davieG Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 The first in a series of open political debates. Every wanted to run the country - here's your chance to say all you want about Education, Education, Education. To get you going: Is there anything wrong with our education system? What's wrong with our education system and what would you do to resolve any issues? Is our education system at the mercy of too much party political interference? Should University Education be fully tax funded? Running schools on a 'business basis' - a good or bad idea? The process of measuring and benchmarking schools - is it counter productive does it stifle creativity for example? Are these even the correct questions to ask? (please excuse any grammatical errors, I only went to a secondary modern school and failed my GCE English Language exam. )
Matt Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 Yes. Is there anything wrong with our education system? - Yes, One prime example which held me back and I could be a couple of year further in my career already if the education system helped me out, At my school there was a system that if you were one of the "bad kids" they didn't want you at school so they sent you to college 3 days a week where you did Carpentry/Joiner, Car Mechanics, Electrics, Plumbing...Worthwhile subject, I wasn't an academic kid, but I wasn't one of the "bad kids" so I had to plod on through school, hating it, and being always knowing what I wanted to do when I left school yet being almost punished for it, Is that any example to set? "If you wanna fook school off and go college 3 days a week, just be bad" What's wrong with our education system and what would you do to resolve any issues? - The above would be a start, There are obviously alot of other problems which other people will no doubt bring up and discuss. Should University Education be fully tax funded? - No, They should get and have help but at the end of the day it's people choice to go uni, and people know how expensive it is, There are plenty of people who go to uni, don't have a clue what they want to do as a career, do the course and go back and do another course (I know someone who is on there 3rd time at uni now, All 3 times have been for something totally different - They're 26 and still haven't started their working life), Personally if you want to know what you want to as a career and need uni for it fair enough, but I just don't see the fun of getting into all that debt when you know you're not going to want to do the subject as a career - Maybe i'm missing something Running schools on a 'business basis' - a good or bad idea? - Bad, Again when I was a school they kept me there because I was a "good kid" but because I needed the extra time, and extra help they really didn't give a fook with me and I got the feeling they thought kids like me were a lost cause so they focused on the brighter kids just so they got really good results, while they left people like me alone.
stez Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 Is there anything wrong with our education system? too many targets, targets are good, in a way, but i'd prefer a kid to be able to think a bit about stuff not just copy parrot fashion exam-style answers, but i guess parents have been told they need league tables What's wrong with our education system and what would you do to resolve any issues? educate children as per their ability not (so much) their age, i'm still a bit (academically) dim and i matured a lot later than some of my class mates. i also matured a lot sooner than other class mates! Is our education system at the mercy of too much party political interference? yes, but it's going to be, as that's where the money comes from and it's in the oppositions' interests to say how badly things are and how they would change it for the better Should University Education be fully tax funded? in the main, yes, coronation street studies and that, no. Running schools on a 'business basis' - a good or bad idea? bad, there shouldn't be a profit motive. the teachers would just moan about money more too The process of measuring and benchmarking schools - is it counter productive does it stifle creativity for example? yes, see above. Are these even the correct questions to ask? i'm sure it'll raise more questions bare in mind i left school 20 years ago, and the only experience i have these days is people moaning on the wireless and my nipper's primary school
Bellend Sebastian Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 The only skill a lot of graduates seem to come out of university with is spending other people's money. That's more of a habit than a skill, come to think of it
AoWW Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 I'd like the opportunity to spend other people's money. I'm sure I'd be ace at it.
Guest Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 My tuppence worth: Get rid of targets. Education is more than exam results. Most people are of average intelligence, so it follows that most people should have average exam results. And by that, I mean those in the middle of the grading system. Trying to get everyone to the highest level will not work, and it doesn't help those in the next stages, be it further/higher education or work, distinguish between the good, the best and the very best. Whilst on the subject of exam results, keep grading simple. A to E is all that is needed, with an F for fail. No A stars, no near misses. Variety - some kids are not academic, and schools, certainly at the 14+ stage, should offer more practical or vocational studies.
acooling08 Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 Well I can honestly say as a 16 y/o kid who's just started A-Levels that there is just not enough discipline at GCSE level. Sometimes the teacher would stand there for 5 minutes wauting for quiet and half the class just ignored him and kept on talking. There is only respect for the headmaster and occasionally the head of year. Not to mention the blatant sex bias towards girls at GCSE...
breadandcheese Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 My main gripe with the education system is there's too much ideology, with decision making based on this. There seems to be far too much policy based on a focus of equality or social engineering, which to me, a taxpayer, seems to take precedence as the overriding goal, ahead of teaching.
Guest Bilo Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 My tuppence worth:Get rid of targets. Education is more than exam results. Most people are of average intelligence, so it follows that most people should have average exam results. And by that, I mean those in the middle of the grading system. Trying to get everyone to the highest level will not work, and it doesn't help those in the next stages, be it further/higher education or work, distinguish between the good, the best and the very best. Whilst on the subject of exam results, keep grading simple. A to E is all that is needed, with an F for fail. No A stars, no near misses. Variety - some kids are not academic, and schools, certainly at the 14+ stage, should offer more practical or vocational studies. This is probably the most sensible post on the thread and the one that most closely matches my own views. Without wanting to sound all Daily Maily, the culture of prizes for all that has seeped into the education system doesn't help anyone. A student passing their GCSEs with numerous A* grades and their A Levels with similar success is far more common than it was 10 years ago, and it could be argued that such an achievement has been cheapened as a result. It's true that some kids are academic and some aren't. A pupil who is not academic should be not told or allowed to think that they are, but given greater opportunity to undertake vocational training post 16. On the subject of which, I do believe in the school leaving age being raised to 18 with vocational training for those who aren't academic and A Levels and Baccalaureat education for those who are.
