The Coalition

[Uncle Liam]

You're on the wind up mate, and I can't be arsed.

[Alcatraz]

So was Ken Livingston but he fought those at the top and won!

[Pogues Mcgogues]

I'm not. I just know more than you.

[Alcatraz]

He stood as an independent and was thrown out the party. Won and proved those at the top wrong. Fought them and won!

[Pogues Mcgogues]

An example which supports my idea of leaving the party don't you think?

[llcoolphil]

I'm sure you've said before to me you didn't get involved in the last few elections and I can't think of a single bit of activism you've mentioned on here, in anything, apart from "I used to do a lot when I was in Labour".

[llcoolphil]

education reform from nursery to higher and further education furthering involvement from all class

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Not mentioning it on here and not being involved aren't the same thing.

[oafc0000]

I think Labours record on education has been great over the past 13 years.... Specially when compared to the 13 years before it...

[llcoolphil]

Well I'm calling your bluff!

[Pogues Mcgogues]

You clearly dont understand what the phrase means. I could call your bluff by telling you what Im involved in but you cant call my bluff in this situation. Teaching english was it?

Edited August 8, 2010 by TheJobbyJabber

[llcoolphil]

It couldn't of

[Mahdnyw]

Pogo has clearly been jabbing his own jobbies......a little too much perhaps, they're starting to come out of his mouth

[oafc0000]

What would either of you claim were the specific improvements in education made during the last 13 years?

[oafc0000]

I find it really upsetting the scalpel coolphils backed coalition is taking to the education system... Free school, no fixing falling down schools, cutting back on healthy foods, scrapping of monitoring of schools... Its a f**king joke... Anyone who felt Labour were doing a shit job is going to have a f**king wake up call once the fruits of the current lot are realised....

Edited August 8, 2010 by oafc0000

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Have not of. Give up this silly idea you have now.

[oafc0000]

You cannot suggest that in the area of school buildings, Labour have been remarkable. The ammount of investement from nursery and onwards has been fantastic, with Brown widening the places of nurseries so every child of age can go. Reform of the old ways and the leaderships of the new schools, with introductions of inovative programmes such as individual teaching and better forms of testing, with options of work experience over subjects for those not academicaly capable but exceed in other areas. The fact that anyone who wants to can go to university or college, there's no barriers anymore!

In fact, one of your fallen ConDem hero's David Law stated "Sixty per cent of pupils on free school meals in some of the poorest areas now gain five GCSEs A-C, a massive rise from 13 years ago" when talking about Labour.

Edited August 8, 2010 by oafc0000

[Uncle Liam]

I find it really upsetting the scalpel coolphils backed coalition is taking to the education system... Free school, no fixing falling down schools, cutting back on healthy foods, scrapping of monitoring of schools... Its a f**king joke... Anyone who felt Labour were doing a shit job is going to have a f**king wake up call once the fruits of the current lot are realised....

[oafc0000]

You see, this is the point. Just because one side is bad, doesnt mean the other side is good.

If education is good, why, in the four places have I taught, had A-Level classes with students who have passed most or all there GCSE's, unable to write a coherent essay?

Edited August 8, 2010 by oafc0000

[Uncle Liam]

Well, that changed...

Anyway, why would I be talking bollocks or highlighting a minority of students? Presumably, you are calling me a liar to suit your own argument.

Ultimately, Labour saught to justify their massive investment in education by allowing exams to easier both in terms of the content and when they were structured at all levels. GCSE's are not in any way rigorous. In fact, most of it is just common sense, barely an extension from what is taught at Key Stage 3. Same with A-Levels (and I have experience of teaching three subjects at A-Level, and I'm currently acting Head of Department of two subjects). They are not academically rigorous, certainly not at AS Level.

This waypoints and stats that the government puts out are really quite meaningless. Ok, so a kid can read and write. Can they read and write effectively? Can they spell, punctuate etc properly? Can they structure a coherent argument? And, because of our dumbed down education system, the answer a lot of the time, is "No."

The government can also say "oh we've got more students in Further and Higher Education than ever before." Did they ever stop to think whether it was suitable for these students to continue? No, higher numbers = success even when its not in the pupils, the teachers or the institutions best interest. I can think of six students who I taught this last academic year who simply were not A-Level material. Two of them told me that they didnt want to carry on but were pressurised by parents. I think two of them passed, with E grades in January. Ultimately, who gained from that?

Edited August 8, 2010 by Uncle Liam

[oafc0000]

Thank you for telling me I'm not capable of making decisions.

Just out of interest, where does this start and stop?

[oafc0000]

Well, that changed...

[Mahdnyw]

Are you not the guy that believes in the NWO?

Edited August 8, 2010 by Mahdnyw

[oafc0000]

Total disconnect between the head and the arse....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10906132

Its going to be a scary couple of years...

[Alcatraz]

This thread is best summed up by this picture