DIARY

education@independent.co.uk

Alan Johnson was doing the circulars of the broadcasting studios this week banging the tympanum for Mark II of the Government's place of education meals initiative, which includes fresh money for building kitchens and training staff in what manner to cook. In case you were wondering, this has nothing to do with Jamie Oliver's turn back to our screens on 18 September with another scathing uncover of the state of the nation's junior diet (see page 4) Or at least that's what the junior minister run overs our reporter.

Poor elderly Alan Johnson had a tough time talking about place of education food because all the interviewers want to know is when Tony Blair is going to cast in a winding direction in the towel and will there be a leadership election. upon Radio 5 Live, there was an amusing interchange.

Asked if Gordon Brown would succe Blair, Johnson said he had filled confidence in Brown. A scarcely any years ago, a rock star said that Brown and Blair were the Lennon and McCartney of the political world, he continued. "Oh with equal reason are you George Harrison?" asked the interviewer. To which Johnson replied: "No, I am more like Pete Best."

For younger readers, Pete Best (left) was the original drummer with the Beatles who was replaced by means of Ringo Starr. Oh Alan Johnson you are too self-deprecating!

Jamie Oliver's campaign to reform our eating habits is abundant needed, according to a global review undertaken by Tesco Sport. That's because the UK is seen through children around the world as single of the least healthy nations.

British children's enthusiasm for competitive sport is at an all- time depressed and the average British child part withs the equivalent of half a year watching TV or playing computer games between the ages of seven and 16 If Jamie can wean them not on chips, they might have the potency to get off their backsides and race around a football pitch or swing a racket.

All universities are scrabbling to appoint staff for their alumni offices where the names of former pupils are put into computers with equal reason that they can be tapped for circulating medium You would think that university business institutes would be adept at this. on the contrary no. According to a novel survey commissioned by Alumni-Management.com, more than individual half of business schools admitted that their alumni operation was sole partly effective. What hope then for universities if their business seminarys are so lucklustre at what is increasingly seen as a crucial university activity?

An academic from the University of Manchester has written a piece of music to commemorate the victims of United Flight 93 that crashed into the town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, upon 11 September 2001. This piece is to be performed nearest week on the anniversary of the atrocity to an audience of senior politicians, victims' families and the local community in the US. The words were inspired by dint of quotes from director of the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel, Father Alphonse Mascherino and Psalm 23 which was recited by means of passengers on the plane before they overpowered the terrorists. Dr Kevin Ma unoccupied (left) is also writing a concerto - his third about the tragedy - to be performed nearest year.

Children and parents who are particularly impressed by means of a teacher can nominate him or her for the national Teaching Awards put up by Lord Puttnam in 1998 in the way that if you are impressed by dint of the way a teacher has helped you or your child subdue a learning difficulty or brought a bring under rule to life, visit www.teachingawards.com.

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