I always really liked this guy, and it doesn’t surprise me that he has gone ahead and done something like this.

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Teacher-s-Brazilian-school-charity-plan/story-11367713-detail/story.html

“A COULSDON teacher is moving almost 6,000 miles from home in a bid to change the face of Brazilian state education.

When Phil Hawkins, Woodcote High School’s deputy head, visited the South American country he was struck by the extreme level of poverty and deprivation in state schools.

Issues that shocked him included English teachers not speaking English, children learning without interaction and most youngsters leaving school before they are 13.

Now Mr Hawkins, 45, has decided to move to the city of Goiania for two years in a bid to change state education there for the better.

He has set up a charity called Aprender, which in Brazil means to learn. It will train state education head teachers, carry out work in schools and with the Brazilian government.

Mr Hawkins said: “When I first went to Brazil I saw huge class sizes, poor conditions and a demoralised workforce – often not paid, often in class in the day and waiting on tables in the evening.

“I saw teenagers under huge stress, with poor education prospects resulting in little chance of a job and so the poverty cycle continues. I just wondered how we could help.” 


I hated school, but this makes me feel proud to have been through that place. Kudos Mr Hawkins.