This week, I would like to host a blog from Seb Sultan, who joined the Prep in January for six months. Seb is an Old Haberdasher who went on to Bristol to study Politics and in a very short time at the Prep has had a great impact on our community, enthusing the boys about politics. His assembly during the London mayoral elections with boys impersonating the different candidates will be one of the highlights of our year! 
 
“If someone had told me when I joined, that I would have students running up to me in the playground, proudly demonstrating their mastery of the name ‘Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’, Year 4s attempting to spin their playground misdemeanours using strategies they learnt from the American gun-lobby and over a third of Year 3 attending a Politics Club each week, I’d probably have dismissed them as ‘fake news’. 
 
However, after two weeks of being stalked across the playground pupils seeking more information about Iranian politics or another story from the Trump Presidency, I realised we needed a Politics Club. 

Politics can be a fantastic subject for a Prep School club. On the one hand, politics is of immense importance and seriousness. On the other, it is an absurd drama with comical characters and a lack objective truth. This contrast can make politics both fascinating and hilarious, especially to children. 

US-North Korea tensions can be made engrossing for a Year 3, by being presented alongside the former American President’s Tweets about his North Korean counterpart. While childish jibes on Twitter may do little to promote geo-political security, they can be extremely effective at promoting a love of politics and current affairs amongst Prep School pupils. 
 
I aim to give the boys a nuanced understanding of world events and political debates, while also keeping them engaged and inspired. To achieve this, I try to maintain an atmosphere which can at times be more akin to a comedy club than a lesson. Contrary to my initial expectations, the greatest challenge has been containing the boys’ interest and excitement; preventing them from shouting out and passionately debating each other while I am still speaking. 
 
After the outstanding performances we saw from Year 5 Politics Club in our London Mayoral Election Debate, I hope the country is ready for a few more Old Haberdashers like Sir David Lidington, Lord Brittan and Lord Feldman leading our country.’ 
 
Thank you, Mr Sultan!  
 
Have a wonderful weekend, 
 
Matteo E Rossetti