In a moment of weakness, I agreed to be a member of a "Question Time" panel facing an audience of school's brightest sixth formers, as part of their extra-curricular academic development. The audience have been asked to submit questions in advance, and the first batch have been emailed through to us, the unsuspecting teachers facing the firing squad. My heart sank as I read some of the questions due to be fired at us.
"I read in a report that Classics will have disappeared from state education in fifteen years time, and from private education in twenty five years time. I already think it is a tragedy that the teaching of Classics today is not more widespread, and wondered whether you believe that a knowledge of Classics is necessary to modern education or whether you think it is correct that it is being phased out?"
The new Pope Benedict XVI, is said to take a very conservative view on issues such as abortion and contraception. However, does the panel think that he is right to take these views considering that a sizeable portion of his followers live in areas of the world where without contraception, AIDS runs rife throughout the region and is the cause of much pain and anguish and even results in death in some cases?
"I was intrigued to see a plan to "scrap university tuition fees" included in the Liberal Democrat's election manifesto. Whether or not the primary incentive for announcing this policy was merely the acquisition of more votes, I find the possible consequences of this policy fascinating. This would certainly be a more equitable policy than "top-up fees", although with regard to the premier universities in the UK, it could be argued that the gain in millions of £s worth of fees for the concerned institions outweighs the possible loss of a relatively small number of able, but impoverished candidates. It seems to me that there are more than enough financally comfortable candidates to fill the required number of places in these universities, and thus, with a view to improving the quality of education, perhaps the Democrats should be pledging to increase tuition fees?"
"Currently in the news is the story of Abigail Witchalls, the young mother who was stabbed whilst taking her young son out in a peaceful suburban area described by police as ‘the safest corner of the safest county in England’. Crime has gone up by over 15 per cent since 1998, and now despite the introduction of the new ASBOs it seems to still be on the increase. I put it to the panel to suggest how they would reform the yob culture of today and create a safer Britain."
Damn. What have I let myself in for?!
16 comments:
1.a. Not necessary.
b. Shouldn't be phased out entirely; ought to be optional.
2. Yes. It's Catholicism; do it, confess, do few Hail Marys.
3. Should a democracy strive for a meritocracy or a plutocracy?
4. Put tranquillisers and/or contraceptives in processed foods.
- Dr Tom PhD, BSc(hons), MSc(pending)
Those are long questions
1a) Not necessary, I did do Latin for 2 years extra curricular as did little sis, it helped her (far too good) foreign language skills and that's about it. That was at a State Secondary Modern!
b)It should be optional, having chosen a vocational degree I can't understand why people would do it at degree level other than for a dossy art subject to flip burgers at the end of it (or work in a bank).
2. Its a fairly big base to the Catholic religion as far as I can see. Hmm hard one, only way out is I can see use it, confess or just total abstainance for the ultra catholic (which is unlikely).
3. I think that you should gain the chance to study at university based on academic ability not ability to pay. Otherwise we are just going back a century ... when only the upper classes attended university because they could afford it. I would estimate that there would be more than a 'few' impoverished students if top up fees were introduced. I think that there should be funding based on need (ie vocational subjects where there is a skills shortage in the country) rather than blanket funding maybe. However merit should definately go above money!
4. Much as Dr T's answer is very amusing and could work in a non-PC way it's not really a proper answer. I think that parents should be more responsible for their children's behaviour. The problem you now get is that the 'yoof' are bragging that they have ASBOs to make them look hard, but they have no regard for the Police. It would seem that ASBOs are necessarily working as a bit of paper isn't going to stop the 'yoof', education is the way (truancy areas and ASBOs areas seem to go together in these parts) to turn the tide ... just got to get them to school in the first place, that's a whole new kettle of fish!
You won't get questions like that from Fazakerley High School students...
They are tough questions.
Regarding the Pope, he was a hard line conservative the last 20 yrs because that was the job John Paul gave him to do (a theological scrutiniser). Previously, he was a very liberal man as his writings show so it might be interesting to see if his own personality comes through now he's Pope.
That's not Becca formerly Barford?
4. I think the questioner is confused and lumping all crime into a single monoblock.
ASBOs aren't there to tackle violent crime they're there as a low level punishment for nuisance.
From a friend "That's saying that top up fees improve the quality of education because of the money, at the expense of eliminating some poorer students and replacing them with less intelligent better off people. Thats completely contrary to what we believe in."
That's not Becca formerly Barford?
I doubt it as she should have been teaching her lovely Year 6 class at the time of the post! Besides she no doubt make a comment about me refering to her as little sis!
Caz (her big sis)
Hi. Not Becca formerly Barford.
I met Mad down in lovely Cheltenham, so a totally different Becca.
That's a releif, I mean OK.
Cheltenham. Bad town. :-)
Does my sister scare you then Si? Were you on the receiving end of the rolling of eyes and teacher stare (before she was a teacher!)? She is aware I have a blog, but that's about it! I think you're safe.
Cheltenham: good town. Unless you're talking about house prices, in which case, Cheltenham: bad town!
And yes, those questions are damn long. And braincell taxing. And I'm just going to whitter on and talk utter bollocks and look a right fool because I'm not sure I understand some of the questions, let alone have an opinion on the topics! Eeek!
You can print off my comments if you want.
And Cheltenham - nice enough place to be born, but I don't think I was too discerning at the time.
dear mad
i think this is a day too late (dammit, the one day I don't read this blog)
but anyhow....
re classics - did you see the guardian education section careers advice on teaching latin from a couple of weeks ago - it had a very funny analysis of what a latin teacher should do in the current ed system
re benedict - have a look at the ChristianAid website - they have lots of partners in africa who are linked to the catholic church and tend to practice a very different policy to the vatican hard line.
re tuition fees "how lovely to be in the luxurious position to be 'intrigued' by the policy"
and finally the tragic Abigail - crime is cyclical, people need to get off what I would term the "violent soc" card as much they do the other frightening whipping-up-type politics. Young people need a well funded youthwork system, good healthcare including contraception advice at a young, young age and a modern media that doesn't survive on demonising classes/ ages of people. So there, nah nah nah nah
Charl (who went to school in Maghull, which isn't Kirby, but isn't so far away!)
(also generally, these kids need to lose the over dramatics in language!)
School in Maghull?!?!?!?!? Fazakerley isn't in Kirkby and Kirkby is spelt with two Ks. The school in Maghull wasnt that great then... From a Walton Scouser
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