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| "YOU'VE ALL DONE VERY WELL!" |
The overall result placed students from England, 22nd for literacy
and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries.
Yet according to Tameside Council’s Executive Member for
Learning and Achievement, Cllr Ged Cooney, all Tameside’s local authority
maintained schools have made such excellent progress, with 7 per cent more pupils achieving five or
more top A*- to C grades including English and Maths than last year!
Now how can this be, I hear you say? What could be the cause
of this great leap forward in Tameside’s educational system?
Well, could it be that teachers, whose own positions are influenced
by their schools position in the authority’s league tables, are, for instance, persuading
students to take subjects like ‘drama’ rather than ‘physics’ or English Literature purely to boost their league
table positions.
Or, is it, as has often been mentioned, that exams; especially in modern science subjects, have been made
easier by teaching methods geared to 'teach to the test' which basically means students
mainly focus on the recalling of facts, with no reference to logic or
mathematics.
That means our brightest pupils are not being stretched, or
trained in mathematical techniques, because they can get a grade A* without
doing a single calculation.
Conversely, the majority get at least a 'good pass' (grade
C) by showing merely a superficial knowledge on a wide range of issues, but no
understanding of the fundamentals.
These facts are borne out by the obvious lack of skills of
graduates highlighted by employers.
So either, Cllr Cooney is right and Tameside’s teachers are
the best in the world, and growing numbers of their pupils are turning into geeks with IQ’s soaring
into the stratosphere, or could it be that the councillor only sees the situation as his bias permits? - That is, that he consciously or unwittingly excludes from sight those factors which which he does not wish to be brought to his attention.
Or could it simply be that standards in science exams in UK schools have been eroded over many years and the system is failing!
Or could it simply be that standards in science exams in UK schools have been eroded over many years and the system is failing!
My money is on the OECD!
Years of Marxist education and social theory are to blame.
ReplyDeleteIn other European countires, notably Germany, the traditional family structure is far more prevalent, with mothers (as opposed to female parents) revered by the populace. Children thrive when raised and nurtured in this way.
The traditional family is the essential building block of social stability, order and civilisation and it is also strongly endorsed and given favourable treatment by the state.
The other significant factor in Germany (strangely ignored by our mass media) is vastly higher church attendance from a country where the overwhelming majority approve of and live a decent, normal, healthy lifestyle.
We should copy their example.
You are talking about a Council who is notorious in their ability to distort and manipulate statistics whilst using any sordid method to carry out their objectives.
ReplyDeleteR.Oldham was the wizard of these still remaining leaders,however from experience a thorough and robust analysis of his rhetoric backed him into corners when his regular rage materialised
J.Hall