. I admire the French Government for responding to the recent murders with decisiveness. I wish the British Government was so determined. Here is the link.

Red Alert Because of North Korean Launch -- Drudge

Posted by Supertradmum

I predicted that if Obama thought he would lose the election, he would start a war. Now, the missile shield has been activated in the Pacific and three ships sent to the strategic areas of the Pacific. Pay attention to this development

Here is the report.

Three interceptor ships near Japan and the Philippines, as well as U.S.-based interceptors, are ready to shoot down the North Korean missile if space-, land-, and sea-based sensors determine its flight path is targeted at the United States or U.S. allies, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The BBC also reports that Japan is on alert to hit any missiles from Korea.

Last Friday, Japanese Defence Minister Naoki Tanaka issued an order to intercept the rocket if it threatened Japan's territory.

South Korea also warned earlier last week that it might shoot down any North Korean rocket that strayed into its territory.

But satellite images taken last Wednesday indicated that work at the Tongchang-ri launch site in North Korea was under way, a US university said.

The controversial launch comes only weeks after North Korea agreed to return to talks on its nuclear programme in return for food aid from the US - a deal which is now on hold.