Matt Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 Also a little something I disagree with when I was at school (Not sure if it's changed now, always seemed to change every year when I was at school but I was one of the unlucky ones who only got gave a week) but Work Experience needs to be longer, As I said when I did it I was given a week...What can you learn about working life, your future careers in a week? The most i've known it as is 2 weeks but I still feel that is too short really, bit of a joke tbh, again that links in with academic and practical people, I loved work experience as I was out there doing stuff, doing something I wanted to do, went back to school - Rubbish.
Zingari Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 don't let them leave school until they can make the number 29 using all of the numbers below? 1, 2, 7, 9.
Salieri Posted 27 September 2009 Posted 27 September 2009 don't let them leave school until they can make the number 29 using all of the numbers below?1, 2, 7, 9. :laugh:
Tommy G Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 make it harder for people to become teachers. Then you might get some better ones
hairy Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 make it harder for people to become teachers.Then you might get some better ones Brilliant! Tommy G for PM! How about making the job more attractive to the more able members of society by paying more
Tommy G Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 Brilliant! Tommy G for PM! How about making the job more attractive to the more able members of society by paying more You already get paid enough. You're looking at 30k a year for teachers. Who work 9-3 with breaks. Then have holidays which are 10 + weeks a year. But you do have to work with little brats so someone tell me it's all worth it and ''fair''
AoWW Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 You already get paid enough. You're looking at 30k a year for teachers. Who work 9-3 with breaks. Then have holidays which are 10 + weeks a year.But you do have to work with little brats so someone tell me it's all worth it and ''fair'' You really are astonishingly clueless.
Sir Fynwy Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 You really are astonishingly clueless. He might be clueless but teaching is an easy life, grabs tin hat and runs.
AoWW Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 He might be clueless but teaching is an easy life, grabs tin hat and runs. Haha, you'll need more than a tin hat, me thinks.
Head Honcho Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 Is there anything wrong with our education system? Nothing spectactularly wrong but selling off playing fields to fund new schools is just bloody ridiculous! (use lottery money) What's wrong with our education system and what would you do to resolve any issues? If the C of E, Roman Catholics and Muslims want to run schools then they should be self funded. Is our education system at the mercy of too much party political interference? Yes Should University Education be fully tax funded? Nothing much wrong with the present system although I do feel that the better your grades the cheaper it should be for you to go to University. Running schools on a 'business basis' - a good or bad idea? Good idea but then again if a teacher wanted to run a business they'd do so. The process of measuring and benchmarking schools - is it counter productive does it stifle creativity for example? Bring back something along the lines of the 11+ and let the top 10-20% of pupils go to a top school and the rest can do as they do now. I'm not saying that the pupils who fail at 11+ level shouldn't be allowed to ever go to a top school if they show promise in the first couple of terms or even years then they should have the chance to change schools. Too much money is spent on pupils who are academically challenged. Use the money on more vocational studies. Are these even the correct questions to ask? Pass
Tommy G Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 You really are astonishingly clueless. So are you disagreeing with the 30k a year bit or the 9-3 teaching hours?When I was at school 3 years ago we were taught from 9-3 but maybe it's changed?
davieG Posted 28 September 2009 Author Posted 28 September 2009 So are you disagreeing with the 30k a year bit or the 9-3 teaching hours?When I was at scholl 3 years ago we were taught from 9-3 but maybe it's changed? I bet you learnt a lot about shoes though
Jon the Hat Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 Kids whose parents value education will continue to do better in general than kids whose parents don't care. Not all kids can achieve the best grades. Teachers can teach, managers can manage, but few can do both. Kids who start school with no discipline, manners or ability to pay attention need to learn these skills first. Grade compression holds back the high achievers. If you want to learn about religion go to church / mosque or equivalent. Free uniforms, free food, free transport, free computers, free digital books. No benefits for parents whose kids miss school. No more league tables. Freedom to pay good teachers and those in difficult jobs more, and to fire bad teachers. Stronger elected board of governors.
Head Honcho Posted 28 September 2009 Posted 28 September 2009 Kids whose parents value education will continue to do better in general than kids whose parents don't care.Not all kids can achieve the best grades. Teachers can teach, managers can manage, but few can do both. Kids who start school with no discipline, manners or ability to pay attention need to learn these skills first. Grade compression holds back the high achievers. If you want to learn about religion go to church / mosque or equivalent. Free uniforms, free food, free transport, free computers, free digital books. No benefits for parents whose kids miss school. No more league tables. Freedom to pay good teachers and those in difficult jobs more, and to fire bad teachers. Stronger elected board of governors. Blimey I'm going for a lie down. I agree with all of that Never thought me and Jon the Hat would agree on anything
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.