Realistic variables, if you'll pardon the expression, are the answer! Proper performance management of teachers and schools but without the competetive bits. Schools, pupils and districts have very different challenges and it is grossly unfair and more importantly unhelpful to make comparisons. A more robust approach to performance of individual teachers, though, is long overdue.
As for the Government, it is way too easy to criticise and overlook achievements. Governments will by default fail, this one will, and the next one too. The litmus test will be the degree of achievement, the proper outcomes.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
DTI & Bern
Well put
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sorry but it went well over my bonce full stop.
Howard, I think it is all about standards in education at the end of the day. Some would have you believe we, the UK, have a successful education system. Compared to some third world countries, we do.
One of the problems we face is what can only be described as the dumbing down of the university system, where mostly irrelevant subjects like media studies now fill the curriculum. Furthermore, the standards of subjcts (English, History, Geography) taught in the secondary schools is surprisingly poor. As an employer I have seen the paucity of grammar skills from candidates applying for junior and senior roles. Candidates asked general knowledge questions relevant to the post don't appear to have even a basic grasp of modern history or geography.
Before politicians began meddling with the state system there was much learning by rote, discipline and emphasis on the 3R's. The comprehensive system changed all this and now has a worse record on these than the traditional Secondary Schools of our day where numbskulls not fit for society, like me, were sent.
It just seems to me that since the 1960's, education has been on a long but relentless downward spiral, not helped by politicians interfering for social engineering reasons, rather than educational ones.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Well put Sid.
Let's hope we get a more pragmatic and sensible approach.
Roger
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
There are no comprehensive schools in Dover, and very few in Kent.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
'Don't tell Alexander'! What's that supposed to mean?
I to am an Alan Johnson fan age would not be a problem he is someone the public would have trusted . Barry as usual i disagree with you , the blues could not get a majority at the last election , what makes you think they will next time labour will be rejuvinated with a younger leader .
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Nah! Next time, the UKIP will do very well! Labour played the ball, lost dismally, and won't get another chance! Now the Tories and Libs are playing the ball, and if they lead us into further catastrophe, then they too have had their chance. Please don't think that if they prove they haven'y got a clue, that Labour will get in again.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
post 28 sums it up for me, once the policies begin to hurt people, they will look to the new energised reds.
the yellows will be wiped out.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Howard, in full respect of your views, yet didn't Labour already become New Labour 13 years ago, and then dismally fail as time went by, from year to year? How can they convince people now that they can become new, when they've already tried that number out, with disastrous results?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
short memories, the blues must do the horrid things which hurt people, the reds will look like knights on white horses in five yers time.
don't forget the previously yellow voters going to the reds.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Howard, you assume that until five years time there will be no change of gov.!
Not many people assume this!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Well yes but...although Coalitions dont have a good past record I think the chemistry between the two new leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg could see them lasting longer than was initially thought. A good strong bond between these two guys could produce a different scenario ie a government that might be a tad more stable than initially expected. The two have also taken steps to ensure as much longevity as possible by setting various criteria such as fixed term parliament and so on.
I also hear today that they have also taken steps to nullify the impact the 1922 committee will have on further stability. This group of Tory backbenchers have been known to throw the proverbial spanner in the government machine on a number of occasions in the past. Heavens Radio4 even wheeled out oul Bill Cash today in an effort to show a dissenting voice.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Face facts you Labour voters, your party is headed for oblivion....
The degree of mismanagment and incompetence shown over the last 13 years is staggering and is such that Labour will die as a major political force. The best it might hope for is to grab back some semblence of power by linking up with the LibDems when the present coalition collapses, as it will one day though I suspect not for a few years. Even then the LDs and Labour between them will have to beat the Conservatives in a general election and, despite the difficult decisions that will need to be taken, is by no means a foregone conclusion. People can see how it is a two/three term job to clear up the mess and after that (and one/two terms of Conservative majority government) the LDs will have replaced Labour as the main opposition.
Unregistered User
"The best it might hope for is to grab back some semblence of power by linking up with the LibDems " rather like happened earlier this month!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
It might just be that people want a new name, and Ed Balls might just be the one!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i think you are whistling in the dark barry, if your party cannot get a majority against a deeply unpopular and worn out government, after throwing shed loads of money into the campaign, they will never gain full power.
i hope the present set up succeeds for the stability of the country, but have little doubt that when the next election is called the voters that have previously backed the yellows will return to the red fold.
incidentally, why is david trying to stifle the influence of the 1922 committee?
looks to me and others that he wants to ride roughshod over the elected members just as nick is with his contingent.
Nothing more than TB did with the Labour Party and clause 14 or whatever it was. DC recognises the 1992 committee might just be "off message" with the electorate and therefore heading them off at the pass (jeez, I hate that phrase!).
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
barryw,thats a rather bigoted view on a valued oppistion.
