Stupid Nation...... the UK a land of idiots
Discussion
Recently an article was published in 'The Business' citing research by Michael Shayer of King’s College, London ( using 10,000 children ) that concluded amongst other things that
the average child in the UK is now...
"between two and three years behind where they were 15 years ago” in their cognitive and conceptual development. In other words, their ability to think and reason has receded at an astonishing rate since 1990."
"To those who still refuse to admit that educational standards in Britain are in dangerous decline, this groundbreaking research will come as a devastating shock. To the rest of us, it confirms what we had long suspected: British schools are not just failing to meet the demands of the 21st century knowledge economy in equipping children with essential skills, they are doing even worse than they used to,"
http://thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?The+stupid
In a world where these young people are going to have to compete for jobs head to head with superior Chineses and Indian graduates, let alone the Americans. How on earth are we supposed to maintain any kind of competitive position in the future?
I think that most people have a feeling that grade inflation has devalued the UK's academic qualifications recently, and that children today are not getting better and brighter.... here is seems is the evidence.
>> Edited by timmy30 on Thursday 9th February 14:02
the average child in the UK is now...
"between two and three years behind where they were 15 years ago” in their cognitive and conceptual development. In other words, their ability to think and reason has receded at an astonishing rate since 1990."
"To those who still refuse to admit that educational standards in Britain are in dangerous decline, this groundbreaking research will come as a devastating shock. To the rest of us, it confirms what we had long suspected: British schools are not just failing to meet the demands of the 21st century knowledge economy in equipping children with essential skills, they are doing even worse than they used to,"
http://thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?The+stupid
In a world where these young people are going to have to compete for jobs head to head with superior Chineses and Indian graduates, let alone the Americans. How on earth are we supposed to maintain any kind of competitive position in the future?
I think that most people have a feeling that grade inflation has devalued the UK's academic qualifications recently, and that children today are not getting better and brighter.... here is seems is the evidence.
>> Edited by timmy30 on Thursday 9th February 14:02
It's always nice to have an expensive survey confirming what we've known for ages.
I would offer an alternative conclusion to the report - that education doesn't meet the needs of the real world, and kids are simply learning what's necessary to function in the world, rather than things that they percieve as useless. This interpretation holds an element of truth - that kids are learning how to be chavs, pikeys and other assorted scum because that's how you fit in and survive, rather than the more optimistic idea that they're all secretly learning to be carptenters and plumbers, or attending LearnDirect courses out of school hours.
Fortunately, WWIII should ensure conscription and the realisation of the true value of everything, so those that don't get killed will come back and the UK will be back on track. You know, if it's not obliterated.
Got a bit off track there.
I would offer an alternative conclusion to the report - that education doesn't meet the needs of the real world, and kids are simply learning what's necessary to function in the world, rather than things that they percieve as useless. This interpretation holds an element of truth - that kids are learning how to be chavs, pikeys and other assorted scum because that's how you fit in and survive, rather than the more optimistic idea that they're all secretly learning to be carptenters and plumbers, or attending LearnDirect courses out of school hours.
Fortunately, WWIII should ensure conscription and the realisation of the true value of everything, so those that don't get killed will come back and the UK will be back on track. You know, if it's not obliterated.
Got a bit off track there.
Jaglover said:
It does not surprise me. We see ever rising grades and yet a lower standard of education is being achieved.
Problem is kids are taught to pass a rigid test system and thats it, what do they learn thats actually useful? feck all.
Schools fiddling with results to make themselves look better doesn't help either.
r988 said:
It does not surprise me. We see ever rising grades and yet a lower standard of education is being achieved.
Problem is kids are taught to pass a rigid test system and thats it, what do they learn thats actually useful? feck all.
Schools fiddling with results to make themselves look better doesn't help either.
This is the problem,kids are taught to pass exams.I suppose it's what schools will do to climb the "league tables".(no-one wants to be seen as "failing" do they?).It's typical Nu-Labour...all appearance and no substance.I just feel sorry for the kids.
no surprise at all .... and many A level students today wouldn't have a hope of passing A levels that were set 20 or 25 years ago, same applies to literacy and numeracy standards of University entrants.
Exams have been dumbed down over the years to improve the grades .... thus proving that Labour has improved educational standards of course.
Exams have been dumbed down over the years to improve the grades .... thus proving that Labour has improved educational standards of course.
alfaman said:
no surprise at all .... and many A level students today wouldn't have a hope of passing A levels that were set 20 or 25 years ago, same applies to literacy and numeracy standards of University entrants.
Exams have been dumbed down over the years to improve the grades .... thus proving that Labour has improved educational standards of course.
Yes but 25 years ago you couldn't sit the exam in modules, bagging the first grade but the reattempting the exam as many times as you liked to see if you could get a higher grade ( without any worry of loosing the previous grade.
nervous said:
Anyone commenting on this thread must be prepared to have their grammar, spelling and punctuation mercilessly criticised.
It should read 'passing comment', surely?
I was wondering how long it would take.
My speeling and stuff is crap init. But then I went to school partially under a labour govenment didn i?
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