Thracian Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I know the way we teach maths now is very different but in some ways easier - when you understand it (I am biased, as I am the maths co-ordinator!). And I didn't mean parents like that but lots of the parents of the kids I teach don't talk to them, take them out places, make links between what they learn at school and the real world.The lack of general knowledge from children nowadays is quite poor, I feel. Which comes from the home as well as particular facts from school. I don't think teachers are above looking a bit ignorant, at least in television quiz shows, when it comes to general knowledge. Questions I can remember them getting wrong included, "Where in England would you find the Mendip Hills" and "By what other description is the Pennine Chain known?" Spelling and mental arithmetic were other notable weak spots.
Webbo Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I know the way we teach maths now is very different but in some ways easier - when you understand it (I am biased, as I am the maths co-ordinator!). I was always good at maths so maybe I'm biased too, but the original way of doing maths wasn't that hard.The low expectations of kids by the education authorities that makes them invent these convoluted methods is part of the problem rather than the solution.
StroudFox Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I don't think teachers are above looking a bit ignorant, at least in television quiz shows, when it comes to general knowledge.Questions I can remember them getting wrong included, "Where in England would you find the Mendip Hills" and "By what other description is the Pennine Chain known?" Spelling and mental arithmetic were other notable weak spots. Maybe some, just like in any walk of life. However my point was about blaming children's lack of knowledge solely on teachers when parents can educate a lot in a different way.
Alexikokopops Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 not as many discounts as RBS my friend! We don't however get 40% of trains or 25% off flights. Bastard. Did you follow the link in my post? I get a lot more than just that Including, bizarrely, 10% off at Subway, but in London only. I'm intrigued by the "preferential prices" I get at Toyota dealerships on new models.
StroudFox Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I was always good at maths so maybe I'm biased too, but the original way of doing maths wasn't that hard.The low expectations of kids by the education authorities that makes them invent these convoluted methods is part of the problem rather than the solution. It wasn't that hard but what was being found out was that children didn't understand why they did it. Poor knowledge of place value. Trust me, the expectations of children in primary schools now are higher than when I was in Primary school in the 80s. And therein lies the problem, I feel, children are not allowed to be children and have an awful lot of pressures at school. There are lots of things wrong with the education system, I am not solely defending it.
AoWW Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 Very true Stroud.My quoted post was merely to get AoWW to bite, but she disappointed me. ...laaaaaaaaid back, laaaaaaaaid back, laaaaaaaaid back, I'll give you laid back...
coale39 Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I used to be involved in recruiting for engineering apprenticeships where the qualifications required were 5 GCSEs Grade C minimum including Maths, English and a Science subject.What amazed me was the disparity in skill levels from people with the same qualifications particularly Maths Grade C. They had to do a fairly stringent test judging by some of the comments on here including calculating areas, volumes, percentages relating to engineering type problems etc. Now some of those interviewed couldn't perform some the simplest questions, they were encouraged to show their working out notes and some were good enough to eventually go on and achieved ONC/HNC and eventually a degree in Engineering and yet they'd all achieved the same basic GCSE Maths qualification My school was so shit. I learned no maths at all in year 11, we just made this 'penny' game and amused ourselfs with that for the whole year. Thank god I got a C. Honestly, the bloke teaching us it would write something on the board, say copy it into your books, sat down and read a book for a few min then rubbed it off! Most of my notes in my Yr 11 book made no sense! Then there was my Science teacher who could speak english (just!). Her teaching style was so bad it was ridiculas..There would be big paper airoplane wars going on and she would ignore it. Both of them were sacked after I left. Oh and dont get me started on 'PAL' (Preparation for adult life). Honestly, we watched The Office (first series) over and over again for the whole year. How the bloke became a teacher...... Hope Longslade better now then 6 or so years ago.
Simi Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 My school was so shit. I learned no maths at all in year 11, we just made this 'penny' game and amused ourselfs with that for the whole year. Thank god I got a C. Honestly, the bloke teaching us it would write something on the board, say copy it into your books, sat down and read a book for a few min then rubbed it off! Most of my notes in my Yr 11 book made no sense! Then there was my Science teacher who could speak english (just!). Her teaching style was so bad it was ridiculas..There would be big paper airoplane wars going on and she would ignore it. Both of them were sacked after I left. Oh and dont get me started on 'PAL' (Preparation for adult life). Honestly, we watched The Office (first series) over and over again for the whole year. How the bloke became a teacher...... Hope Longslade better now then 6 or so years ago. English teacher wasn't up to much either I take it?
coale39 Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 English teacher wasn't up to much either I take it? Yeah he smelled and didnt care because he was retiring. How i'm in my final year at Uni now god knows.
Daggers Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 I was always good at maths so maybe I'm biased too, but the original way of doing maths wasn't that hard.The low expectations of kids by the education authorities that makes them invent these convoluted methods is part of the problem rather than the solution. It's all about process - giving the children a range of techniques for problem solving so that they can apply the method they find the easiest. Maths is harder for the parents, not the kids, and good schools are inviting parents in to show them how numeracy is now taught and (more importantly) why it has moved to this format. Our kids school has annual sessions for numeracy, English and classes on how to improve reading (and a number of others) for each year group...it bites into our time but it is very useful. Homework for our two is a mix of learning times tables, online activities and game packs that get sent home to play with us - and they love it. No shite book, no reams of sums. I wasn't convinced by the National Numeracy Strategy when it was first introduced but it has evolved into something useful - the advances are beneficial to children as a whole rather than just the high achieving numerate ones. Tis good.
