A RETIRED Powys teacher is celebrating the publication of his second book.

Harry Young’s new publication, entitled ‘Education is not Rocket Science’, touches on his philosophy for teaching, having spent almost 60 years involved in the profession.

Harry, 81, was previously the headteacher at Irfon Valley Primary School, in Garth, retiring in 2001. However, he soon got bored and was then lured back, becoming a post-graduate lecturer, and helping the new wave of teachers.

“Education is not Rocket Science is a follow on from my first book which traced my early upbringing in the Welsh mining community,” said Harry, who has lived in Builth Wells since 1980.

“It really established my love of practical learning which was the bedrock of my early life and set me on the road of education for the next 60 years.

“The book’s title is the philosophy for teaching that I built my whole career on and still believe in more than ever.”

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After working as a lecturer for 12 more years after initially retiring, the bell on Harry’s career finally rang in 2013. It was in retirement that his interest in writing educational material for teachers and pupils arose.

Harry added: “In 2014 my concern over lack of practical hands-on activities for primary children led me to produce a number of 5-10 minute videos made from my kitchen table aimed at helping primary school teachers in their quest to provide meaningful practical work for children.

“The videos have three main aims: to provide ideas for the hard-pressed teacher; advise on easily obtainable equipment to provide hands-on experience for children; and to link work to the ever-changing national curriculum, set by people who have never set foot in a classroom.”

County Times: Education is not Rocket Science was published by Amazon in November 2023, and follows on from ‘Valley Boy’, a semi-autobiographical account of Harry’s life growing up in the south Wales valleys. Education is not Rocket Science was published by Amazon in November 2023, and follows on from ‘Valley Boy’, a semi-autobiographical account of Harry’s life growing up in the south Wales valleys. (Image: Harry Young)

These videos can be accessed on Harry’s website, practicalprimaryscience.co.uk.

Education is not Rocket Science was published by Amazon in November 2023, and follows on from ‘Valley Boy’, a semi-autobiographical account of Harry’s life growing up in the south Wales valleys, informing the reader of what life was like in the 1940s and early 1950s in a small Welsh coal mining community.

Published earlier last year, it traces a little boy’s life experiences from the age of 3 up until he leaves primary school in the village to pursue secondary education a few miles down the valley.

Harry, who also took up painting after retirement, previously raised £500 in 2020 for the Wales Air Ambulance from sales of 2021 calendars featuring his paintings.

Since then he has taken up watercolour painting more seriously and likes to feature local scenes in and around Builth.

Education is not Rocket Science is available now on Amazon, priced at £7.99.