Time travel1970's
Discussion
Just for a moment having been born in the late 1970's is is scary how many things in the current policial socio-economic are the same as the 1970's
We have now
1) Energy Crisis
2) Industrial Unrest
3) Rising Unemployment
4) Racial Tensions
5) England football team failing to qualify for the World Cup
We have now
1) Energy Crisis
2) Industrial Unrest
3) Rising Unemployment
4) Racial Tensions
5) England football team failing to qualify for the World Cup
Not that surprising really. The world operates in cycles and we are propably entering another such cycle at the moment.
However, although parallels can be drawn, the situation is not yet as extreme as it was in the 1970s.
Although fuel costs have risen, they have not yet had the devastating impact they had in 1973-75. Time will tell if they will result in a serious depression like they did back then. At the moment inflation is still pretty low. In 1973-75 it was in the mid to high 20% range.
Unemployment is very low at the moment - indeed, there are certain types of jobs which we cannot fill from the native workforce.
Racial tension - when wasn't there racial tension?
The war in Iraq is extremely small beer compared to Vietnam. Again, whether it has the same impact on American society as Vietnam did is open to question. The big difference bewteen Vietnam and Iraq is that most of the soldiers fighting in Vietnam were draftees. ALL the soldiers there today are professional, full time soldiers. It does make a difference to the folks back home.
Industrial action may be on the rise but, unlike the 70s, it can never have the same impact it did back in the 70s. Very few sectors of the economy are now unionised and the odd dispute here and there will certainly not be bringing the country to its knees.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 11th September 08:30
However, although parallels can be drawn, the situation is not yet as extreme as it was in the 1970s.
Although fuel costs have risen, they have not yet had the devastating impact they had in 1973-75. Time will tell if they will result in a serious depression like they did back then. At the moment inflation is still pretty low. In 1973-75 it was in the mid to high 20% range.
Unemployment is very low at the moment - indeed, there are certain types of jobs which we cannot fill from the native workforce.
Racial tension - when wasn't there racial tension?
The war in Iraq is extremely small beer compared to Vietnam. Again, whether it has the same impact on American society as Vietnam did is open to question. The big difference bewteen Vietnam and Iraq is that most of the soldiers fighting in Vietnam were draftees. ALL the soldiers there today are professional, full time soldiers. It does make a difference to the folks back home.
Industrial action may be on the rise but, unlike the 70s, it can never have the same impact it did back in the 70s. Very few sectors of the economy are now unionised and the odd dispute here and there will certainly not be bringing the country to its knees.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 11th September 08:30
Eric Mc said:
Unemployment is very low at the moment - indeed, there are certain types of jobs which we cannot fill from the native workforce.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 11th September 08:30
Yeah, but how much of that is down to idle dole-scrounging 'I'm-not-lowering-myself-to-that' syndrome?
Not much, to be honest.
The number of people claiming unemployment or other related benefits is genuinely low. I know everyone suspects the government of "manipulating" the figures but even if an element of that does go on, there really is less unemployment in the UK than there has been for over two dacades.
There is a genuine skill shortage, especially in the trades and professions and that is as much an indictment of the poor quality of English education as anything else.
The number of people claiming unemployment or other related benefits is genuinely low. I know everyone suspects the government of "manipulating" the figures but even if an element of that does go on, there really is less unemployment in the UK than there has been for over two dacades.
There is a genuine skill shortage, especially in the trades and professions and that is as much an indictment of the poor quality of English education as anything else.
john75 said:
Just for a moment having been born in the late 1970's is is scary how many things in the current policial socio-economic are the same as the 1970's
We have now
1) Energy Crisis
2) Industrial Unrest
3) Rising Unemployment
4) Racial Tensions
5) England football team failing to qualify for the World Cup
Its no where as near as bad yet,i remember the dustmans strikes,powercuts and rising unemployment but as for racial tension it has never really been that bad although IMO it nearly got out of hand in the 80's with the riots,as for the football well we failed to qualify for the world cup when we drew 1-1 at Wembley against Poland but atleast we were an attacking side that gave it a go,just a shame about themix-up at the back.
Eric Mc said:
There is a genuine skill shortage, especially in the trades and professions and that is as much an indictment of the poor quality of English education as anything else.
But is it though?,funny!,i was thinking about this last night as i was on my shift,'is education better now than pre 70's',,i would say it was,largely through having the internet available,and what we lack in the education system now can be made up for by the internet,any knowlegde is just a mouse click away,i feel the only area we fall down on is spelling and english grammar.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Sunday 11th September 11:10
ZR1cliff - I hate to say it but you do prove your own point about spelling and grammar 
There are other fundamental problems with the education system too besides poor English language skills. Mathematical and basic arithmethical skills are often poor not to mention overall general knowledge about the world we live in.
What modern kids do seem to possess is higher level of self belief and confidence. Unfortunately, self belief and confidence are misplaced when the underlying skill sets and basic knowledge are so poor.
As a result, well educated foreigners have no problem picking off decent jobs when they come here, often without English being their first language.
There are other fundamental problems with the education system too besides poor English language skills. Mathematical and basic arithmethical skills are often poor not to mention overall general knowledge about the world we live in.