StroudFox Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 It's all about process - giving the children a range of techniques for problem solving so that they can apply the method they find the easiest.Maths is harder for the parents, not the kids, and good schools are inviting parents in to show them how numeracy is now taught and (more importantly) why it has moved to this format. Our kids school has annual sessions for numeracy, English and classes on how to improve reading (and a number of others) for each year group...it bites into our time but it is very useful. Homework for our two is a mix of learning times tables, online activities and game packs that get sent home to play with us - and they love it. No shite book, no reams of sums. I wasn't convinced by the National Numeracy Strategy when it was first introduced but it has evolved into something useful - the advances are beneficial to children as a whole rather than just the high achieving numerate ones. Tis good. You answered better than me!!
Guest Posted 16 April 2008 Posted 16 April 2008 Draw a Pivot table then, that'll really impress them. It amuses me how people can find pivot tables so awe inspiring. Show them a pivot table, and they fall at your feet and tell you how you must be a genius. The reality is so different. Prostitution. But does that come under crime? Prostitution is not a crime; soliciting is. My school was so shit....Hope Longslade better now then 6 or so years ago. How did I know you were going to say Longslade?
Trav Le Bleu Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 ...laaaaaaaaid back, laaaaaaaaid back, laaaaaaaaid back, I'll give you laid back... If I remember recent posts correctly, you're on a lot of painkillers right now aren't you?
Trav Le Bleu Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 I nearly ended up working for the RBS group. I DID work for the RBS group, but left, having written a long letter to the boss complaining about their business ethics and having decided that I just couldn't be part of it any more. All banks are evil!
Bellend Sebastian Posted 17 April 2008 Author Posted 17 April 2008 My school was so shit. Hope Longslade better now then 6 or so years ago. I went there, but it was a long time ago. I thought it was alright. The quality of the education you received did depend on the number of disruptive idiots you had in your class, and I was pretty fortunate in that regard. My fondest memory of my time there is making a 'Man with the Stick' helmet in Design, which was commandeered by a lad from the year above who put in on and wandered round the school in it peering into classrooms. I was so proud
AoWW Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 If I remember recent posts correctly, you're on a lot of painkillers right now aren't you? Yep - wash 'em down with Jim Beam and coke they're bloody amazing!
The People's Hero Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 I DID work for the RBS group, but left, having written a long letter to the boss complaining about their business ethics and having decided that I just couldn't be part of it any more.All banks are evil! They decided that despite discussing salary, position etc and taking it through three interviews with an understanding that a job offer would be made at around 30k for the position I wanted, when the formal offer came it was at 22k for a much lower position. It's was brinksmanship as they had tried to get me to hand in my notice on the basis that this higher offer would be forthcoming. Obviously I'm not an idiot so I didn't. They still call me now through their alloted agent, but I've told them to call me direct or not at all now. Bunch of tos sers. On the plus side, I have some lovely NIG corporate folders/business card holders/pens and sh it like that. It's also a rare thing when you go to an interview and know more about the company than the people who are supposedly interviewing you - but that's exactly what it was. If you have an insurance policy with NIG - I encourage you, go ahead - make a claim!
Guest Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 I went there, but it was a long time ago. I thought it was alright. The quality of the education you received did depend on the number of disruptive idiots you had in your class, and I was pretty fortunate in that regard. By long time ago, how long exactly is a long time ago? Are we talking late 80's/early 90's? Is there a possibility we might have shared classes at some point? Isn't this dangerous, or something?
Bellend Sebastian Posted 17 April 2008 Author Posted 17 April 2008 By long time ago, how long exactly is a long time ago? Are we talking late 80's/early 90's? Is there a possibility we might have shared classes at some point? Isn't this dangerous, or something? 1989 to 1993 I think it's very dangerous indeed
Guest Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 1989 to 1993I think it's very dangerous indeed Close but no cigar - I was there '88 - '92. This puts me in the year above you, and therefore able to throw you out of the dinner queue.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 17 April 2008 Author Posted 17 April 2008 Close but no cigar - I was there '88 - '92. This puts me in the year above you, and therefore able to throw you out of the dinner queue. I took sandwiches, HAH. I had quite a few mates in the year above, but all blokes so I'm afraid so I'm unlikely to know who you are. Are you a Birstallian?
Guest Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 I took sandwiches, HAH.I had quite a few mates in the year above, but all blokes so I'm afraid so I'm unlikely to know who you are. Are you a Birstallian? Yes, and for a short while I hung around some of the lads in the year below. Oh my! Perhaps you went to Highcliffe. Then this amazing chain of coincidence will be broken.
James. Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 Yes, and for a short while I hung around some of the lads in the year below. Oh my! Perhaps you went to Highcliffe. Then this amazing chain of coincidence will be broken. Prepare yourself. I went to Highcliffe AND Longslade (with a bit of Stonehill in between). Ah hold on it sounds like you didn't actually go to Highcliffe. Damn it!
Guest Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 Prepare yourself.I went to Highcliffe AND Longslade (with a bit of Stonehill in between). Ah hold on it sounds like you didn't actually go to Highcliffe. Damn it! No, I went to Riverside. When were you at the 'Slade? You must be younger than I.
James. Posted 17 April 2008 Posted 17 April 2008 No, I went to Riverside. When were you at the 'Slade? You must be younger than I. Riverside scum! I'm 25. My Longslade years began in, let me see... 1996. I left after A-Levels in 2000.
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