Learn and Live

The motto of the Open University. We certainly did that yesterday with a really excellent day packed with energy and commitment. As one of the founding members of the Social History of Learning Disability Research Group observed to me last night it's so good to hear that positive things are still happening. Piecemeal and patchy perhaps  but they are there and an annual celebration, as well as reflection on things that haven't gone well, is important. I guess if I drew a Venn diagram of Blippers,  users of  Twitter and people interested in the social history of learning disability the intersection would be tiny but for anyone who would find themselves there have
a  look at #SHLD2018 to see what you missed.

This carving is part of the university's public art trail. The  magnificent cedar tree died due to an infestation by the small cedar aphid. It was decided to make good use of what remained of this 250-year-old historic 
tree and in 2010 Tom Harvey designed and carved this  sculpture. It's said to  depict learning in its simplest form 
using observation of the world around us. Behind it is the functional rather than lovely Wilson Building ( not like the gorgeous JLB) named after Harold Wilson the Prime Ministerial mover  and shaker behind the concept of the OU. It's hard to imagine anything approaching this vision in the current UK Governments ...

On the train heading northwards now. Just past Coventry so we've a way to go. But it was most definitely worth the journey. Looking forward to #SHLD2019.