What really matters?
As a finale to the RME/PSE course, S4 students spent an evening in Mabie Forest experiencing what life in the Ironage may have been like.
Looking in at the graveyard at Sweetheart Abbey on the way to Mabie, helped put the impact of living in harder times in context, as students noticed the number of people who died either in infancy or very young.
Discussion about how we now expect our children to outlive us, helped to bring home how lucky we are to live where we do and when we do.
Spending the night in the Ironage roundhouse was an exercise in community living from a bygone era. Also recognition that in many parts of our present day world, the conditions many people live in, would be more like the Roundhouse than our usual homes.
Cooking on open fires, eating communally, sleeping communally, making sure the fire stayed in overnight, mastering the composting toilet and experiencing the biting North wind with it’s attendant snow showers over the hills – all broadened experience and raised awareness.
The clear, cold night gave a breathtaking view of the night sky from the Roundhouse and the dawn this morning was special too. Having completed homework last night by candlelight, S4 returned to school today where they are working hard in preparation for the exams which start next week. We wish them well.
