A Poor Player
@apoorplayer.bsky.social
English teacher, HOD, in the state sector. Probably fulfilling many associated stereotypes.
This has absolutely blown my mind.
At this point, our intro comp/first-year English course has been so heavily revised, it no longer includes a novel, or "extended reading" of any kind, no "specialized" or "historical" reading, mostly in-class assignments, no research essay...and we are still seeing a 40-50% rate of AI misconduct.
November 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
This has absolutely blown my mind.
Reposted by A Poor Player
It costs TWO HUNDRED POUNDS to get a morning train from Manchester to London???!!!
November 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
It costs TWO HUNDRED POUNDS to get a morning train from Manchester to London???!!!
Saw this and immediately thought of stories on parental complaints about schools.
the only national newspapers that don't churn out bullshit ragebait about employment tribunals are the ones that don't report on them at all
The Times’ reporting on employment tribunals is routinely awful. The headlines are clickbait claims which the body copy often contradicts. In this case the issue was not the use of the word “fireman” but failing to challenge a campaign of persistent offensive behaviour. And he wasn’t fired. He left
November 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Saw this and immediately thought of stories on parental complaints about schools.
Reposted by A Poor Player
These are our six campaign pledges - the things we will do next year if we manage to add 1,000 new members. They were chosen by our readers because they’re things we believe will make Manchester better.
Share them and join the campaign 🙏
manchestermill.co.uk
Share them and join the campaign 🙏
manchestermill.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
These are our six campaign pledges - the things we will do next year if we manage to add 1,000 new members. They were chosen by our readers because they’re things we believe will make Manchester better.
Share them and join the campaign 🙏
manchestermill.co.uk
Share them and join the campaign 🙏
manchestermill.co.uk
Reposted by A Poor Player
the other thing though is that the government only gets so much "airtime" (in whatever format) in which to communicate to the public, and all the airtime it wastes banging on about immigration is airtime it's not using to talk about it's stronger suits (free childcare)
November 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
the other thing though is that the government only gets so much "airtime" (in whatever format) in which to communicate to the public, and all the airtime it wastes banging on about immigration is airtime it's not using to talk about it's stronger suits (free childcare)
Reposted by A Poor Player
It's all so supine and pathologically risk averse. A government trying to survive day to day, too scared to take the kindness of big decisive action which would repair the country and win an election. An unbelievable wasted opportunity.
November 26, 2025 at 5:57 PM
It's all so supine and pathologically risk averse. A government trying to survive day to day, too scared to take the kindness of big decisive action which would repair the country and win an election. An unbelievable wasted opportunity.
Obviously the child benefit cap being lifted is good news in and of itself. But I also hope that schools of those children feel the benefit - that they can spend time and energy educating and widening opportunities, not worrying about whether their students have food or heating.
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Obviously the child benefit cap being lifted is good news in and of itself. But I also hope that schools of those children feel the benefit - that they can spend time and energy educating and widening opportunities, not worrying about whether their students have food or heating.
Reposted by A Poor Player
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
Reposted by A Poor Player
(And here's the Transatlantic Sessions performance I mention, which includes a young Rufus Wainwright, his mother and aunt, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Emmylou Harris.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Bo...
Wild Mountain Thyme - Dick Gaughan | Transatlantic Sessions | TG4
YouTube video by TradTG4
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
(And here's the Transatlantic Sessions performance I mention, which includes a young Rufus Wainwright, his mother and aunt, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Emmylou Harris.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Bo...
Reposted by A Poor Player
This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:
A bit niche maybe but one for @englangblog.bsky.social
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A bit niche maybe but one for @englangblog.bsky.social
Reposted by A Poor Player
For a limited time only: Pay what you feel for The Mill!
We're launching a campaign to get 1,000 new subscribers.
If we succeed, we'll fulfil six pledges, chosen by our readers.
Read the pledges and sign up by clicking the link below!
We're launching a campaign to get 1,000 new subscribers.
If we succeed, we'll fulfil six pledges, chosen by our readers.
Read the pledges and sign up by clicking the link below!
November 21, 2025 at 3:59 PM
For a limited time only: Pay what you feel for The Mill!
We're launching a campaign to get 1,000 new subscribers.
If we succeed, we'll fulfil six pledges, chosen by our readers.
Read the pledges and sign up by clicking the link below!
We're launching a campaign to get 1,000 new subscribers.
If we succeed, we'll fulfil six pledges, chosen by our readers.
Read the pledges and sign up by clicking the link below!
Stuart Broad's reaction is amazing but his suit is even better. #TheCricket
www.skysports.com/cricket/vide...
www.skysports.com/cricket/vide...
The Ashes: Stuart Broad left stunned during England’s day two batting collapse
Sky Sports Stuart Broad was left stunned as Mitchell Starc took Joe Roots wicket during England’s day-two batting collapse. Pictures courtesy of @7Cricket.
www.skysports.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Stuart Broad's reaction is amazing but his suit is even better. #TheCricket
www.skysports.com/cricket/vide...
www.skysports.com/cricket/vide...
