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4.1.1 Reflection on IM1Looking back on the first moment, it <strong>is</strong> hard not <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong> the personal conclusion that th<strong>is</strong> wasa pivotal moment in my career. Once I had answered emphatically 'yes' <strong>to</strong> the question, I hadstepped metaphorically on<strong>to</strong> a moving train that <strong>is</strong> still not at the end of its journey. In a sense, Ihad already been <strong>to</strong> the ticket office <strong>and</strong> checked in <strong>by</strong> engagement with gaming technologies asa student <strong>and</strong> in the very basic word programming training I had experienced as a new entrant <strong>to</strong>the teaching profession (<strong>It</strong> would be more appropriate <strong>to</strong> use the term 'probationer' as th<strong>is</strong> wasthe era before newly qualified teacher status, but th<strong>is</strong> might need explanation for readers of th<strong>is</strong>thes<strong>is</strong> who may not have even been born when I started out on th<strong>is</strong> work 52 ).ContextThe context could not be clearer <strong>and</strong>, as shown in appendix 2, I can even cite the date when th<strong>is</strong>moment occurred. I can even now picture the room in which it <strong>to</strong>ok place <strong>and</strong> I can remember<strong>some</strong> of the other things that happened on that day which, as far as I am concerned, justify mymemory of 'that' moment. I recall the head's first question, "So what do you want <strong>to</strong> know?" Hethen looked out of the window <strong>and</strong> waited for me <strong>to</strong> speak. Th<strong>is</strong> was part of h<strong>is</strong> eccentricinterview technique. He liked people <strong>to</strong> feel uncomfortable <strong>and</strong> observed how they operatedunder pressure. I know th<strong>is</strong> from subsequent work with him on a variety of appointments bothas h<strong>is</strong> head of RE <strong>and</strong> then as an elected teacher governor.I recall being shown around the school <strong>and</strong> entering the room of the head of Art - who turned out<strong>to</strong> be an ex<strong>is</strong>ting governor <strong>and</strong> fellow old boy of my old school. I know th<strong>is</strong> because <strong>here</strong>cogn<strong>is</strong>ed my prefects' tie which, in an act of wan<strong>to</strong>n superstition, I had worn as a good luck52 Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a deliberate reflection borne of an experience in 2004 with the second cohort of Teach First trainees. Iwas asked <strong>to</strong> present a reflection on the beginning of my career in teaching <strong>and</strong> I alluded <strong>to</strong> the fact that th<strong>is</strong> was in1984. One of the participants approached me during the reception <strong>and</strong> was pleased <strong>to</strong> tell me, he had been born inthat year. <strong>It</strong> was five years after that th<strong>is</strong> whole project began <strong>to</strong> emerge.193Simon Hughes Ph.D. Thes<strong>is</strong> (Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2012)

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