Education?

[vic mcclymont]

I wonder what they teach nowadays?

In today's edition of the TV Program Twisters, tthe question asked was which War did the Battle of the River Plate take place.

First contestant no idea, not my thing, pass to so and so.

Second contestant no idea.
Quiz mistress lets look at the options.

1 World War 2

2 Crimean War

3 100 years war.

Second contestant well the 100 years war lasted loner than 100 years. Crimean War took place in Europe. River plate thats the name of an Argentine football Team.

MMM my answer Crimean War.

Some of the answers have been laughable.

Vic

[John Albert Evans]

Vic,

I watched it as well this afternoon and honestly i really do despair at some of the answeres given by the contestants and wonder where on earth they were educated. I'm glad its not only my wife and myself that think that way.

John

[cappy]

cos you cant wack em anymore.....plus theteachers going to school with tee shirts and trainers on and telling the kids what a nasty country we are

[Gulliver]

I saw that programme too Vic,and I cringed with embarrassment and was ashamed,but not surprised, at their ignorance(the contestant I estimate was in his early thirties) .
I do think GCSE 's,A-Levels ,and University Degrees are given out on an unfair basis these days,and results statistics 'doctored' accordingly,giving both the pupils and the general public a wildly optimistic and reassuring sense that the future educational state of our nation is in good hands.Sadly we do fall far behind our near- European and Far Eastern contemporaries in these matters.

We ,on this site may often make the odd grammatical error or spelling mistake in our many varied posts,but you can be dead sure our historical and other general knowledge is almost certainly spot on,regardless of our previous past individual educational histories.
I would go so far as to say that our generation(may I arbitrarily say 1930's -1960's ?) will be quite likely the last generation to have the best all-round general knowledge ever.

Gulliver

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Vic and JAE,

Whilst (living in Oz) I'm unfamiliar with the show you mention, I do share your despair for the seeming decline of general knowledge amongst modern man. If the answer cannot be found at the press of a button (without technological aid) and extends to more than a few words then, clearly, it is of little importance and should be ignored.

It seems to me this overwhelming obsession with the wonder of modern technology and belief in the emergence of a bright new 'tomorrow', carries with it a certain ignorance, one that downplays the need to understand that which has gone before. I recognise that as I grow older I've become increasingly prone to grumpiness brought about by a dissatisfaction and estrangement from this world in which we live, an unreasonable desire to return to that other world I once knew and felt comfortable with. However, I cannot help but think that having a lack of knowledge or understanding of man's past behaviour (good and bad), is to deprive oneself of a guide to how mankind might conduct himself in the future. Sadly, I think it's all part of society's transformation away from that which to me was once so familiar. I can no longer understand this crazy yearning to own the very latest 'gizmo', even though it comes with an in-built obsolescence at the time of purchase. It also seems there is evidence of moral decline in the world, although there are any number of well-meaning academics who happily reassure us that is not the case. Well, I'm sorry, but I beg to differ. Why is it I get the impression greed, disregard for others and an inclination to become self-absorbed are no longer character defects to be avoided ? Silly me, it's just my imagination I suppose Anyway, have a nice day !

........Roger

[Captain Kong]

The only subject they teach in school today is SEX,
My grandson announced in a loud voice in a restaraunt, "We are having Porno Videos in school tomorrow."
.
A couple of weeks ago it was announced in the local newspaper that Bolton Council Schools are now giving Free Condoms to all the School children. ....WHAT????
So what the hell goes on behind those school Doors.???
.
If I wanted a condom as a lad I had to qeue up in a chemist shop and come out with a new toothbrush.
Brian.

[alf corbyn]

it used to be: my mothers got a mangle so there! now its I've got two A* 1A 2B's and a C. what in? snails with a left hand shell, colours of a cowpat, how far a cricket ball can go. the education standards are a lot different today. its more a boast of I'm better than you. we spent our schooldays in air raid shelters, reading books, but I can spell, know my history, and geography, and can write and speak my national language. the speech today is terrible, a polyglot of slang from Trinidad, Jamaica and other places, with the resultant bad dress and manners. I don't think education has improved.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, Education? There are two sorts one you must pay top price for the very few, you then step into the top jobs E.T.C. unless your a total dingbat, and the school of hard knocks you learn by your mistakes. I only know one real Oxford Don from a working class background, he is a genius he can talk about anything and knew most books and could tell you things you never knew about ? but could not rewire a houshold plug. or mow a lawn.

[Captain Kong]

Also Parents must help their children to be educated, if they want them to do well in their future careers.
I paid a school headmaster to give my two sons extra tuition in the evenings, I am and always been
"working class" nothing to do with being a toff. I was short of money, cut back on ale and ciggies and any other thing I could cut back on. But they both went to University. and now enjoy well paid careers. The sacrifice was worth it.
I told them, `the world is full of bums, we do not need anymore` Education can open doors to a better life. I had none during the war years and that always held me back.
Brian

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, Hi Captain Kong, I also helped my children go to university and get degrees,Teacher and I.T consultant and Accountant not bad from a poor ex british seaman working at 14yr no exams or papers to my name? !st job mopping up sea -water in the saloon, on a paddle ship? in the bristol channel. No sliver spoon for me the hard way like 90% of every one else.