johnny9fingers | Entries tagged with education

And now I want this t-shirt, although I don't tend to wear this sort of thing much:

www.amazon.co.uk/Funny-Remain-New-Referendum-T-Shirt/dp/B07PCF1GPR

I think that this appears to show that the Scots still have an education system that is fit for purpose. All the other areas seem to comprise of the better University cities and their hinterlands. Of course it is also true that the large urban conurbations have large universities within their environs, so there may be more than one correlation here, and determining the respective influences of any or all of those correlations becomes impossible in any system of more than three elements. But Chaos theory aside, we can return to the actual chaos of our present predicament and weep.

Freude schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysian and all that, what! Gods, foreign languages; this is the real reason we Brits hate everyone else with their clever-clever funny languages and all that. Why can't they just speak English like ordinary people? Of course for those of us who had to learn Latin at school it is a different matter; as long as the rest of you oiks tug your forelock when speaking to us things will go just fine.

Nurse, I've come over all old-school. Bring me some peasants to knout. I feel a return of my feudal privileges apparent... well either that or I'm younger than my years. As long as I'm the seigneur the droits will no doubt fall into place.

Crossposts: https://johnny9fingers.livejournal.com/311332.html

So..Today is Henry's Fourth Birthday (Capitalised).
Over the weekend we had two parties, and the in-laws staying. I had a stomach upset, but thankfully that didn't dent young H's celebrations. On Saturday H had a party for his schoolfriends on the theme of Spiderman. There was a Spiderman children's entertainer, and all the kids ran around and made lots of noise. A good time was had by the parents too. Wine and beer was laid on for them, and they were plied as far as their driving commitments allowed: which meant quick discussions among the couples, no doubt. The family had a second party on Sunday where I was again rather laid-up (my diverticultis returned with a vengence) and today we are all going out to a resturant for supper (including Kay, H & Æ's nanny) and then H will be given his new scooter.

This is the nature of privilege. Some young folk have stuff, things...and ideas thrown at them from birth. (Even then they can go wrong...I mean, look at our new Conservative government. If only that Osborne chap had had basic economics bounced into his cranium he might have done better for his country...but no ranting Ninefingers, now is not the time.) And we are privileged. It was once the case that everyone had access to books from the public library, access to elite education provided for by the state, and access to proper medical treatment. Also there was a welfare state that meant those out of work would have the basics of their living requirements met. But because there were books available, and proper medical care, and good schooling, a young person could manage to get from a council estate dwelling, with both parent's on the dole, to a Grammar School, and from there go on to Oxbridge. It didn't happen often, but it did happen. Now we have a huge number of graduates, many saddled with debt, most of whom could be considered one of the varieties of "Middle Class". Of course my kids are less likely to have debts when they come out of university, but that's because they won't have to borrow money to pay their tuition or lodging fees. The generations preceding me have assured that. No doubt they will have gambling debts or owe money to drug-dealers, but that's pretty much par for the course: 'twas ever thus.

But I doubt that everyone's kids will have the same opportunities as mine will, and, although I can feel that is credit to the generations before me, and my tremendously industrious wife, I still rather feel it is unjust that such life opportunities are given to few. If we are going to return to an Edwardian notion of England, where the Gentry and Commoners are distinct and separate, and where poverty and opulence co-exist easily, then I think we are going to have to be very careful and very lucky indeed if we want to avoid bloody revolution.

The Tory Party's narrative about Labour spending has been pretty thoroughly debunked by many political economists worldwide. In fact, it seems that the Tories are much less competent than the last Labour administration was.*
But because it 'sounds' like common sense, our electorate has bought it. Now we wait for the first installment of payment.

*. http://benjaminstudebaker.com/2015/05/02/britain-for-the-love-of-god-please-stop-david-cameron/
http://benjaminstudebaker.com/2015/05/06/13-terrible-tory-counterarguments/

We have been rather overwhelmed by the kindness of our friends.

So many of them have given young Henry gifts of various kinds we have been writing thank you letters when our other duties have left us time.

Henry is well, and in lusty voice. He complains vigorously when any of his perquisites are interfered with; or when he perceives either of us tardy in attending to his needs. SWMBO doesn't approve of boarding schools, so there may be some small debate when he gets to an age (about eleven or so) when such a decision will have to be made; however I shall be in my sixties by then, and reining in a young man on the verge of adolescence may be rather more trying for me than it would be now. However I shall endeavour to give Henry the choice, but if there is a local school which has the right characteristics for whatever abilities or otherwise Henry exhibits I suppose we shall opt for it.

Winchester would still be an ideal, but may be beyond my ability to argue for. Anyway, I hope that whatever he wishes, we will accomodate him therein.

Of course, I would want him to be captain of England at cricket, an accomplished musician, and a classical scholar: but I will be happy as long as he is happy. If he is going to be a street-sweeper, I hope he will be a good one, and content to boot.

