General strike/protest

[chrismpw]

Cool. Btw, I ought to clarify that I was talking about an average school pupil, when saying "you'll get further". I wasn't directly referring to you. Apologies for the confusion, I realise that it was ambiguous.

Right so. Understood.
In my experience, from teaching in one of the worst schools in the country for 12 years, then an average middle class school for 6, and my most recent one for 10 years, which is regularly in the top 50 of secondary schools, I am sad to say that those pupils who are after an education, rather than a C grade, are rare. There are even those, having achieved their C at the end of year 10, in their first science give, who are prepared to give up and fail their subsequent science give on the grounds that "they have the C in science they need. " Believe me when I say that that's an attitude that comes from society and not from teachers! Does my head in.

 

[roydo]

Right so. Understood.
In my experience, from teaching in one of the worst schools in the country for 12 years, then an average middle class school for 6, and my most recent one for 10 years, which is regularly in the top 50 of secondary schools, I am sad to say that those pupils who are after an education, rather than a C grade, are rare. There are even those, having achieved their C at the end of year 10, in their first science give, who are prepared to give up and fail their subsequent science give on the grounds that "they have the C in science they need. " Believe me when I say that that's an attitude that comes from society and not from teachers! Does my head in.

It must be incredibly frustrating. Teaching to pass an exam, rather than providing an education. Poles apart imo.

 

[WycombeToffee]

Right so. Understood.
In my experience, from teaching in one of the worst schools in the country for 12 years, then an average middle class school for 6, and my most recent one for 10 years, which is regularly in the top 50 of secondary schools, I am sad to say that those pupils who are after an education, rather than a C grade, are rare. There are even those, having achieved their C at the end of year 10, in their first science give, who are prepared to give up and fail their subsequent science give on the grounds that "they have the C in science they need. " Believe me when I say that that's an attitude that comes from society and not from teachers! Does my head in.

Wow. That is just astounding that a pupil will drop a subject having done the "required" in Yr10. I guess I was pretty sheltered from stuff like that, having gone to a top 100 school myself (81st of all state schools IIRC). Credit to the teachers though, they always encouraged us to work, and I don't think any students had that poor attitude you speak of. Looking back, I guess I was pretty lucky tbh. You seem to have experience of all schools across the spectrum. What makes the best so different to the worst?

 

[Seanjd]

What makes the best so different to the worst?

Depends what you mean by the best. Look at the names of the schools in the League Tables and they tell you everything. Area matters. There are many amazing schools in deprived areas which can't even dream of being near the top 100 because results simply won't allow them. Unfortunately, there isn't a league table for nurturing children and teaching them how to think.

 

[magicjuan]

I don't know if it's deliberate victimisation of vulnerable folks as much as cold-hearted politics. I mean there are parts of the country that wouldn't vote Conservative if hell froze over, so it's perhaps not surprising that the Tories don't tend to care too much for those parts of the country.

We like to think public officials are less self-interested than the rest of us, but when push comes to shove they are primarily concerned with getting re-elected.

Of course, the incumbents will primarily deal with their kith n kin firstly, however, what happened up until Thatcher was that Labour governments would have policies that worked for the fabric of society, the foundations would be there so in effect they would benefit everyone, a sort of trickle up effect. The opposite has occurred since then, a small part of society is targeted, benefits, and despite the promise of a trickle down economy, this has yet to materialise

 

[Clint Planet]

Michael Rosen on academy schools: ‘Local democracy bites the dust’

http://gu.com/p/4hy5c

 

[chrismpw]

Wow. That is just astounding that a pupil will drop a subject having done the "required" in Yr10. I guess I was pretty sheltered from stuff like that, having gone to a top 100 school myself (81st of all state schools IIRC). Credit to the teachers though, they always encouraged us to work, and I don't think any students had that poor attitude you speak of. Looking back, I guess I was pretty lucky tbh. You seem to have experience of all schools across the spectrum. What makes the best so different to the worst?

Without any doubt, the difference between them comes from parental aspiration. Quite simply if parents bring up children to have curiosity, manners and respect, then teachers can do a great deal more with them. Some of the brightest children I've taught have been in the worse school, but surrounded by so many pupils with so few social skills their potential was crimped.
It also helps if the parents are wealthy enough to pay for trips and revision guides to broaden and enhance a young person's experience .... Especially during times of tory government when, quite simply, school budgets don't stretch to books.

 

[chrismpw]

Michael Rosen on academy schools: ‘Local democracy bites the dust’

http://gu.com/p/4hy5c

Ohhhh that's reminded me of the exclamation mark debacle. Don't get me started on that!

 

[Clint Planet]

Ohhhh that's reminded me of the exclamation mark debacle. Don't get me started on that!

"Does the minister responsible for sport issue directives on the offside rule?"

 

[peteblue]

"Does the minister responsible for sport issue directives on the offside rule?"

I wish somebody would.........

 

[magicjuan]

I wish somebody would.........

Girl.....

 

[edge]

Girl.....

that means she hasn't got a clue what it means,no matter how many times you tell her

 

[neil999]

this government does seem to going beyond being ideologically wrong, but just incompetent

surely you can t just keep changing policy every 5 minutes when you realise its wrong/doesnt work?!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

this government does seem to going beyond being ideologically wrong, but just incompetent

surely you can t just keep changing policy every 5 minutes when you realise its wrong/doesnt work?!

Experimentation is fine so long as it's backed up by some evidence. I'm not sure governments are particularly good at that though.

 

[Clint Planet]

• Most of what Labour brought in seemed to be at least on nodding terms with sanity. This government are lunatics, though.