All NexGen Pro articles – Page 131

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    Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    While I was working as a schools worker a few years ago, the local authority went through a phase of renaming failing schools. It was as if they thought that if they changed its name and gave the children new jumpers, everyone would forget what a terrible school it had become and everything would be alright. 

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    My heart sank as I arrived at church on Sunday. Having lovingly prepared a youth session with all sorts of whizzy activities and games and discussions and group work – only three young people turned up. We are never a huge and mighty army (we have six on a Sunday), but three is a tricky number ...

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    Sometimes leading a children’s group can leave you feeling like a stand-up comedian. Not (in my experience) because you are an absolutely hilarious and wonderful entertainer – but because you are left in a bit of a panic, unsure of what to do next with the expectant crowd. 

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    We’ve been trying out some new things in our children’s group recently. After a short story, we’ve been experimenting with letting the children respond as they want to, using various different materials. No worksheets or crafts prepared by the adults, and no leading or policing. It’s been interesting and exciting, but at times frustrating and disappointing.

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    It may be less than ten years ago, but my memories of youth group are a church hall-shaped blur. There was the green carpet, which covered half of the floor. I don’t know why it was there, or why we faithfully rolled it out for each session – but we did ...

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    Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    A church in our Diocese recently took a radical step. They decided to scrap the rota. They didn’t close the Sunday school (panic over) but they decided that the best thing for the children in their groups would be to have the same leaders every week, providing the maximum opportunity to form quality relationships with them. This policy sadly had a knock-on effect for the leaders; they felt they didn’t have any spiritual space for themselves and their relationship with God was suffering. The plan was abandoned, and the rota reinstituted.

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    If you are reading this at a festival… 

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    Our history books are full of people who did big and marvel­lous things. Einstein discovered the the­ory of relativity. Nicolaus Copernicus fig­ured out that the Earth wasn’t actually at the centre of the universe. Johannes Gutenberg brought the printing press to Europe, Flor­ence Nightingale founded modern nursing and Thomas Crapper didn’t invent the flush toilet (contrary to popular belief). These great men and women are remembered for their one overarching achievement. 

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    “It’s not for me to say where he’s going to play.” 

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The editorial process at the magazine is an interesting one. Articles ping back and forward on emails. When one arrives, the text of the email is a clue to whether the article is any good.

  • Issues

    Editorial

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    I love a theory. Specifically, I love coming up with theories. My latest theory is that the biggest contribution that Walkers (the crisp people) have made to the UK food industry is the proliferation of sweet chilli. Just think about it: before sweet chilli Sensations, it was a pretty niche flavour, now you can barely trip over in Waitrose without banging your head on a sweet chilli dip.

  • Blog

    EDL Girls

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The EDL (English Defence League) has typically been made up of men. But, as BBC3 Documentary EDL Girls showed, an increasing number of young women are joining the ranks of the movement. Jamie Cutteridge analyses this new trend and asks: why is the EDL popular?

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    Issues

    Petition for schools to educate on FGM

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    A fast-growing petition is calling on education secretary Michael Gove to help end female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK.

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    Issues

    Reforming religious education

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    Reform is a fascinating word. At its simplest, the word means to make changes to something in order to improve it. This is exactly the quest of the Welsh government as it endeavours to reform Religious Education in its classrooms in a bid to help protect young people from extremists. At the heart of this reform is a change of name for the subject. A recent ITV news article explains that Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government believe that effective teaching of a subject he has titled ‘Religion, Philosophy and Ethics’ could equip young people in Wales with a level of knowledge and understanding that means they would not be vulnerable to extremists.

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    Issues

    The Real Meaning of Eggs

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The Real Meaning of Eggs. Do cultural Easter symbols such as lambs and eggs have any relevance to the biblical story? Ian White explores…

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    Issues

    "That was the Election that was"

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The 2015 General Election is likely to go down as one of the most surprising electoral outcomes in recent history. Throughout the campaign the opinion polls told us that the Conservatives and Labour were ‘neck and neck’ and that the outcome of the election would be a hung parliament.

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    Issues

    Premier Youthwork Investigates: The US Election

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    As I write this, Donald Trump has been our President-elect in the United States for roughly 17 hours. Today looks so very different to this time yesterday. While I don’t know your personal leanings in Brexit, I imagine I’m experiencing something at least a bit like some of you experienced. 

  • Blog

    The electric touchline

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    I found my favourite football pitch last week. It had a big slope, the grass was rubbish and it wasn’t very big. However, one feature made it stand head and shoulders above every other pitch I’ve ever played on. One of the touchlines was an electric fence.

  • Issues

    Jamie vs. Toy: The Uggly’s Electronic Pup-Pet

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    From £29.99. Warning – the following review contains multiple uses of the word ‘fart’.

  • Issues

    Toy Review: The Ugglys Electronic Pup-Pet

    2017-01-19T00:00:00Z

    From £29.99. Warning – the following review contains multiple uses of the word ‘fart’.