What modern kids do seem to possess is higher level of self belief and confidence. Unfortunately, self belief and confidence are misplaced when the underlying skill sets and basic knowledge are so poor.
As a result, well educated foreigners have no problem picking off decent jobs when they come here, often without English being their first language.
Eric Mc said:
ZR1cliff - I hate to say it but you do prove your own point about spelling and grammar
Pay attention Eric and read my profile,ime not doing too bad for someone with a primary school education and atleast ime having a go.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Sunday 11th September 11:45
You are only proving my point.
In times gone by, a primary school education would have been sufficient for most people to come away with a good grounding in basic grammar and recognisable English language skills.
Both my parents left school at primary level (they had no choice back in 1940) but they are both well educated people with excellent English language skills.
I think the real problem with education is that the bar is now being set at too low a level for the person of "average" learning skills (which includes most of us). The learning targets have been set at a "lowest common denominator" setting. The high flyers and high achievers will continue to fly high and achieve a high standard - but the rest will wallow about in the shallows.
In times gone by, a primary school education would have been sufficient for most people to come away with a good grounding in basic grammar and recognisable English language skills.
Both my parents left school at primary level (they had no choice back in 1940) but they are both well educated people with excellent English language skills.
I think the real problem with education is that the bar is now being set at too low a level for the person of "average" learning skills (which includes most of us). The learning targets have been set at a "lowest common denominator" setting. The high flyers and high achievers will continue to fly high and achieve a high standard - but the rest will wallow about in the shallows.
Eric Mc said:
You are only proving my point.
In times gone by, a primary school education would have been sufficient for most people to come away with a good grounding in basic grammar and recognisable English language skills.
Both my parents left school at primary level (they had no choice back in 1940) but they are both well educated people with excellent English language skills.
I think the real problem with education is that the bar is now being set at too low a level for the person of "average" learning skills (which includes most of us). The learning targets have been set at a "lowest common denominator" setting. The high flyers and high achievers will continue to fly high and achieve a high standard - but the rest will wallow about in the shallows.
But surely you only learn all your base education requirements at primary school and its not until you move up to secondary and maybe further education that you can then become more knowledgeable?
That is the case now but it wasn't always. Up to the 1940s most children only received education up to Primary level. It was therefore considered vital that they leave school with the basic skills to get on in the world - reading, writing and arithmetic. It was also hoped that they would pick up sufficient knowledge in less vital areas, such as history and geography to give them an insight into the world at large.
Once secondary education became free and available, the pressure came off the primary school system and it became more relaxed and "fun" (but also less effective). The hope was that the secondary system would pick up the tasks once expected pf primary education.
That patently isn't happening.
Once secondary education became free and available, the pressure came off the primary school system and it became more relaxed and "fun" (but also less effective). The hope was that the secondary system would pick up the tasks once expected pf primary education.
That patently isn't happening.
Indeed Eric
It is shocking the number of children who leave school at the age of 16 lacking basic literacy and arithmetic.
To my mind it is a failing of the comprehensive system, it penalises students at the bottom and top of the ability scale. The top because they are not being stretched, and the bottom because there should be a focus to ensure they have the basic skills necessary to survive in the modern world.
Streaming helps to tackle this problem, but back when I was at school (a while ago now), it started after 2 wasted years, and was not for all subjects.
It is shocking the number of children who leave school at the age of 16 lacking basic literacy and arithmetic.
To my mind it is a failing of the comprehensive system, it penalises students at the bottom and top of the ability scale. The top because they are not being stretched, and the bottom because there should be a focus to ensure they have the basic skills necessary to survive in the modern world.
Streaming helps to tackle this problem, but back when I was at school (a while ago now), it started after 2 wasted years, and was not for all subjects.
Eric Mc said:
That is the case now but it wasn't always. Up to the 1940s most children only received education up to Primary level. It was therefore considered vital that they leave school with the basic skills to get on in the world - reading, writing and arithmetic. It was also hoped that they would pick up sufficient knowledge in less vital areas, such as history and geography to give them an insight into the world at large.
Once secondary education became free and available, the pressure came off the primary school system and it became more relaxed and "fun" (but also less effective). The hope was that the secondary system would pick up the tasks once expected pf primary education.
That patently isn't happening.
So when secondary schools were introduced they more or less diluted our education system,also can it be that children at an earlier age,if given the right amount of teaching can absorb more and looking at it on the whole is our education system due a major overhaul,from primary right through to secondary education.
Pretty much spot on.
The longer people stay in education, the less they learn in a given time span.
The Jesuits used to boast that if they were given a boy of seven, they would give back the man. Look at the fundamental Islamic schools in Pakistan. Small boys are seen there learning under extreme conditions vast quantities of information very rapidly. I'm not saying that they are learning anything useful but the point I'm making is that the Islamic elders know that at those young ages children can absorb a lot of information rapidly.
So much of education time these days is wasted.
The longer people stay in education, the less they learn in a given time span.
The Jesuits used to boast that if they were given a boy of seven, they would give back the man. Look at the fundamental Islamic schools in Pakistan. Small boys are seen there learning under extreme conditions vast quantities of information very rapidly. I'm not saying that they are learning anything useful but the point I'm making is that the Islamic elders know that at those young ages children can absorb a lot of information rapidly.
So much of education time these days is wasted.
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