Category Archives: Juvenile
Reductio ad Profundum
To spread interest in the 14-19 diploma programme, Mr Balls‘s corporation has enlisted a musician of the streets, one who calls himself ‘Kano’. A certain newspaper calls him a ‘foul mouthed rapper’. If one takes time to see and hear … Continue reading
Filed under Academies, Current policies, Department for Education, Juvenile
Next Question?
The Head Poncho at the Department for Whatever It Is, Mr Balls, was questioned by a certain Keith Mitchell of Sunderland (Education Guardian 16 February): “How can you [be] true to Labour’s core principals of equality and community when you have … Continue reading
Filed under Academies, Department for Education, Juvenile
The Biter Bit
The Institute for Government has just produced an analysis of government malfunction. Featured in the Sunday Times (17 Jan 10), headlined ‘Whitehall revolts’. Unseemly as it may be to indulge in schadenfreude, yet perhaps a vinegary smile may be forgiven … Continue reading
Some Talk of Alexander . . . .
I am prompted into action by words of the former professorial director of the London Institute of Education, Peter Mortimore, in the Education Guardian (3.11.09) on the Cambridge Primary Review, the most important undertaking in this area since the report … Continue reading
Filed under Current policies, Juvenile, Primary education
U-turn if you have to
This old bird, always keen to garner crumbs of comfort, cannot resist hoping to share with any who may not have seen it the text of a letter by Averil Lewin of Ely in The Guardian (29.06.09). She says: “What a … Continue reading
Filed under Central control, Current policies, History, Juvenile, LEAs
“We, the People…”
In the current furore, if the PM means what he says about devolution of power to localities, the issue of governance of public education is a prime one. It goes far beyond the simplistic policies of the last 20 years, with … Continue reading
Filed under 1944 Education Act, Central control, Juvenile
Matter v. Antimatter
Reporting recently in the Education Guardian, Polly Curtis interviewed the egregious former SCI, Chris Woodenhead, on his forthcoming book and says “there are few giants in education as big as him” (a Jack and the Beanstalk specimen, does she mean?). … Continue reading
Filed under History, Juvenile, School inspections, Vocational education
Deception, Deception, Deception
In the Spring 2009 issue of the Royal Society of Arts Journal, Professor Ron Glatter, well known to aficionados of public education from his time at the Open University, takes a shot at the RSA’s Academy initiative. He contests its … Continue reading
Filed under Current policies, Juvenile, Private schools
Myths and Mindsets
Fiona Millar writes in the Education Guardian (14.4.09) of her altercation on the radio with a former Tory politician (unnamed but obviouly true to type) who had nothing to say on public education but it was cynical. “Failing state schools … Continue reading
Filed under Department for Education, Juvenile, LEAs
Double-decker Prophet
The proponent of the Gaia image, James Lovelock, has battled his way against initial scepticism to presenting a full picture of the dire condition of our planet, through acceptance of his insistence on total synthesis of sciences, observations. and geohistory. … Continue reading
