The Politics Thread

[superjohnmcginlay]

Who's Ann Taylor?

[BWFC_Insane]

Mmmmmmmmmmm I.T.

X-Box and PS3?

(Or how many ways can you rob/kill a person)

Are you on drugs?

Seriously.

Cos ya know. I have no idea what the hell you're trying to say!

I think he may be making a joke about popular computer game Grand Theft Auto.

His point is, however, as elusive as ever.

Yes I kinda got the first bit but like you, what this has to do with the previous discussion in this thread is beyond me.

Oh dear me!!
The nearest the vast majority of kids in state ed schools get to IT is games on X-Box, PS3, so making a statement about it being the most important lesson will serve as usufull to about 25% of pupils (hardly worth investing millions in if thats the case) most of the 25% would more than likely be at Grammer schools were this sort of cash investment would be far better spent and reap better rewards of performance in this field.
My sister is a teacher, my son in law is a teacher, his parents are a retired head master and a still working head mistress and they will all backup that the lowest folk in classes bring the others down to their level, very rarely the other way unless there is streaming.

Eh? Again Hoboh I have no idea what you're saying.

The point of education is to make sure we have an apporpriately skilled workforce for the future.

Surely given the increasing impact of IT in virtually all spheres of life, and the central role it plays in a wide variety of businesses, surely it is key to invest in IT teaching in schools to improve the standards?

[TANGODANCER]

Whatever happened to childhood? Where did mental arithmetic go to?, and 'real writing?' When we were kids we'd have thought a calculator was something from Dr Who and IT some form of detention. Fifty lines, the lot of you, and six of the best if they are'nt done by morning.

[William the White]

Hobo - my daughter attends a catholic secondary school in Bolton...her brother a primary feeder

Both schools are heaving with 'puters

JSL

Cos I really can't be arsed arguing the merits or otherwise of Grammar Schools, with folk who in many cases reaped the benefits now decide its shite

All sounds a bit anntaylorish to me

Why not? You'll only talk about its merits or otherwise with people that didn't go?

I went to grammar school. Then university. All my kids went to state comps, all went to uni (one starts next year). When we had selective education it was pretty much decided at the age of 11 whether you were going to higher education or not. Absurd and disgraceful. Says ex-grammar school boy cheeky enough to cruticise a system he benefited from.

[blurred]

Whatever happened to childhood? Where did mental arithmetic go to?, and 'real writing?' When we were kids we'd have thought a calculator was something from Dr Who and IT some form of detention. Fifty lines, the lot of you, and six of the best if they are'nt done by morning.

How many lines for poor apostrophes?

[TANGODANCER]

Whatever happened to childhood? Where did mental arithmetic go to?, and 'real writing?' When we were kids we'd have thought a calculator was something from Dr Who and IT some form of detention. Fifty lines, the lot of you, and six of the best if they are'nt done by morning.

How many lines for poor apostrophes?

It was just a test to see if you were awake.

[BWFC_Insane]

Whatever happened to childhood? Where did mental arithmetic go to?, and 'real writing?' When we were kids we'd have thought a calculator was something from Dr Who and IT some form of detention. Fifty lines, the lot of you, and six of the best if they are'nt done by morning.

The world moves on!

[TANGODANCER]

Whatever happened to childhood? Where did mental arithmetic go to?, and 'real writing?' When we were kids we'd have thought a calculator was something from Dr Who and IT some form of detention. Fifty lines, the lot of you, and six of the best if they are'nt done by morning.

The world moves on!

We learn a little each day....

[Prufrock]

Are you on drugs?

Seriously.

Cos ya know. I have no idea what the hell you're trying to say!

I think he may be making a joke about popular computer game Grand Theft Auto.

His point is, however, as elusive as ever.

Yes I kinda got the first bit but like you, what this has to do with the previous discussion in this thread is beyond me.

Oh dear me!!
The nearest the vast majority of kids in state ed schools get to IT is games on X-Box, PS3, so making a statement about it being the most important lesson will serve as usufull to about 25% of pupils (hardly worth investing millions in if thats the case) most of the 25% would more than likely be at Grammer schools were this sort of cash investment would be far better spent and reap better rewards of performance in this field.
My sister is a teacher, my son in law is a teacher, his parents are a retired head master and a still working head mistress and they will all backup that the lowest folk in classes bring the others down to their level, very rarely the other way unless there is streaming.

Eh? Again Hoboh I have no idea what you're saying.

