Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

I think you will probably find there are few homes without internet access. My own experience of the 'more vulnerable' families is that they often have many things we would consider non essential whilst lacking the essentials. I don't mean those living in council houses necessarily. These are people living in HMOs (houses of multiple occupancy)usually old boarding house stock which has been allocated for families having a room to live in and shared facilities, and these are grim. However many of these families have a dog, Sky TV, Netflix etc but no adequate bedding on their beds. They will spend money on lottery tickets, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs but not on their children. And I can assure you that many of these tablets being handed out will soon find their way to being sold to fund their lifestyle.They enjoy the benefit which is topped up by casual labour.
These are people who are not at work but their 'free' time is not spent on the children. Send a reading book home and you are lucky to get it back in one piece, if at all. The amount of neglect of some of our children is criminal and has nothing to do with lack of money. It is the families' lifestyle and their responsibility towards their children which is at fault.
It has been mentioned that if we gave them a nice environment to live in they would respect it. We lived in a residential area of Blackpool away from the bright lights and one of our neighbours died. Her next of kin decided to let the house and a family moved in from their life in an HMO.For a while all was good then they decided to paint the house black!!! A little while later the back gate was hanging off and they parked a trailer in the front garden with a huge sign saying they were holding a Car Boot sale every Sunday, come and grab a bargain!!! The children were out at all times of day and night and to cut a long story short it wasn't long until they were evicted leaving the house a wreck.
I agree some people on council estates take a great pride in their homes but there are a good many lazy layabouts whose only aim in life is to drink, smoke and get money by any means they can - legal or illegal.We need a sort out but not in the way some are suggesting. Throwing more money at them only traps them all the more.

[oldbluefox]

Sorry Keith, I'm old school and disagree.

Pick up a dictionary and find the correct word and how it is spelt.

Pick up a book and read it.

Use your brain to work out math equations.

Use pen and paper to write.

When you have mastered the basics, then go onto computer technology.

There are some very good programs out there which are excellent teaching aids and encourage kids to learn without even realising it so I wouldn't necessarily agree. But the children have to access them and use them rather than playing shoot out or racing games. My fear is these laptops will only be used for entertainment rather than as an educational tool.
When I look back at my secondary school days where we had one text book between two which was shared for homework (and you had a job getting it off the other person!) the internet is awash with information. If kids cannot learn from that they never will. How I wish I had those resources when I was doing my GCEs.

[Onelife]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

I'm not about to go trawling through articles to back this up but l'm pretty sure children without computers are at a disadvantage where schooling is concerned. Computers are today's dictionary and as such are, l would imagine, an essential tool in home revision etc.. but to get a more definitive answer on this you'll have to ask a teacher.

Sorry Keith, I'm old school and disagree.

Pick up a dictionary and find the correct word and how it is spelt.

Pick up a book and read it.

Use your brain to work out math equations.

Use pen and paper to write.

When you have mastered the basics, then go onto computer technology.

Hi Stephen…. I wish I had spent more time doing the things you mention . I agree that these skills are essential for a well-rounded education and learning the basics from an early age gives you the potential to achieve.

I think the point screwy was making was to do with a free give away of computers for those who can’t afford them?. Whatever your take on this I believe we live in a different learning environment where a trip to your local library has long disappeared, so having the accessibility to a computer for project work and such is an advantage over those who don’t have this facility imo.

[Gill W]

It still amazes me that I can go out for the day, and take with me vast amounts of knowledge, assessable at my fingertips.

I'm always looking things up. If I'm out for a day trip I like to get more information about the place I'm visiting, or if I'm watching a historical TV programme, I often look up more information about the time period.

My latest entertainment is a plant identifier. Take a photo of a plant or flower, and and the app tells you what it is.

Computers can be a powerful learning tool. Plus, these days, everyone needs computer skills

[Manoverboard]

The Libraries meanwhile have been closed throughout the pandemic period ... just saying

[david63]

the internet is awash with information

But therein lies a couple of problems.

There is a lot of information on the Internet but you need to ability to work out fact from fiction - which is not easy some of the time. Then there is the "it is on the Internet therefore it must be true" (especially where social media is concerned) attitude.

But the children have to access them and use them rather than playing shoot out or racing games.

If the state are providing computers/tablets or whatever for "deprived" school children then it is very easy to limit what is on those devices and what can be accessed from them.

[screwy]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

[Mervyn and Trish]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

My qualifications came first at school, then through a year of work experience as part of a 1-3-1 sandwich apprenticeship, then university and then another year of work experience. But then - the big one. Ongoing experience and a thirst for knowledge. That was for my initial engineering career. When I joined the BBC and switched to editorial and then management it came through courses, experience and learning from those who'd served more time than me. And in retirement I still learn. Through documentary tv programmes, travel and the internet - the latter with a healthy dose of scepticism. Critical to all of that is a willingness to learn. Fortunately our grand daughters have it and are like little sponges. But too many today just want life on a plate with no effort.

[Gill W]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

In his working life, my husband was a Civil Engineer. He learnt by on the job training, and going to night school to get his qualifications. He had to learn how to use computers in the 90's as everything is now done on the computer. It made his life a lot easier too. From having to work on a massive drawing board to doing everything on a laptop.

