NationStates Jolt Archive

That said, I can only commend Ed Balls for bucking the trend of Labour eductation cock-ups and directing policy along a course that may actually accomplish something more profound than providing pupils with increasingly inflated and worthless qualifications.

For my money I'm not sure what trend he is bucking. If what I heard this morning is anything to go by it is just another ill thought out, unworkable, unrealistic platitude.

No matter how nice it looks on paper.

I just stumbled upon this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7241460.stm) on the BBC website, and was a little intrigued.

I quite agree with the axiom that "high culture" enriches life, and education, However, I am wary of any state regulated and managed attempt to provide it; artificially created and taught culture has a remarkably poor historical precedent after all.

That said, I can only commend Ed Balls for bucking the trend of Labour eductation cock-ups and directing policy along a course that may actually accomplish something more profound than providing pupils with increasingly inflated and worthless qualifications.

For my money I'm not sure what trend he is bucking. If what I heard this morning is anything to go by it is just another ill thought out, unworkable, unrealistic platitude.

No matter how nice it looks on paper.

Agreed


Other options include acting, singing and learning a musical instrument or making a film.

I always assumed most schools had music and drama classes :confused:

For my money I'm not sure what trend he is bucking. If what I heard this morning is anything to go by it is just another ill thought out, unworkable, unrealistic platitude.

No matter how nice it looks on paper.

I fear as much. However, I live in hope.

I fear as much. However, I live in hope.

If you have time, it my be worth listening to Today on listen again. IIRC the pertinent part is around 2 hours 10 minutes in.

But the scuttling drone (I believe Andy Burnham MP) didn't make much of a case.

EDIT: Yes indeed, it is here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today4_burnham_20080213.ram)

If you have time, it my be worth listening to Today on listen again. IIRC the pertinent part is around 2 hours 10 minutes in.

But the scuttling drone (I believe Andy Burnham MP) didn't make much of a case.

They never do. I've given up listening to politicians attempt to justify a policy; only William Hague evr does anything other than spew forth platitudes, circumvent the question and generally annoy the fuck out of the listeners.

I just stumbled upon this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7241460.stm) on the BBC website, and was a little intrigued.

I quite agree with the axiom that "high culture" enriches life, and education, However, I am wary of any state regulated and managed attempt to provide it; artificially created and taught culture has a remarkably poor historical precedent after all.

That said, I can only commend Ed Balls for bucking the trend of Labour eductation cock-ups and directing policy along a course that may actually accomplish something more profound than providing pupils with increasingly inflated and worthless qualifications.

I think it's a worthwhile effort.


On a slightly different track, when I saw the thread title I thought it was about a culture of getting high in schools. :p

They never do. I've given up listening to politicians attempt to justify a policy; only William Hague evr does anything other than spew forth platitudes, circumvent the question and generally annoy the fuck out of the listeners.

There are a few more here and there (though I cannot actually think of any Lab MPs at the moment).