The point of education is to make sure we have an apporpriately skilled workforce for the future.

Surely given the increasing impact of IT in virtually all spheres of life, and the central role it plays in a wide variety of businesses, surely it is key to invest in IT teaching in schools to improve the standards?

No it isn't

[Worthy4England]

Hobo - my daughter attends a catholic secondary school in Bolton...her brother a primary feeder

Both schools are heaving with 'puters

JSL

Cos I really can't be arsed arguing the merits or otherwise of Grammar Schools, with folk who in many cases reaped the benefits now decide its shite

All sounds a bit anntaylorish to me

Why not? You'll only talk about its merits or otherwise with people that didn't go?

I went to grammar school. Then university. All my kids went to state comps, all went to uni (one starts next year). When we had selective education it was pretty much decided at the age of 11 whether you were going to higher education or not. Absurd and disgraceful. Says ex-grammar school boy cheeky enough to cruticise a system he benefited from.

I went to Grammar School and after a gap of 11 years went to University. All we've done by ridding the UK of Grammar Schools is remove an additional opportunity for kids from less well off families. We used to have Public Schools, and a two tier system for those who couldn't afford a private education, that was accessible by all. Now we just have Public Schools and "all the rest". If you're truly going to try and level the playing field, then you'd need to get rid of Public Schools as well - which quite frankly neither Government is going to do (and I'm not convinced should do either).

We should carry on pretending to be non-selective until the age of at least 65 with CEO's being voted in, by the Country at large on a referendum, because the rest of life, business and the real world is non-selective and works like that. (Honest, it really does).

[InsaneApache]

Fully agree with Worthy. Good post mate.

[Lord Kangana]

I think he may be making a joke about popular computer game Grand Theft Auto.

His point is, however, as elusive as ever.

Yes I kinda got the first bit but like you, what this has to do with the previous discussion in this thread is beyond me.

Oh dear me!!
The nearest the vast majority of kids in state ed schools get to IT is games on X-Box, PS3, so making a statement about it being the most important lesson will serve as usufull to about 25% of pupils (hardly worth investing millions in if thats the case) most of the 25% would more than likely be at Grammer schools were this sort of cash investment would be far better spent and reap better rewards of performance in this field.
My sister is a teacher, my son in law is a teacher, his parents are a retired head master and a still working head mistress and they will all backup that the lowest folk in classes bring the others down to their level, very rarely the other way unless there is streaming.

Eh? Again Hoboh I have no idea what you're saying.

The point of education is to make sure we have an apporpriately skilled workforce for the future.

Surely given the increasing impact of IT in virtually all spheres of life, and the central role it plays in a wide variety of businesses, surely it is key to invest in IT teaching in schools to improve the standards?

No it isn't

Its an interesting point Pru, the "education for educations sake" one, and peculiarly a British (English even) outlook. If you ever get time, read a book by Len Deighton, entitled "Blood, Tears and Folly". It might surprise you to find it in a book about the origins of the Second World War, but he offers a detailed and scrutinous critique of the ethos of English Education in the 20th century. Despite all the propoganda thats been handed down to us from WW2, at the start we struggled to find competent people in many, many fields because of our outlook and attitude towards developing skills. The Germans, particularly, and most of the other belligerents certainly, had a far more sophisticated and organised education system that produced phenomenally skilled and educated people...in science, maths etc, not necessarily classics and philosophy.

Well worth a read, as I too tend to lean towards the making of rounded human beings. But its disabused me of a few sensibilities.

[Bruce Rioja]

Fully agree with Worthy. Good post mate.

Me too, and yes, I also had a Grammar School ed. Though I'm not sure how much we benefitted from being bullied by beer-stinking, Rugby types in black capes. Still, that's another issue.

[BWFC_Insane]

The point of education is to make sure we have an apporpriately skilled workforce for the future.

Surely given the increasing impact of IT in virtually all spheres of life, and the central role it plays in a wide variety of businesses, surely it is key to invest in IT teaching in schools to improve the standards?

No it isn't

It is and if it isn't it should be. Yes there are the side issues of making rounded people, with social skills, interests in knowledge etc etc.

But the main aim is to develop skills in people that can be used to serve the general good, in the future.

Otherwise whats the point of structured education? We could all just learn shit off the internet and wallow in our mud huts!

[TANGODANCER]

knowledge etc etc.

But the main aim is to develop skills in people that can be used to serve the general good, in the future.

