Red Cuillin: Fettes College, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1976-1977, Old Fettesian Notes and World University

Dear Mrs. Beaumont,

Thank you for this inquiry. It's enjoyable to revisit this time at Fettes College in Scotland in my memory. I would very much like to let many Fettesians know of World University and School - like Wikipedia with MIT Open Course Ware and UC Berkeley webcasts - where people can also teach to their web cameras, as well as interactively in virtual worlds like Second Life. I hope degree granting will emerge with matriculating university classes in 2014. At present, it's an open, free university and school, and will continue so. There's even a budding music school.

Sincerely,
Scott

'Scott' Gordon K MacLeod
http://scottmacleod.com



From: Beaumont, Mrs DA
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 4:03 AM
Subject: Fettes College Website and Careers Day

Dear OF,



We are looking for your help with the following requests:



The Fettes College website (www.fettes.com), is currently being completely redesigned and will feature a section on ‘Fettes People’, which will cover current staff, governors, selected current pupils and OFs.



The Careers Department are also looking to create OF Profiles to be used on future Careers Day events



If you are happy to be featured on either the Fettes website or on Careers Day, please answer the questions below and email your responses to me - a photograph would also be appreciated.



Thank you,



Dawn



Mrs Dawn Beaumont ׀ Old Fettesian Association Co-ordinator ׀ ( 0131 311 6741 ׀8 www.oldfettesians.com

Fettes College, OFA Office, Edinburgh EH4 1QX





Name: Gordon K. MacLeod III (scottmacleod.com - I was known by the name 'Gordon' that year, although I have always otherwise been called by my nickname Scott or Scotty).





House and Years at Fettes: Kimmerghame House, 1st year 6th, 1976-1977





Qualifications and career: I have a Master's Degree in sociocultural Anthropology. I've taught college, most recently a course on "Information Technology and Society" on Harvard's virtual island in Second Life.



I'm presently developing the free, open, 'edit this page' World University & School - like Wikipedia with MIT Open Course Ware - potentially in all languages, countries, subjects and levels. World University's web address is here: http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/World_University. I would very much like to let many Fettesians know of World University and School and this opportunity for people also to teach to their web cameras, as well as interactively in virtual worlds like Second Life. I hope virtual, free classes for credit, and eventual degree-granting, will emerge with matriculating students in 2014. At present, it's an open, free university and school without credit or degrees, although WUaS does list a free Harvard Doctoral Degree for 25 positions in 2011 and 2012 in education: worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Courses#Free_Degree_Programs. There are even budding music, medical and law schools at World University & School: worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Courses#World_University.27s_Schools.




What is your most cherished memory from your time at Fettes?

The milieu of beautiful Fettes - its buildings and grounds, Kimmerghame House and the main building, Scots' accents, making friends - especially coming from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was a very different 'world.'




And your least?

Being an 'outsider' can be unknowingly difficult, - unfamiliar with Fettesian and Scots' cultural patterns as I was.




Were you awarded a scholarship at Fettes and if so, what did it mean to you? N/A




What event or personality left a lasting impression on you?

I enjoyed the atmosphere of good will which our Housemaster and Housemistress, Mr. and Mrs. George Preston, created in Kimmerghame House. I also enjoyed getting to know the Headmaster and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Chenevix-Trench, through a cooking class Mrs. Chenevix-Trench taught where they lived. And I also enjoyed playing in the Fettes College Pipes & Drums. When competing against Gordonstoun in 1977, we took second place in piping; just starting to grow a spotty beard then, and coming out of liberal America, which had slightly less emphasis on Dress than a Scots' Pipe Band does, I hadn't shaved, and the judge commented on this. I wondered if this contributed to our taking second prize, instead of a first, because we were playing well. We also piped in the Edinburgh Castle, which was exciting for a 17 year old from the States.




Were you a conscientious student?

In some respects.




Outside the classroom, how did you spend your free time at Fettes?

Traveling. I visited family friends, the Cuthbertsons on holiday in a hunting lodge in the very north of Scotland near John O'Groats, the MacKays and Schradings in Edinburgh, and I spent some time on the Isle of Mull, camping in a tent in windy April, and I also visited friends I made at Fettes in their families' homes in Scotland.











This email message is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.

The Fettes Trust (Fettes College and Fettes College Preparatory School) is a registered Scottish charity, No: SC017489.
The Fettes Foundation, which is a separately registered charity to that of the Fettes Trust, is registered in Scotland, No: SC028350.
It is a company limited by guarantee, also registered in Scotland, No: SC189253.
Fettes Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of the Fettes Trust and is registered in Scotland, No: SC187460.
Fettes Centre for Language & Culture Limited is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Fettes Enterprises Limited and is registered in Scotland, No: SC311652.
Each of the above entities has its registered office at Fettes College, Carrington Road, Edinburgh, EH4 1QX.
Fettes College reserves the right to monitor and filter all e-mail communications through its networks.
Although reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this e-mail.
No responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage arising from the use of this e-mail or attachments.

Visit the Fettes College Web site at www.fettes.com





*


From: Beaumont, Mrs DA
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 3:27 AM
To: smacleod
Subject: RE: Fettes College Website and Careers Day


Dear Scott,



Thank you and if you have a photo we could use that would be perfect.



As I am currently editing this year’s OF Newsletter, I plan to include your free, open, 'edit this page' World University & School – I hope that is ok.



George Preston popped in to the OF Office yesterday – he usually visits me weekly to check I’m doing the job properly and then he departed for a swim at Westwoods.



With best wishes and again thank you,



Dawn




(April 22, 2010)

Dear Dawn,

Thank you for your email. I'm attaching a photo. Please do let OFs know widely of World University and School. It will be exciting when many people start to contribute to this 'we make it' World University & School, and particularly great if many Fettesians found enjoyment in doing this, as Fettesians are a talented population. (Wikipedia, by way of comparison, has 14 million articles and is in something like
272 languages, and we all are doing this together thanks to information technologies like wiki). Warm greetings to George (and Olive) Preston.

Sincerely,
Scott


http://scottmacleod.com
http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/World_University
















(http://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2010/04/red-dawn-fettes-college-edinburgh.html - April 21, 2010)