tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post114080065155373010..comments2024-03-28T05:13:13.921-04:00Comments on Books, Inq. — The Epilogue: We've considered the problems ...Frank Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-1141155805572367012006-02-28T14:43:00.000-05:002006-02-28T14:43:00.000-05:00Yes, state education in the UK is pretty much the ...Yes, state education in the UK is pretty much the same. I live in an area where there are a couple of grammar schools left, ie where you have to pass the "11 plus" to get in. But these schools are so popular that you have to score about 95 per cent to get a place. They are regarded as politically incorrect by the government, but they are very popular with parents.<BR/><BR/>Our government is busy introducing "specialist" secondary (age 11-18) schools -- languages, maths, IT, sports etc. But children with aptitude for these subjects can't apply to these schools. Each school applies its own critria (usually distance lived away). Isn't that crazy? <BR/><BR/>It is all like this, the better schools have teachers who are trying so hard against the odds, most particularly rotten "infrastructure" (old buildings, equipment etc). Plus a high proportion of thuggish, yobbish children who aren't interested in learning, but becuase you can't select on "ability", they pull down the average just because the teachers have to spend most of their time on behavioural issues.<BR/><BR/>Sorry if I sound like a reactionary old ranter. Just a concerned parent who wants an education, dammit, for the next generation. (fun yes, but not entirely!)Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-1141145356530414962006-02-28T11:49:00.000-05:002006-02-28T11:49:00.000-05:00Too bad, Maxine. I'd love to know what you think a...Too bad, Maxine. I'd love to know what you think about this, because education is so important and -- in this country at least -- has fallen prey to the soft-brained. Let's not make anything too hard for little Johnny or Janie. Learning should be fun, fun, fun, and nothing but fun. If it's not fun, it's out. What a way to prepare anybody for life.Frank Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-1140963684114077652006-02-26T09:21:00.000-05:002006-02-26T09:21:00.000-05:00That Dr Helen site is a cool site! I bet she stirs...That Dr Helen site is a cool site! I bet she stirs a few pots. I've added it to my rss reader, thanks for the pointer.<BR/><BR/>I won't get onto writing about the particular posting you have identifed, as this is a subject I can write about for shockingly long lengths, even for me ;-)Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-1140810775983603232006-02-24T14:52:00.000-05:002006-02-24T14:52:00.000-05:00I will ask when she returns from NYC. As I recall,...I will ask when she returns from NYC. As I recall, she enjoyed teaching the gifted kids, but also thought that segregating them from other students (as it were) had its disadvantages.Frank Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.com