No it wasn't, it was someone else who will remain nameless. I didn't realise you were a teacher - still, whilst I may not always agree with content, your posts are well thought out and articulate so it doesn't surprise me.That alleged teacher was probably me and the statement still stands.
BISHI, this country has many excellent teachers and nobody is suggesting they aren't doing a good job. Nor is anyone suggesting that politicians do have a "clue about how to teach children" - but what they do have is an awareness of what society at large wants as the output from the educational system. Politicians know that employers - and wider society - want people who can read, write, do basic maths, have an understanding about our country and the world, understand other cultures/religions etc etc. The current educational system is not delivering that hence why we have constant moving of the "goal posts".The education system is a bloody mess not because of teachers but because of constant goal post moving by politicians, politicians without the first clue about how to teach children . If you want your kids taught by ' unqualified ' youngsters or unemployed squaddies then more power to your and your kids elbow. Would you be happy on the front line with untrained soldiers ..?
who's opinion are you going to trust more..?
No, education is no longer about teaching children but about jumping through hoops to meet targets, generate data and get ahead in league tables - this is a situation brought about by successive government, students are being taught to pass tests and not to become citizens. It is a bloody mess but Gove is not the person to do it. Rosen is a respected educationalists and ex children's laureate, who's opinion are you going to trust more..?
In fact, it was Pats cat that had been run over and subsequently stuffed, I'd still not pick Gove, since a fictional stuffed dead animal has got to have more charisma and common sense than Gove, or most politicians to be brutally honest.
IronGiant said:Exactly: in teaching, like many other public sectors, the amount of time actually spent at the work face has been eroded by an obsession from above to generate increasing amounts of paperwork to prove the latest initiative is working.
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Those that have more enquiring minds will often get it batted out of them. The system does not have any flexibility. What modern education is doing to kids is to teach them not to think, to jump through hoops and be a good little member of the state.
One size doesn't fit all. If we really did allow children to learn and encourage proper free thinking it would change the country for good. Those in power don't want that to happen, so we will always get this sanitised, state approved system which tries to turn out clones like a factory.
Cliff said:Have you got Pink Floyd's "The Wall" playing in the background?
All that article does is ooze the typical arrogance of the educational establishment. The quote "an [educational] institution that is more than capable of making its own marks, if given the chance" betrays the belief that those in education should be "left alone" (a quote from an alleged teacher on these very forums) to determine the educational framework by which our children our educated.
Sorry but the educational system is in dire straits and lacks credibility with employers and needs real change. Gove has upset many in the education world by implementing such changes - but for that he deserves praise.
la gran siete said:As its is they dont even get consulted about all the changes that have been made
Squiffy said:Completely wrong.
teachers are best placed to decide how the system cam be improved for the better, after all they are in the front line.As its is they dont even get consulted about all the changes that have been made
We need more apprenticeship style qualifications. We are woefully short of carpenters,electricians and plumbers etc and this gap has been filled by eastern Europeans . What we have is a generation of school leavers going into further education , getting into debt and leaving with degrees that won't get many of them a job. They are now talking about 'raising the age of participation ' whereby young people will be required to be in education, regardless of ability, up to the age of 18. Those with special needs will be expected to stay in education up to 25. Now with cuts in social care left right and centre and college places in decline I suspect schools will be expected to absorb these changes without any appropriate levels of funding. I can see that this may be a good thing if appropriate funds are put in ( most FE colleges I have seen were little more than youth clubs keeping kids off the streets) but it will take significant money and reorganisation to facilitate this and I suspect this is more about cooking unemployment figures than giving our young people a real chance in the workplace . And you watch, just as us teachers get things in place the bloody goal posts will move yet again...!
I never mentioned construction - I particularly specified electricians and plumbers, jobs filled in recent years by poles and other eastern Europeans. I just hope if you can afford to send your kids to college that they can find a job relevant to their qualification. I know degree qualified people working as waiters and kitchen porters.. !
neilios said:What do you think plumbing and electrical work is if its not construction!
Upto a 1000 people are applying for one gas service post,there is very little work for the currently qualified skilled tradesmen out there.....
There never was a shortage it was a myth....
BISHI said:Apparently it was not a myth, however a deluge of quick qualifications appears to have more than filled the gap with many under qualified people.
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/there-isnt-a-shortage-of-plumbers-say-aphcl-156783355.html
A familiar sounding story..!