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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
5856 Posts |
 Posted - 14/01/2008 : 10:17:58
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this one certainly takes the biscuit!
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Teachers are to be banned from encouraging their pupils to study A levels rather than the Government’s controversial new vocational diploma qualifications under legislation that is going through Parliament.
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Ministers are promoting diplomas as the “jewel in the crown” of the education system. Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, recently said that they would become the “qualification of choice” and refused to confirm that A levels would survive beyond a review in 2013.
here
What's wrong with letting teachers teach ... which is after all what they are trained for. They deal with the children and youngsters in the classroom everyday. Surely they would be in the best place to determine whether or not a pupil is likely to benefit more from one type of further education then another? And this may well be 'A' levels' in the case of some and a more vocational 'diploma' for others.
All education is valuable and a well trained hairdresser or bin-man oops household refuse disposal technician or a highly skilled nurse or CPA are as important to a well functioning society as are university educated chemical researchers or accountants.
We need all sorts of people in all sorts of capacities at all the various levels of training and education. Except for maybe lawyers 
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"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Fluffy Sheep
Discworld
1186 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 10:28:59
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This stinks. Also it reminds me of the old Youth Opportunities Scheme, which was a big con in its day.
That link has another goodie though - `Don`t blow on the soup` - worth a read too. |
Row faster, slaves! Caesar wants to waterski! |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
5856 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 10:48:50
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Oh dear from the ridiculous, which it would have been had it not been so tragic, to the sublime, which it would have been had it not been so ridiculous.
Thanks for the pointer Fluffy! |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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moon23
Calaspia
841 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 11:20:20
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| Well I don't see the harm in coming up with new educational systems and models. The current format isn't the best it could possibly be. I don't know enough about these diploma things to make an informed judgment though. I am concerned that the government feels the need to legislate against teachers advising people not to study for them. Surely if they are worth their salt then teachers will recommend them anyway? Banning them for giving their professional opinion to a student reeks of control freakery |
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Norbert
Alagaësía
65 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 11:40:39
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| I wouldn't worry too much, teachers and parents of pupils aspiring to read Mathematics at Trinity Cambridge, Law at Magdalene Oxford or Medicine at Imperial London are not likely to be advising BTEC hairdressing as an option ! |
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Borninhove
Discworld
1028 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 11:41:09
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What has happened to the College? 'Manners and Etiquette' classes? Whatever next?
Still, I suppose in the old days they used to just thrash the correct manners into the students. |
 Valhalla, I am coming! |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
5856 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 11:45:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Norbert
I wouldn't worry too much, teachers and parents of pupils aspiring to read Mathematics at Trinity Cambridge, Law at Magdalene Oxford or Medicine at Imperial London are not likely to be advising BTEC hairdressing as an option !
Teachers will be banned from promoting 'A' levels according to new proposals. However that is not so much the issue really. The issue is more in that Government itself appears to consider it a question of more or less value by the mere fact that they deem it warrants legislating against promoting choice. |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Norbert
Alagaësía
65 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 12:00:05
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It would appear that this is just a proposal at the moment.
Schools are to be forbidden from “unduly promoting any particular options” perhaps the word UNDULY should be considered here?
A Level Further Mathematics may not be considered to be UNDULY promoted if one aspires to read Maths at Cambridge.
How many teachers do the government intend to jail for giving balanced advice? |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
5856 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2008 : 12:08:05
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| it is being discussed in the house at the moment. Personally I think that they have far more important things to concern themselves with. As for how many they intend to send to jail? No idea ... it does however look as if a 'balanced' view is definitely not going to be an option if this proposal does go through. |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Well, of all the stupid ideas ....