Reposted by A Poor Player
Winter conducts its slow seduction. It has disrobed the trees, its cold kisses make them shiver. Revelation of their wooden bones offers us a new, intimate language. They speak of swelling dark and coming ice. They speak their lover's secret names. – #EmilyCBanting, 1981 #Winter
November 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Winter conducts its slow seduction. It has disrobed the trees, its cold kisses make them shiver. Revelation of their wooden bones offers us a new, intimate language. They speak of swelling dark and coming ice. They speak their lover's secret names. – #EmilyCBanting, 1981 #Winter
Here to recommend @manchestermill.bsky.social to everyone. Currently pay what you want to 2 months of delightful local journalism. Good for newbies to the city or old hacks (I'm sort of both)
manchestermill.co.uk/lp-3/?referr...
manchestermill.co.uk/lp-3/?referr...
Join The Mill - Quality journalism for Greater Manchester
The Mill produces local journalism that is both informative and enjoyable to read — including investigations, culture pieces and opinionated columns about Manchester's biggest talking points.
manchestermill.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Here to recommend @manchestermill.bsky.social to everyone. Currently pay what you want to 2 months of delightful local journalism. Good for newbies to the city or old hacks (I'm sort of both)
manchestermill.co.uk/lp-3/?referr...
manchestermill.co.uk/lp-3/?referr...
I would be interested to know about attitudes to pension age across professions. I can't imagine being 70 and being a full time teacher (of any stripe, level, seniority).
One in three people say the state pension should be means-tested — and one in five would scrap the triple lock. Yet only 9% support raising the pension age to 70. Our Times Wealth Survey of 4,000 taxpayers shows just how divided the country is on how to fund retirement ⬇️
One in three want the state pension means-tested
www.thetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I would be interested to know about attitudes to pension age across professions. I can't imagine being 70 and being a full time teacher (of any stripe, level, seniority).
Reposted by A Poor Player
the thread just keeps getting better from here
this is easily the funniest way Elon has ever broken Grok, you can get it to choose him over anyone for anything in a hypothetical scenario
*anything*
this is easily the funniest way Elon has ever broken Grok, you can get it to choose him over anyone for anything in a hypothetical scenario
*anything*
oh my god i take it back, grok is amazing
November 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
the thread just keeps getting better from here
this is easily the funniest way Elon has ever broken Grok, you can get it to choose him over anyone for anything in a hypothetical scenario
*anything*
this is easily the funniest way Elon has ever broken Grok, you can get it to choose him over anyone for anything in a hypothetical scenario
*anything*
Reposted by A Poor Player
This has been my worry all along with the breakfast club nonsense. You can talk about funding all you like, the long and the short of it is that school leaders end up with another job on the list, another extension to their working day, and the job becomes ever harder...
And this is from DfE advice!
And this is from DfE advice!
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
This has been my worry all along with the breakfast club nonsense. You can talk about funding all you like, the long and the short of it is that school leaders end up with another job on the list, another extension to their working day, and the job becomes ever harder...
And this is from DfE advice!
And this is from DfE advice!
Don't send me an email where your message is in the subject.
November 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Don't send me an email where your message is in the subject.
Reposted by A Poor Player
I thought this was going to turn into a story needing its own True Crime Netflix series, but no.
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
'We invited a homeless man for dinner - he stayed for 45 years'
The man was only meant to stay for a day.
metro.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I thought this was going to turn into a story needing its own True Crime Netflix series, but no.
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
Reposted by A Poor Player
Labour MP Simon Opher - "We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
November 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Labour MP Simon Opher - "We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
I keep banging on about My Cultural Life on #bbcsounds but literally every ep is a cracker. Currently on Anselm Kiefer who is enjoyable strident but there is also much joy to be had from his Engliah uncertainties and occasional miscommunication with @johnwilson14.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I keep banging on about My Cultural Life on #bbcsounds but literally every ep is a cracker. Currently on Anselm Kiefer who is enjoyable strident but there is also much joy to be had from his Engliah uncertainties and occasional miscommunication with @johnwilson14.bsky.social
Finding balance in a Japanese mountain home | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by A Poor Player
Today is Sextidi the 26th of Brumaire in the year 234.
Brumaire is the month of mist.
Today we celebrate pistachios.#JacobinDay
More information on pistachios
Brumaire is the month of mist.
Today we celebrate pistachios.#JacobinDay
More information on pistachios
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Today is Sextidi the 26th of Brumaire in the year 234.
Brumaire is the month of mist.
Today we celebrate pistachios.#JacobinDay
More information on pistachios
Brumaire is the month of mist.
Today we celebrate pistachios.#JacobinDay
More information on pistachios
Reposted by A Poor Player
Frankly, at this point it'd be nice if they just delivered something for some interest group of some kind, have at least one group of people who wants to reelect them
November 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Frankly, at this point it'd be nice if they just delivered something for some interest group of some kind, have at least one group of people who wants to reelect them