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[Rods2]

in education. Where we have steadily dropped over the last 20 years, so we don't make the top 20, despite a vastly increased education budget. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25187997

Not surprising that the countries, with the best results like Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea have gone from much poorer than us to much richer over the last 40-50 years. Shanghai is one to watch as the powerhouse of the Chinese economy with their phenomenal growth rate.

Personally, I can't see anything more, than more of the same, for the UK with an unmanaged continuous decline. 

[cleggy]

They leave school uneducated and unemployable standards have gone down the pan in the last 20 years . Bring back grammar schools and secondary moderns with the  11 plus

Saw on the news last night about how Korean kids go to normal school and then extra tuition classes getting home very late for a meal and bed, not for them 4 or 5 classes a day and games machines all night, with no homework. 

[MR MISTER]

We were 26th overall, US was 36th. America today, Britain tomorrow, we're going down.

Of course, no mention is made of the fact that the countries which have rapidly dropped down the table are those which suffer mass immigration.

[MR MISTER]

Also, if we want to talk seriously about this, I'll give you one word.......motivation. A lot of kids, and their parents, are just not motivated enough. Our whole society is, in general, apathetic.
There is no magic bullet. Successive generations have been told that things are ok by poor performing governments only interested in the balance of payments. We are into third or fourth generation under-performers now and it will take the same amount of time to put it right. The psyche of the nation is not ready for a kick up the arse and, as I think Rods said, we will fall further before things (possibly) get any better.
My missus, after 20 odd years of working 10-12 hour days, is rapidly becoming disillusioned with the whole business.

[pscocoa]

Also, if we want to talk seriously about this, I'll give you one word.......motivation. A lot of kids, and their parents, are just not motivated enough. Our whole society is, in general, apathetic.
There is no magic bullet. Successive generations have been told that things are ok by poor performing governments only interested in the balance of payments. We are into third or fourth generation under-performers now and it will take the same amount of time to put it right. The psyche of the nation is not ready for a kick up the arse and, as I think Rods said, we will fall further before things (possibly) get any better.
My missus, after 20 odd years of working 10-12 hour days, is rapidly becoming disillusioned with the whole business.

This is a most accurate synopsis - it is the bottomline of our predicament. Many many people are in general totally apathetic, want everything on a plate and bring their kids up in a manner which reflects the same.

[MR MISTER]

Also, if we want to talk seriously about this, I'll give you one word.......motivation. A lot of kids, and their parents, are just not motivated enough. Our whole society is, in general, apathetic.
There is no magic bullet. Successive generations have been told that things are ok by poor performing governments only interested in the balance of payments. We are into third or fourth generation under-performers now and it will take the same amount of time to put it right. The psyche of the nation is not ready for a kick up the arse and, as I think Rods said, we will fall further before things (possibly) get any better.
My missus, after 20 odd years of working 10-12 hour days, is rapidly becoming disillusioned with the whole business.

This is a most accurate synopsis - it is the bottomline of our predicament. Many many people are in general totally apathetic, want everything on a plate and bring their kids up in a manner which reflects the same.

The sad thing (to me) is that there are still a lot of people who 'believe'. Every year my wife tells me that she has a good cohort this year and she is sure her results will be better. But I can see in her eyes that it's more hope than anything else. At the end of the year, despite her hard work, she gets her annual kick in the teeth. She dusts herself down and says 'next year.........'
My 14- year-old lad loves school. He goes with a smile and is doing really well, predicted to get A* in all subjects. His kick in the teeth will come later.

[Varche]

My adage. "Blame it on the parents" holds true for maybe 99% of societies ills.

ye reap that which you sew.

30 years ago , my friend who was a teacher, made extra money by teaching in the evening. 100% of his pupils were Asian and 100% wanted to learn.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

They leave school uneducated and unemployable standards have gone down the pan in the last 20 years . Bring back grammar schools and secondary moderns with the  11 plus

Saw on the news last night about how Korean kids go to normal school and then extra tuition classes getting home very late for a meal and bed, not for them 4 or 5 classes a day and games machines all night, with no homework.

I took the 11 plus and passed.

However, even though I'm a grammar school boy.......I'm still as 'fick' as two short planks.

P.S these smilies are annoying.

[Shackeng]

As long as education remains a political football, and our so-called 'leaders' fail to get together and agree a common education policy, but insist on using it as a stick with which to beat the Opposition, of whatever colour, I am afraid that we will continue to decline.

[pscocoa]

They leave school uneducated and unemployable standards have gone down the pan in the last 20 years . Bring back grammar schools and secondary moderns with the  11 plus

Saw on the news last night about how Korean kids go to normal school and then extra tuition classes getting home very late for a meal and bed, not for them 4 or 5 classes a day and games machines all night, with no homework.

I took the 11 plus and passed.

However, even though I'm a grammar school boy.......I'm still as 'fick' as two short planks.

P.S these smilies are annoying.

But you can string a sentence together and  I bet your mechanical maths is superb. See the panic in many people's faces today  if they have to work something out like a discount, fraction, percentage.

For a grammar school, 11 plus person - no problem. Even those who did not get to 11 plus but are of a certain age will also be comfortable with their basic maths - this is how it used to be - for some it is cool to be thick and laugh about it - you may joke Opti but in relative terms you are far far from thick and the 11 plus must have stood you in good stead

[Webby the Bear]

Not wishing to go against the grain but where I live all I'm seeing is new impressive schools, academies and colleges being built. seems that the money is being spent correctly here. luckily 

[Varche]

Not wishing to go against the grain but where I live all I'm seeing is new impressive schools, academies and colleges being built. seems that the money is being spent correctly here. luckily 

You can build all the best facilities you want but unless the children and parents want their kids to learn, the system will just churn out thickos who are good at text speak and can garble faster than a machine gun like. Will they be able to check their change? learn a foreign language or two? They wil be dead good however at Angry Bird eight so there is hope...............

[Broomies Mate]

Not wishing to go against the grain but where I live all I'm seeing is new impressive schools, academies and colleges being built. seems that the money is being spent correctly here. luckily 

That is happening all over the country.  You can have all the nice buildings you like, but if the Education System is rubbish, you may as well teach in a shed!

There must be 5 or 6 'Academies' within 10 miles from here....... none of which are described as 'excellent' by the parents of the children who attend.

[Varche]

Question for STEMO

Does your wife ever get stroppy parents who want to know why their kids aren't achieving? And then having found out at parents evening etc, do they then give their kids an incentive?

In my day it was called if you don't apply yourself you will get a good hiding and end up being a dustman. Oh and we did get a good hiding too if there wasn't an improvement.

[pscocoa]

I see situations where debt relief has been granted to developing countries (the so called HIPIC countries). Schools of good quality were built in good faith but no teachers of fit out provided - no coordination, they were still empty at last report.

The quality of buildings should be an inspirational source to the teaching regime but without the people systems and committment to do well then the potential will not be realised.