The Alleynian 708 2020

THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY

they all understood that the study of Psychology does not (unfortunately) bestow upon students the ability to read minds, I found that they still had very different opinions regarding the content of this A level. Is Psychology about studying ‘people’s moods’ and ‘behaviour patterns’, as Louis Morais-Jones posited? Or might it be about ‘how your brain works and how you think’, as Jacob De Giorgio speculates? Well, in its simplest form, Psychology A level is, according to Dr Cue, ‘an amalgamation of sciences and arts’. The students who choose Psychology will, he says, find that it provides a nice balance between the study of scientific methodology and the extended writing more usually associated with the humanities. Due to this, Dr Cue is adamant that in choosing to study Psychology, Dulwich boys will learn how to design an effective experiment, to develop their mathematical skills and to sharpen their essay-writing capabilities. As valuable as these skills are though, I’m sure that the more enticing part of Psychology is that it is, as Dr Cue points out, ‘intrinsically interesting’, allowing boys to examine the power of social influence (peer pressure), investigate the concept of attachment (the emotional bond between a parent and their young), understand different conditions such as schizophrenia, and – much to my delight – discover how both long- and short-term memory work. On paper these topics sound fascinating, but how do the boys currently studying Psychology at Dulwich feel? As Will Flowers of Year 12 explained to me, in Psychology ‘you learn the facts but also the background of the subject’. This means that, although you do have to study certain psychological experiments carried out in the past, the core of the subject is more focused on developing your understanding, rather than on the age-old regurgitation of textbook information. When I asked how the boys felt about doing fewer practical experiments in Psychology than in other sciences at the College, Ed Brilliant (Year 12) certainly felt that this was a positive aspect. I’m sure many boys at the College can vividly remember the first time they dropped a beaker during one of their Chemistry experiments – the inevitability of such an event makes it an embarrassing rite of passage of sorts for students. Without these experiments, which some may see as a burden, Ed says that Psychology offers ‘the interesting aspects of sciences without the extra baggage’. So, now, as befits every adept psychologist, I must conclude my study and state my findings. In researching this subject, I discovered plenty about what it is, and even what it is not, as an A level. I believe that if students are prepared openly to discuss an array of issues present in their own and others’ lives and are infinitely inquisitive, they will no doubt discover that Psychology is the subject for them. And for those of you who still may not be convinced: don’t do it!

F or those people who live as far out as Beckenham, Bromley and beyond, remote learning must be a relief. I know of students who wake up at 8:30, sprint downstairs to grab the caffeinated drink of their choice and make it to their laptop for 8:35 registration. There are also horror stories of boys tuning in to their class over 20 minutes late due to ‘oversleeping my alarm’. Perhaps the biggest upside for me is that you can turn off the camera. This has two advantages: the first is that you could do the school day in your pyjamas and no one would know. The second is that, due to barbershops being shut, my hair, and surely that of many others, has grown into an uncontrollable mess. I trust no one in my family to go near it with scissors, so if it is looking particularly bad, I can just put a hat on and teachers will think it’s a silly fashion choice. Alternatively, I can turn the camera off and no one will see the bird’s nest resting upon my head. Of course, the lessons themselves are greatly different from the norm, but I think remote learning has in some cases enhanced them. For me there is something enjoyable about the chaos of a Politics lesson. As soon as something controversial is said, and given that putting your hand up does nothing as the teacher can only see a few students at a time, there’s a tsunami, blending personal attacks with genuine points. Mainly, though, it’s the same argument we had two days before, but at a higher volume. Having seen all these changes, I ask myself, will Dulwich go back to how it was?

THE INITIAL HILARITY OF SCHOOL AT HOME HAS WORN OFF, YET THE ABSURDITY OF THE SITUATION REMAINS

OPINION, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES

MIND OVER MATTER

T he initial hilarity of school at home has worn off, yet the absurdity of the situation remains. From waking at 8:32 so that you can just about make registration and maximise sleep, to muting certain classmates – they know who they are – school at home is certainly an experience. There are, of course, positives and negatives. One can follow lessons in pyjamas, lunch before the ludicrously late time of 1:15 and enjoy free periods that are substantially ‘freer’. However, the issue remains – what does one do with the free time? A few friends have admitted to me that they are bored of FIFA, but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing to play it. A few more tell me about the nostalgic enjoyment they are finding in musical instruments, and even books. Personally, I find the experience of school from home rather drab. I find that lessons lack the pleasure of banter with classmates; games lessons on Wednesdays come and go without the excitement of the cricket season; mornings are completed without the pleasure of a rousing assembly. However, in all seriousness, I believe the majority have been taught a lesson in what they like about the College – even if these are things we’d never have thought we would miss.

Psychology has been introduced onto the College’s A-level curriculum for the first time. Chris Paton (Year 11) delves into this multifaceted discipline H ow does memory work? No, really, how does it work? If you’re anything like me, you’ll no doubt have asked yourself this question – and many more – whilst gazing pensively towards the horizon. When I heard that Dulwich had added Psychology to its A-level options, I was eager to find out more about this intriguing academic subject. And so, armed with the most psychologically testing questions, I set out to interview Dr Cue, head of the department here at the College. Thirty minutes and two cups of tea later, I had a better insight into the brains of the subject and maybe even the inner workings of my own brain. For boys in the Middle School who must painstakingly self-analyse to determine which A levels are suited to them, choosing a subject which has never been studied here before may feel somewhat daunting. During a brief discussion I had with a few Year 8 pupils, several different ideas arose as to what the subject actually involves. Although

Eddie Humphries

Jake Reisser-Weston

Oh, and by the way, that’s what we call reverse psychology.

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