How very George Orwellian. Me, I'm for letting kids be kids for a while. The worlds of sport, music, entertainment etc wilclaim many. Those who want to learn such skills and are clever enough, will do so, as it's always been. To make it a general policy would result in half a nation being considered failures. Just my view.

[Worthy4England]

Fully agree with Worthy. Good post mate.

Me too, and yes, I also had a Grammar School ed. Though I'm not sure how much we benefitted from being bullied by beer-stinking, Rugby types in black capes. Still, that's another issue.

As a member of the First XV, I can confirm that you benefitted immensley...

[Bruce Rioja]

Fully agree with Worthy. Good post mate.

Me too, and yes, I also had a Grammar School ed. Though I'm not sure how much we benefitted from being bullied by beer-stinking, Rugby types in black capes. Still, that's another issue.

As a member of the First XV, I can confirm that you benefitted immensley...

I meant the teachers, not the tossers in the upper sixth.

[William the White]

Hobo - my daughter attends a catholic secondary school in Bolton...her brother a primary feeder

Both schools are heaving with 'puters

JSL

Cos I really can't be arsed arguing the merits or otherwise of Grammar Schools, with folk who in many cases reaped the benefits now decide its shite

All sounds a bit anntaylorish to me

Why not? You'll only talk about its merits or otherwise with people that didn't go?

I went to grammar school. Then university. All my kids went to state comps, all went to uni (one starts next year). When we had selective education it was pretty much decided at the age of 11 whether you were going to higher education or not. Absurd and disgraceful. Says ex-grammar school boy cheeky enough to cruticise a system he benefited from.

I went to Grammar School and after a gap of 11 years went to University. All we've done by ridding the UK of Grammar Schools is remove an additional opportunity for kids from less well off families. We used to have Public Schools, and a two tier system for those who couldn't afford a private education, that was accessible by all. Now we just have Public Schools and "all the rest". If you're truly going to try and level the playing field, then you'd need to get rid of Public Schools as well - which quite frankly neither Government is going to do (and I'm not convinced should do either).

We should carry on pretending to be non-selective until the age of at least 65 with CEO's being voted in, by the Country at large on a referendum, because the rest of life, business and the real world is non-selective and works like that. (Honest, it really does).

Disagree with pretty much all of this - and i'd abolish public schools tomorrow, given a chance, in what would be a huge contribution to democracy... The 'grammar school' I went to is now a 'public school' - and that would be first on my list... Oh, yes...

[Worthy4England]

Fully agree with Worthy. Good post mate.

Me too, and yes, I also had a Grammar School ed. Though I'm not sure how much we benefitted from being bullied by beer-stinking, Rugby types in black capes. Still, that's another issue.

As a member of the First XV, I can confirm that you benefitted immensley...

I meant the teachers, not the tossers in the upper sixth.

[Worthy4England]

Hobo - my daughter attends a catholic secondary school in Bolton...her brother a primary feeder

Both schools are heaving with 'puters

JSL

Cos I really can't be arsed arguing the merits or otherwise of Grammar Schools, with folk who in many cases reaped the benefits now decide its shite

All sounds a bit anntaylorish to me

Why not? You'll only talk about its merits or otherwise with people that didn't go?

I went to grammar school. Then university. All my kids went to state comps, all went to uni (one starts next year). When we had selective education it was pretty much decided at the age of 11 whether you were going to higher education or not. Absurd and disgraceful. Says ex-grammar school boy cheeky enough to cruticise a system he benefited from.

I went to Grammar School and after a gap of 11 years went to University. All we've done by ridding the UK of Grammar Schools is remove an additional opportunity for kids from less well off families. We used to have Public Schools, and a two tier system for those who couldn't afford a private education, that was accessible by all. Now we just have Public Schools and "all the rest". If you're truly going to try and level the playing field, then you'd need to get rid of Public Schools as well - which quite frankly neither Government is going to do (and I'm not convinced should do either).

We should carry on pretending to be non-selective until the age of at least 65 with CEO's being voted in, by the Country at large on a referendum, because the rest of life, business and the real world is non-selective and works like that. (Honest, it really does).

Disagree with pretty much all of this - and i'd abolish public schools tomorrow, given a chance, in what would be a huge contribution to democracy... The 'grammar school' I went to is now a 'public school' - and that would be first on my list... Oh, yes...

But then people would just get private tutors in...

You angling for a job in the highly paid private sector?