1. The YouGov daily omnibus opinion poll is always worth a look. Yesterday’s, conducted on (rather than with?) 4,506 GB adults https://yougov.com/en-gb/daily-results/20260909-8d692-1 included the following three items:

a) surprisingly strong support for the UK government’s decision to ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank

b) also surprisingly, comparatively weak support from right-wing voters for Harry and Meghan making a full return to working royal life

c) ‘dry or wet’ trumps ‘hot or cold’ for people in the UK

You can subscribe here https://yougov.com/en-gb/newsletter

2. Political pressure of the kind exerted in the USA on Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Secretary (CEO) of The Smithsonian Institution, exists in the UK and one would be naïve to deny it does – perhaps most visibly as regards the governance of the BBC – but it’s usually a bit less public than has become the norm in Donald Trump’s USA. Here’s The New York Times account of Lonnie Bunch’s resignation, Departing Smithsonian Secretary Faced ‘Mounting Pressure Campaign’ https://tinyurl.com/mr3fwksy

Under Lonnie G. Bunch III’s leadership, President Trump accused the Smithsonian of liberal, anti-American bias. Supporters say he was dedicated to nonpartisan scholarship.

And here’s a side door to The Smithsonian that I’ve just discovered https://www.si.edu/sidedoor

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo – (we shape) the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. The Institution was founded in 1846 with funds from the Englishman James Smithson (1765–1829) according to his wishes “under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

First I’ve heard of ‘the Englishman James Smithson’!

3. It’s getting on for ten years since the British Council published John Simpson’s gently but firmly argued paper, English language and medium of instruction in basic education in low- and middle-income countries: a British Council perspective What I remember from the launch event is the surprise and pleasure that many people attending who worked in overseas aid and development expressed to learn that the British Council was no longer advocating ‘English everywhere always as much and as early as possible’. I’m not sure that the British Council had ever taken quite that position, but it was clearly many people’s perception that it had.

The British Council has just published Language-responsive education: the British Council’s position on inclusive language policy and practice https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/case-studies-insights-and-research/language-responsive-education (PDF below)

We do not advise as to when or whether countries should transition to English medium education. Instead, we emphasise that decisions about language in education must be made locally, shaped by contextual, social, economic, political and historical factors. What matters most is how well systems support learning. Learners need strong foundations in both a familiar language and English; teachers require appropriate support and preparation; and schools need suitable teaching and learning materials and assessments. Language is a fundamental consideration across policy, curriculum, assessment, teaching and teacher education.

Still diplomatically worded but ten years on no longer such a surprising position for the Council to take.

4. What do young people in Thailand think? Here’s another British Council publication, the latest in their Next Generation series, Next Generation Thailand https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-thailand PDFs of the introductory section and of the full report below.

Thai youth’s sense of national pride is strongly tied to the country’s cultural assets. Young people feel proud to be citizens of Thailand based on Thai cuisine (58 percent), culture (44 percent), and language (35 percent). Financial security (62 percent) and wellbeing (43 percent) constitute the most important markers of success in life. High personal aspirations and individual effort drive young people’s forward-looking attitude in relation to career prospects (84 percent), quality of life (84 percent), and their abilities to shape their future (79 percent). Yet existing societal and gender norms as well as institutional constraints significantly impact Thai youth’s potential to be effective drivers of change in society.

More reports in the series here, including one on the United Kingdom that does not make reference to UK youth’s pride in UK cuisine! https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/research-series/next-generation

5. And, finally, The New York Times autumn reading lists:

a) novels https://tinyurl.com/yfesynzx

b) non-fiction https://tinyurl.com/4dt7kabz

Something for all of us? I enjoyed Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, so maybe I’ll start at the top of that list of novels with her latest, American Hagwon. Of the non-fiction list, Ben Macintyre’s Redwood appeals – Redwood being the surprisingly obvious code name given by the British secret service to a very tall KGB officer who later defected. Both those books are out this month.

CLAUDE CONFESSION

Claude corrected names and punctuation, updated me on BBC governance, encouraged me to help the reader by naming Min Jin Lee’s new book, confirmed that Redwood was indeed very tall, and explained the difference between an en dash and an em dash – and left me feeling a bit uncertain about my usage of them. That last one between dash and and was an em dash, I think!

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