Life has become interesting. It is certainly novel to no longer be the most important character in my life's narrative. But that's all right, I suppose, as it goes.

Go well and do good things.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n10/howard-hotson/dont-look-to-the-ivy-league

And thought that it could do with a bigger audience.

Folk in the UK's educational establishments should take note in the coming debate.

In the meantime....the son and heir is quite charming and very bonny. Both Madame and I are in love with him. So tired, however. :)

So students are rioting in the streets of London because they will be forced to pay increasing amounts for university education.

And our present generation of university-educated leaders, captains of industry, parliamentary legislators, bankers, etc all benefitted from free university education.

Given the fact that it was our generation (40+ somethings) who screwed the pooch: why shouldn't it be our generation that pays for it.

I think making all those who benefitted from free university education in previous generations pay for it now would be far fairer than forcing our children to pay for our mistakes. I know any such legislation would be retrospective, but a graduate tax on those generations that benefitted from free university education in the past might go some way towards redressing our generation's total fuck up of a system that had worked until we started providing degree courses in origami, and came close to bankrupting our economy with the creative mathematics that is derivatives.

Retrospective graduate tax for folk who got their degrees during the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's? Fairer by far.

Okay....
First of all I have to confess (as if anyone didn't already know) that I'm a bit of a pinko. Also my chums, many of whom are 'Posh' in most senses of the word, are a pretty liberal bunch (though many vote Conservative). Many of my chums send their kids to state schools, objecting as they do to the cultural apartheit that exists between the state and private education sectors. My younger brother teaches in a state school. I should be all in favour of state education, but I'm not.
My brother mentioned that he had been shocked by the ignorance of a class of fourteen year olds he had to take. Though a science teacher, he was filling in and teaching geography: and provided the class with a map of Europe with no Country names on; and asked them to identify various countries. When hardly anyone knew any of the countries in Europe, he asked them to identify England on the map. Out of a class of thirty some four managed this intellectually demanding task. Incredulous, because he thought they were 'taking the piss' he mocked the whole class, only to find that they simply didn't know: evidently they all turned the telly over before the weather came on, or never watched the news at all.
But as he said over lunch the day after the mother's 70th birthday dinner (which he and I cooked) last weekend: 'They all know exactly how every single mobile phone on the market works.'
What more do they need, after all.
Now the Brother teaches 'oop North' (the Midlands, actually) and things may be different there, but I doubt it. In fact he teaches in a school in a county that is the most 'English' county of all: there were no 'foreigners' in the class, nor any second generation immigrants: but that's Derbyshire for you.

What have we allowed society to become? What has happened to England that we can tolerate this.
Really, chain the little blighters to their desks, only releasing them for a compulsory daily six mile hike. Ban telly. Higher taxes and more spending on Education: if absolutely necessary tax the rich. I know that sounds like heresy, but standards matter: and sometimes the adherence to them costs money out of your pockets, you selfish fucking cunts.

No wonder some parents live on baked beans so they can send their children to reasonable schools full of other children who are prepared to learn.

Busy day Yesterday.
One of my best friends (Aaron) steps out with one of my cousins. (They met at my father's 80th birthday.)
The Cuz (Celine) despite being thirty-mumble had a medical condition that required a hip replacement. (As an aside she was an athlete and competed as part the national Junior team - one wonders if the strain of constant training through her teens contributed to this hip problem...But I digress.)

So Aaron, Steve A, and I all went-a-hospital-visiting.

After getting lost etc I found my way to the Cuz's room and I joined A & S in sitting and chatting. We also did the Guardian weekend quiz, all being trivia fanatics.
Celine is recovering well, but will be on crutches for some six weeks.

After leaving the hospital I had to call in on Nick's place to feed his cat in his absence. The Hospital is in Epsom. Nick's house is Wimbledon. Thereafter I hied to Aaron's (Tooting - and yes it's true: there is a district of London called Tooting) for supper with a couple of chums over from NY whom I hadn't seen in ten years.

Sylvie and Vid now have two kids. Vid's become a Merchant Banker. When last I saw them they ran/published an experimental art magazine called Sandbox. They've just bought a Brownstone in Brooklyn, which I don't think would have happened if they'd still been in publishing experimental art magazines, or in Academia.

Britain and America are going to have no Physicists left. Academic mathematicians and physicists who move to Banking can earn twenty times what they would if they remained in academia. Also, who'd want to teach Maths and Physics to schoolchildren, for a pittance, when they could put the knowledge to work for them in a more financially rewarding way. Which means the maths work done in banking and insurance is going to have to go to those able to do it....those educated in systems that pay for good maths and physics teachers. So, as the US and UK banking systems are taken over by French, Italians, Indians, and Chinese, don't be surprised if your job is outsourced to somewhere else. The truth is (in general) that US and UK folk aren't educated well enough to do the jobs that these disciplines need.

