Main content

22. Inspiring Bill Strickland

Matthew Syed explores the ripple effects of inspirational teachers, why creative learning is key to our development and why teenagers deserve a re-brand.

Back in the 1960s, Bill Strickland was a listless teenager but life as he knew it was about to change forever.

One afternoon, while skipping class, something caught his eye - the door to one of the art rooms was ajar and he could hear the whirring of a potters wheel. Stopping a moment to take a look, Bill beheld a sight that would change the course of his life. At the wheel was a ceramics teacher, Mr Frank Ross, spinning a lump of clay into a beautiful bowl. He was witnessing a profound metaphor - he could make his life into something beautiful as Mr Ross made bowls from clay.

Mr Ross had lit a fuse within Bill. He went onto university and eventually set up the Manchester Craftsmen鈥檚 Guild, an afterschool arts programme in his neighbourhood of North Side, Pittsburgh. The programme is designed to intercept the often difficult lives of teenagers in the area, to put them on a path toward a positive future with the help of inspirational teachers.

And it works. Thousands of kids come through the programme each year and Bill鈥檚 work has been recognised by the White House, among others.

Matthew Syed explores how teachers have the power to transform the world, one student at a time. It鈥檚 a big responsibility taken seriously by the likes of history teacher Shalina Patel. Shalina goes beyond the textbooks to engage her students.

Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore explains why adolescence is such a formative time in terms of brain development and suggests we reconsider the way we talk about and teach teenagers.

Presenter: Matthew Syed
Producer: Claire Crofton
Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey
Music, Sound Design & Mix: Rob Speight
Theme music by Ioana Selaru
A Novel production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Dec 2021 00:15

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Dec 2021 16:00
  • Mon 13 Dec 2021 00:15

Sideways - Articles

Sideways - Articles

Features on some of the fascinating topics from Sideways with Matthew Syed.

My last 5p: How one homeless man鈥檚 generosity led to him marrying the love of his life

My last 5p: How one homeless man鈥檚 generosity led to him marrying the love of his life

How one act of generosity can have profound consequences.

Why we all need an alter ego

Why we all need an alter ego

Matthew Syed looks at how adopting an alter ego can help us all to access confidence.

What's the secret of making a smash hit pop song?

What's the secret of making a smash hit pop song?

Exploring the success of Max Martin, the behind-the-scenes genius behind 22 No.1 hits.

Podcast