David Smith: A Bell Ringing Tutor’s Uplifting Global Perspective

Fun with Bells

In this episode, David Smith makes a much-welcome return to the podcast for another conversation with host Cathy Booth that’s brimming with insight.

Find out about about the differences between ringing associations in the UK and those in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With David’s global ringing teaching experience there are plenty of anecdotes and observations, on all things teaching, learning and mentoring.

It’s also an episode that poses some philosophical questions about the nature of ringing associations and what it means, as ringers, to connect and belong. Associations may not be the future, but from David’s perspective, ringing itself has a very positive and promising outlook!

Top tips

• A ringing course might not be for you, but why not think about offering to lend a hand and help out
• Feeling brave? Why not ask another ringer you trust to observe your teaching session and ask for some constructive feedback
• Check out the NorthWest ringing course website nwringingcourse.uk
• Now’s a good time to update your website or social media so other ringers can easily find your tower and arrange a visit

Sound like the ART course might be for you? Take a look at bellringing.org/

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART). To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth
Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

Chapters

1. David Smith: A Bell Ringing Tutor’s Uplifting Global Perspective (00:00:00)

2. Ringing by the Society of Cambridge Youths (00:00:21)

3. Introducing the podcast (00:00:27)

4. Introducing David Smith (00:00:33)

5. David's Previous Interview on the Podcast (00:00:46)

6. David's Roles in the Central Council (00:01:11)

7. Impact of the Central Council's Changes (00:01:24)

8. Other CCCBR changes (00:01:37)

9. The Future of Ringing (00:01:44)

10. Isolated Towers (00:02:03)

11. Optimism (00:02:59)

12. David's Involvement with the Volunteering Work Grou (00:03:08)

13. The Northwest Residential Course (00:03:22)

14. The Northwest Residential Course Details (00:03:57)

15. Handling improvements at the Northwest Residential Course (00:05:40)

16. A range of topics (00:06:16)

17. Composition of the course (00:06:50)

18. Number of people / need for helpers (00:07:34)

19. The Evolution of the Northwest Residential Course (00:08:21)

20. ART - The Association of Ringing Teachers (00:09:18)

21. The ART modules (00:10:55)

22. ART Module 1 (00:11:07)

23. David's experiences as a teacher (00:11:34)

24. The next ART Modules (00:12:51)

25. David's Experience in North America and Canada (00:14:49)

26. Course participants at Marietta (00:15:10)

27. David's trip itinerary (00:15:24)

28. American Hospitality (00:15:35)

29. Quebec (00:15:40)

30. Australian based tutors (00:16:39)

31. ART Mentors (00:18:06)

32. ART Assessors (00:18:30)

33. David tutoring NAG because similar to ANZAB (00:20:54)

34. ART modules follow up (00:22:29)

35. Bell Ringers Associations (00:23:50)

36. Direct Membership of a National or International Body (00:24:32)

37. Anecdotes (00:28:24)

38. The Benefits of Being Assessed (00:29:14)

39. David being assessed by Quilla (00:29:44)

40. The Benefits of Being Assessed (00:30:01)

41. Comparing Ringing in Different Countries (00:31:18)

42. Looking to the future (00:33:30)

43. Thank you, David Smith (00:34:07)

44. Thank you David Smith (00:34:29)