Both British and American academic maths and Physics are dependent on foriegn-educated people. We stopped producing our own when we could no longer afford to compete for good teachers in the open marketplace.

Teach kids maths for a pittance....nah, I'd rather make lots of money thank you, and avoid getting stabbed in the classroom.

Very soon, the Anglo Saxon cultures are going to be out-evolved by dogs, which was the premise behind the short story 'Null-P' by (I think) A E van Vogt. But that's alright really.
Idiocracy really is our natural form of government. I won't be sorry to see how our complacency will relegate us all to third class powers with fourth class policies voted for by the retarded detritus from our crappy education systems.
China and India are gonna whip our butts...but bad, dudes.

Unless we actually do something about our education systems we will end up standing in the corner with our dunce caps on. And doing something means investing. Which means taxes. And paying teachers a wage commensurate with their responsibility to the next generation.

Some hope.
Bring on the poodles.

The British micro-culture has been accused of being bloody minded. Of course we're bloody minded. We were the first Nation you can think of who voluntarily gave up an empire, (because in argument, it conflicted with our idea of justice). And actually, America pointed this out to us, and re-inforced the lesson with Suez. (The French, Potugeuse, Belgians, and Dutch, all dismantled their empires soon after.)
The US then became the west's leader against the 'communist menace' - paranoia on both sides but...You guys held on, with minor nastinesses in Central and South America and what had been French Indo-China. The Russians had Czechoslovakia and Hungary and Korea and Vietnam and Gulags and repression.
We all did what we had to do, as we saw it.
Soviet Russia fell when it did because of economics - the inability for a managed economy to compete with an economy undergoing constant evolution through the mutagenic pressure of market forces, if you'll excuse me for teasing you with a Dawkins like phrase.
To reverse Von Clauswitz's phrase, Economics is war by other means.
China
India
In order, the next great economic powers.
How are we doing so far? How do we hold what wealth we have?
How do we stop vaguely criminal merchant adventurers squandering what we've built up.
Britain bankrupted itself fighting WWI and II, then took forty years to reclaim a position on the economic league table, but one no longer of dominance. Conditions had changed and we no longer had a captive market, as our empire was gone.
The industries that built America are floundering, with the exception of the weapons industries and industries with goverment contracts. The new industries flourish, but with maths teaching in both the US and UK, the IT sector will become dominated by Chinese and Indian folk, who are (en masse) brighter than us anyway.
We should be more careful of our resources, or act to renew them. Perhaps even spend more money on education.

I used to be very left wing.
Even in my most radical days, the one point of variance I had with my fellow travellers was education. In England (not Britain as a whole) state schools are now judged to be amongst the worst in the developed world. However the 'Public' Schools (read private and very exclusive) of England are reckoned on, in the same piece of analysis, as being the best in the world. This has been obvious to anyone since the 'dissolution' of the Grammar Schools.
Traditionally, the cleverest schools in England have included:
Winchester; Westminster; St Paul's (both boys and girls); North London Collegiate; Cheltenham Ladies College etc.
This set intersects with but does not map perfectly upon the 'best schools', a list of which would include schools that are not as academically orientated.
Grammar Schools, until their abolition, gave the best chance of social mobility that England had seen since Agincourt (This day shall gentle your condition). From the postwar period until the 70's the Oxford and Cambridge intake consisted of more Grammar School pupils than alumni of the great (or even minor) Public Schools. There are still a few Grammar Schools left, but they are, as folk point out, selective. Selection is regarded as a bad thing. Yet the few good state schools in England are oversubscribed to such an extent that house prices in the catchment areas for such schools have in some cases a 30% premium. This is in the English housing market, which is madness anyway. This means that parents who can afford to live in the catchment areas of good schools will claim those places, which is a selection by income. Grammar Schools selected by ability, which to me seems fairer.
However, there aren't a lot of Grammar Schools in London.
Given all this I can understand anyone of any political hue sending their children to a 'Public' School, should they be able to afford it.
The equivalent sort of secondary education to the one I had (with a recognisable curriculum) now costs £25,000 pounds a year. There have been numerous years when I haven't earned that in total. I despaired of ever educating potential children, which is probably the reason I didn't have any.
If I had a disabled child or an educationally challenged child, of course, if I could afford it, I would attempt to give them the best possible education in the circumstances.
Now I must admit something. I don't like Ruth Kelly. I don't like what she stands for. I don't like her links with Opus Dei. I don't like the fact that she has acquiesced to, abetted, and been an apologist for, the war in Iraq (which in my eyes makes her a war criminal of a kind).
But I do like the fact she's doing the best for her son, and as she seems to need defending on this (and possibly only this) I find myself, surprised maybe, but nevertheless coming to her defense.
Or am I just showing prejudices typical of my caste and culture.

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Page generated May. 29th, 2025 03:08 pm

Oh damn, still in this dream.

Entries tagged with education

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