[barney]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

In his working life, my husband was a Civil Engineer. He learnt by on the job training, and going to night school to get his qualifications. He had to learn how to use computers in the 90's as everything is now done on the computer. It made his life a lot easier too. From having to work on a massive drawing board to doing everything on a laptop.

Absolutely right Gill.
It’s a different era.
You could question what is the point of much of the curriculum when any information is literally a click away.
My youngest has a degree from Cambridge in Criminology and holds a senior position with Kent Police but ask him to do maths in his head.
Not a clue.
Also his handwriting is terrible but he can type at the speed of light.

He’s often amazed at my knowledge of history without looking things up.
I tell him, we were taught that but nowadays, there is no need.
They have google.

[Onelife]

Just returned from Ludlow where there was a noticeable uptake with the wearing of face masks…I’m presuming this is due to the more vulnerable people getting out and about again?

Keep wearing those masks and gloves

[Manoverboard]

Just returned from Ludlow where there was a noticeable uptake with the wearing of face masks…I’m presuming this is due to the more vulnerable people getting out and about again?

Keep wearing those masks and gloves

Just returned from one's periodic ' Escape from the Village ' type scenic tour.

Plenty of cars out there but even on a 10 mile stretch of the A30 there was no sign at all of any Caravans nor Motor Homes and deffo not a single face mask did we see.

[Stephen]

Just returned from Ludlow where there was a noticeable uptake with the wearing of face masks…I’m presuming this is due to the more vulnerable people getting out and about again?

Keep wearing those masks and gloves

Just returned from one's periodic ' Escape from the Village ' type scenic tour.

Plenty of cars out there but even on a 10 mile stretch of the A30 there was no sign at all of any Caravans nor Motor Homes and deffo not a single face mask did we see.

Onelife still not ventured out then causing 10 mile tailbacks

[Onelife]

Just returned from Ludlow where there was a noticeable uptake with the wearing of face masks…I’m presuming this is due to the more vulnerable people getting out and about again?

Keep wearing those masks and gloves

Just returned from one's periodic ' Escape from the Village ' type scenic tour.

Plenty of cars out there but even on a 10 mile stretch of the A30 there was no sign at all of any Caravans nor Motor Homes and deffo not a single face mask did we see.

I am surprised you didn’t see any caravans/motor homes as they are forecasting 10 days of fine weather in your neck of the woods. Not surprised you didn’t see any face masks as I don’t wear mine while driving the car

[Manoverboard]

I am surprised you didn’t see any caravans/motor homes as they are forecasting 10 days of fine weather in your neck of the woods. Not surprised you didn’t see any face masks as I don’t wear mine while driving the car

I was also surprised as the A30 used to be awash with the bloody things them.

Ok, try this ... we didn't see any face masks as we poodled through one town that is even bigger than Ludlow

[Quizzical Bob]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

My qualifications came first at school, then through a year of work experience as part of a 1-3-1 sandwich apprenticeship, then university and then another year of work experience. But then - the big one. Ongoing experience and a thirst for knowledge. That was for my initial engineering career. When I joined the BBC and switched to editorial and then management it came through courses, experience and learning from those who'd served more time than me. And in retirement I still learn. Through documentary tv programmes, travel and the internet - the latter with a healthy dose of scepticism. Critical to all of that is a willingness to learn. Fortunately our grand daughters have it and are like little sponges. But too many today just want life on a plate with no effort.

Ah! You were a thick sandwich student like me

You can look up knowledge but you can’t look up understanding.

[Manoverboard]

Ah! You were a thick sandwich student like me

You can look up knowledge but you can’t look up understanding.

Nor experience

[Stephen]

Nothing like a good bit of social distancing.


Dame Vera Lynn: Spitfire flypast marks funeral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-53337459

[Mervyn and Trish]

What I was trying to get at is:
It appears to be that children can’t learn anything unless they can access a computer etc.
In the days of yore before computers we had to take in the information given by teachers with the aid of text books. Now I know and understand the modern need for technology but I wonder how our Scientists,Engineers etc managed to get all their qualifications at school.? Maybe Qb or Merv could enlighten us.

My qualifications came first at school, then through a year of work experience as part of a 1-3-1 sandwich apprenticeship, then university and then another year of work experience. But then - the big one. Ongoing experience and a thirst for knowledge. That was for my initial engineering career. When I joined the BBC and switched to editorial and then management it came through courses, experience and learning from those who'd served more time than me. And in retirement I still learn. Through documentary tv programmes, travel and the internet - the latter with a healthy dose of scepticism. Critical to all of that is a willingness to learn. Fortunately our grand daughters have it and are like little sponges. But too many today just want life on a plate with no effort.

Ah! You were a thick sandwich student like me

You can look up knowledge but you can’t look up understanding.

[Onelife]

Nothing like a good bit of social distancing.


Dame Vera Lynn: Spitfire flypast marks funeral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-53337459

That’s taking social distancing to new hights

[Stephen]

Bye bye Aurora......probably

[Quizzical Bob]

Ah! You were a thick sandwich student like me

You can look up knowledge but you can’t look up understanding.

Nor experience

“Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement.”

Mark Twain

[Mervyn and Trish]

"The sad thing 'bout experience,
Is by the time you've got it
It's usually all you've got."

Tim Rice (Starlight Express

[oldbluefox]

"Always choose attitude over experience. Always"

Barbara Corcoran

[Manoverboard]

“Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement.”

Mark Twain

He got lucky, he only just beat me to it
.