Educational reform

[Steve Smith]

My experience is that people communicating in a language other than their native language are happy to acknowledge mistakes and be corrected.

That is my experience too. I have a few friends with English as a second language and one for whom English is her third language. She is German but has moved to England to work as a doctor. She specifically asked us to let her know when she said something wrong so she can learn the correct way rather than continue making mistakes.

It was more than a few years ago that I was in education but I don't remember hexadecimal before "O" level, although binary was taught (IIRC) before I went on to secondary school

I could do simple arithmatic with binary and Roman numerals when I was at primary school - taught by my mother though, not the school. She also taught me to read and write before I started school. Unfortunately, she only traught me capital letters! Still, it was a head start over the others!


Steve.

 

[Cobra]

- taught by my mother though, not the school. She also taught me to read and write before I started school. Unfortunately, she only traught me capital letters! Still, it was a head start over the others! Steve.

And thats a very good point too, in praise of Mothers.

Parents don't seem to do that these days, through time constraints, or other reasons,
but my mum did that same, helped me to learn to read & write, and as per earlier,
"made me" recite the alphabet and times tables.
I / we did the same with our two as well.

And of course there seems to be a modern attitude that
we pay for schools to educate our kids, I don't see why we should do it

 

[dejongj]

And thats a very good point too, in praise of Mothers.

Parents don't seem to do that these days, through time constraints, or other reasons,
but my mum did that same, helped me to learn to read & write, and as per earlier,
"made me" recite the alphabet and times tables.
I / we did the same with our two as well.

And of course there seems to be a modern attitude that
we pay for schools to educate our kids, I don't see why we should do it

Amazon sells the KS question/answer papers for English, maths science etc. We often practise those additional questions. Not from a perspective to go ahead of the curriculum but to go over old ground again and refresh those basics. I'm a firm supporter of ensuring that the basics have good grounding as once you understand the methods you can replicate it with anything.

But yes, still today reading and writing and maths is a daily routine, just as it was before school. Personally I do not buy this lack of time in the main. Yes sure it means that often we don't sit down until late o'clock ourselves after revising, home work, dinner, bath/shower, bed time stories, Polish shoes, make packed lunches, walk the dog etc. but hey, isn't that part of bringing up children? We can relax when we die.

 

[Cobra]

but hey, isn't that part of bringing up children? We can relax when we die.

Absolutely

Serious question, do you think that the "other" Europeans
have a better attitude / ethic to educating their offspring in the home,
than the Brits?

 

[MWHCVT]

I woz dragged up proppa by me rents....I was also a bit of an odd child, some would say I still am but I loved nothing more as a child that watching the old OU documentaries as a child

 

[cambsno]

Problem is this is too political. Mention league tables and opt out schools and the left/unions generally slate it automatically but go down the opposite and the right slate it.

Education is so important it should be more of a cross party thing and actually immune from petty squabbles. Have an open mind. Things like new qualifications or free schools have positives as well as negatives too. But each political party will only look at the one the think they should believe in.

We need to be radical. Basic manners should be part of the process, see tougher rules on attitude and behaviour. But also empower students on some learning. Make stuff in later years more relevant to the workplace. More taught about business.

My idea, scrap French. Not relevant. Get kids speaking mandarin or Urdu or Spanish etc. far more useful in business of the future.

 

[dejongj]

Absolutely

Serious question, do you think that the "other" Europeans
have a better attitude / ethic to educating their offspring in the home,
than the Brits?

I don't think so. Most people that we know are from the UK and they are no different really. However the demographic could vary greatly between schools. At the catholic voluntary aided schools it is mainly the Irish travellers that seem to be behind and not get the home support in our experience.

But due to placing issues with the local education authority our youngest had a period of less than a year where she had to go to a standard school, and the problem was far more widespread. Then again there was also a lot of foul language used by parents whilst waiting to collect the children. I still don't think it was that widespread, it was more that they were so loud it was more visible. Plenty of very decent parents who are all trying to do the best for their children.

So no, based around the experience we've had with five schools in our area I don't think the UK is any worse in reality. It is just that in the press we love to focus on the bad apples.

Perhaps other parents and governors can give their impression as well.

 

[Cobra]

Then again there was also a lot of foul language used by parents whilst waiting to collect the children.

Actually that was quite prevalent when mine were younger, too.
And not only the parents, but of course the kids hear that kind of language at home and
think nothing of repeating it

And that was around 20 years ago now.

 

[dejongj]

Exactly and children go through phases. Our youngest keeps on saying "what". I drives me mad, however we keep on calmly explaining to her that it is not correct, and why it isn't and which alternatively could be employed. You know like omg or like shut up

 

[viv1969]

You know like omg or like shut up

I swear my hand itches when I hear those words (in any combination), liberally inserted into any given sentence.

 

[dejongj]

I swear my hand itches when I hear those words (in any combination), liberally inserted into any given sentence.

Trust me, so do mine. And sometimes, especially when they get it wrong, it is so hard not to laugh. That is where I do think it is easier when two parents are around such that one can take over with a straight face or remain calm.

It is hard work, however also very rewarding.

 

[POAH]

While watching the news the other day, Nicky Morgan (Education Secretary)
was saying that children should know there 12 x table, by the age of 11.
"We" had all that drummed into "us" by the age of 7 or 8.

But actually, was it worth it?
At the time, I would say most definitely, but with all the calculators on phones etc
do children actually need that information]

you are kidding right. there is a huge amount of university students that can't do simple maths in their heads and pull out a phone/calculator. it's laziness that trades off into other aspects of life.

 

[Cobra]

you are kidding right. there is a huge amount of university students that can't do simple maths in their heads and pull out a phone/calculator.

Now that is unbelievable !

it's laziness that trades off into other aspects of life.

Fair point.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I only know one thing about UK schools and the so called "A-levels". When the kids come to university they more or less spend the major part of the first year learning what they should have been properly taught back at school, or the very basics. It certainly doesn't sound and look good when most other European countries have more comprehensive secondary eduction. Scandinavia is the best I believe.

 

[Dale_tem]

I only know one thing about UK schools and the so called "A-levels". When the kids come to university they more or less spend the major part of the first year learning what they should have been properly taught back at school, or the very basics. It certainly doesn't sound and look good when most other European countries have more comprehensive secondary eduction. Scandinavia is the best I believe.

When I did my A levels, my degree course was going to be 18 months repeating my A level course. It really does depend where they come from.