Remember, I live in Russia now, and only hear of the west's activities through the radio

So it's a discussion about the UK attitudes then..?

Its a discussion about the substantive point.

His reforms are aimed at privatising education. In the same way that the NHS reforms are aimed at privatising health. Two things that shouldn't be sacrificed on the altar of the profit motive.

Nothing wrong with raising educational standards, of course. But today saw the leak of a draft of the new National Curriculum to the TES. Quite frankly, it is a shameful document. Go and read about it, and then try to appreciate the outraged reaction of education professionals to it.

B_P

Absolutely spot on. Except that the concept of 'punishment' turns out to be very unhelpful, full stop. Look at Steiner schools.

B_P

Does a good impression of one, then.

Quite mild still, here in the Correze. The little woodburner has overdone its duty today!

B_P

Why? Don't you have the interwebs?

B_P

Erm.. yeah, pretty much, to be honest...

B_P

What has prompted this tirade? True patriot of where? As KO has said what is the point of this rant (my take on your words, not his) on the French forum?

Let's beat our children into submission. Let's take the fingers off the taggers, let's chop the feet off the crazy drivers, let's rip the tongues out of the verbal abusers. You will conform. You will obey.

Now a Russian patriot? Let's discuss democracy, let's discuss freedom to express your views (there and here), let's talk about a free press (where I have significant history). No-one wants to insult you on this site, but for me I am lost about where you are coming from; unless your childhood and school abuse is triggering something you want to get off your 'chest', so to speak.

Please believe this is a tolerant site, it is about sharing knowledge (okay soft stuff, but it damn well helps me and I suspect many others).Yours is a debate we all have memories of (I have shared some of mine, only some mind you), but I don't get what you want to discuss.

He's been known to pop up on the Canada forum too for no obvious reason. His magnum opus can be summed up as "Dogs. Country's gone to".

Recommendation? Ignore.

Advice taken.

Vanya, attitudes have changed in the UK, and most believe for the better. It may be harder to appreciate if you have been away for such a long time and in a different culture (Russia, I think). It is an odd analogy, but think of bull fighting in Spain; many Spainards regard it as cultural heritage and are oblivious to modern day ideas about animal cruelty, but that is because they are in Spain, and slowly as Europeans that is starting to change too.

Well I was rather hoping that you would enlighten me BP, so I don 't have to read the draft National Curriculum and can spend more time posting inane comments on BE!

I know that previously Gove introduced an EBac standard/qualification, and that struck me as a very good idea. I think Britain has swung far too much toward the "soft" end of education, with A-levels in subjects that students in Russia, China, Estonia and many other competitor nations would find laughable. I don't buy the argument that not every student is academic so doesn't need to study hard subjects; I think all should study those subject to the best of their ability, rather than non-educating themselves on vocational or hobby subjects.

It seems attitudes have changed greatly in ten years or more, beyond recognition. I am raising a serious point and did it on this thread because I still have a house in France. The administrators will not allow a Russian thread, because they say there are not enough people to warrant one.

If people don't want to discuss the substantive point I raised, they need not contribute. That is why I began a new thread only to receive several rude comments. I'm not even sure what a Troll is: it seems to have several definitions.

If you don't want me to contribute to the Canada posts, I won't. I did not know we are not allowed to join in discussions from other countries. But until we can get a Russian board what can I do?

It worries me that attitudes that were accepted a the norm ten years ago are now ridiculed and derided.

Your remark about bullfighting is worrying too: surely this great tradition is not under threat in Spain, is it? My grandmother used to love it when she visited.

Vanya (not a Troll!)

You could post it on the Take It Outside forum, which is made for controversial subjects and, as a bonus, you'd get world-wide response, not just from us.