The Virtual Pub

Come Inside... => The Commons => Topic started by: Nick on March 08, 2008, 11:29:22 AM

Title: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 08, 2008, 11:29:22 AM
I have before me a Press Release, published today, from the Learning and SKills Council. They have an annual budget in the region of £5 BILLION and a remit to raise the level of skills in England, not least literacy and numeracy, forcing people, in some cases highly qualified people, to attend basic literacy courses (Snoopy will confirm).

http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-510parentalknowledge-mar08.pdf (http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-510parentalknowledge-mar08.pdf)

A pity then that they cannot spell the word "People's" correctly! evil:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 08, 2008, 11:47:55 AM
In a similar vein we have had sent home from school a "reader" to help us assist our off sprung to learn Welsh. The school are asking for a contribution of £2 per child toward the cost of a 12 page booklet.
The booklet gives Welsh phrases (Questions and responses) with a translation into what can only be described as pigeon English.
To compound the felony, from a school with a policy of confiscating crisps, chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks from children's lunch boxes (and how Gestapo like is that?) the Question "Do you like Crisps?" is answered "Yes" The next question "Do you like grapes?" is answered "No".

Is it me?  Banghead


On the subject of the requested "Contribution of £2 per booklet to help towards the cost" of a 12 page A5 sized booklet written by one of their own staff. I have written to the Head pointing out that I produce a 40 page A5 magazine every other month. 1300 copies at a print cost of £200. That is 15 pence a copy.
I would ask "Do I look stupid?" but I know the answer you lot will give. cussing:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 08, 2008, 11:48:53 AM
"pigeon" English? noooo:























 eveilgrin:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Barman on March 08, 2008, 11:54:04 AM
In a similar vein we have had sent home from school a "reader" to help us assist our off sprung to learn Welsh. The school are asking for a contribution of £2 per child toward the cost of a 12 page booklet.
The booklet gives Welsh phrases (Questions and responses) with a translation into what can only be described as pigeon English.
To compound the felony, from a school with a policy of confiscating crisps, chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks from children's lunch boxes (and how Gestapo like is that?) the Question "Do you like Crisps?" is answered "Yes" The next question "Do you like grapes?" is answered "No".

Is it me?  Banghead


On the subject of the requested "Contribution of £2 per booklet to help towards the cost" of a 12 page A5 sized booklet written by one of their own staff. I have written to the Head pointing out that I produce a 40 page A5 magazine every other month. 1300 copies at a print cost of £200. That is 15 pence a copy.
I would ask "Do I look stupid?" but I know the answer you lot will give. cussing:
Na  whistle:

Ble mae'r toiled?  redface:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 08, 2008, 11:55:39 AM
Pigeon.... Pidgin  Whatever .... I didn't go to University .... anyway your link only shows a blank document wth a notice pasted over it by Vi$ta to the effect that I should contact the sender as the document contains a basic error.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Barman on March 08, 2008, 11:57:53 AM
Pigeon.... Pidgin  Whatever .... I didn't go to University .... anyway your link only shows a blank document wth a notice pasted over it by Vi$ta to the effect that I should contact the sender as the document contains a basic error.
Works for me in XP/Safari  whistle:

Oes ci gennych? Oes
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 08, 2008, 11:59:11 AM
Pigeon.... Pidgin  Whatever .... I didn't go to University .... anyway your link only shows a blank document wth a notice pasted over it by Vi$ta to the effect that I should contact the sender as the document contains a basic error.

No. I just looked. It's still there! Maybe your Vista is censoring it eveilgrin:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 08, 2008, 12:14:09 PM
I have emailed the link to Mrs S to see if her "old fashioned" XP will open it.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 08, 2008, 12:23:01 PM
Quote
PARENTS URGED TO RETHINK YOUNG PEOPLES’ OPTIONS
Better options knowledge could encourage young people to stay on in learning
Date of issue 7th March 2008
Press release number 510
Embargo until 7th March 2008
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 09, 2008, 07:36:13 AM
She reports that she spotted 5 mistakes  grammatical errors in the first page alone .......... and yes it opened in her "old fashioned" XP ...... but then it just opened in Vi$ta for me too. rubschin:

What appalling people they employ at these Government "agencies" as we are now told to call them.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Barman on March 09, 2008, 07:40:32 AM
She reports that she spotted 5 mistakes in the first page alone .......... and yes it opened in her "old fashioned" XP
whistle:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Bar Wench on March 10, 2008, 08:54:01 AM
Snoops, have you sent your kids to one of those welsh language school jobies?
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Darwins Selection on March 10, 2008, 08:56:48 AM
Snoops, have you sent your kids to one of those welsh language school jobies?
Jobbies girl. ::)

Can't you see he has taken a pedantry pill?
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 09:13:33 AM
Snoops, have you sent your kids to one of those welsh language school jobies?

Good God NO!

Only 10% of the population of Denbighshire claimed to be Welsh on the last census. If there are more then thrity Welsh speakers living in this village of 1950 souls I'd be amazed. BUT 1 hour of Welsh is on the National Curriculum. The old headteacher, now retired, used to satisfy this requirement by holding the morning payers and the lunch time "Grace" in Welsh. The "new man" is a different kettle of fish and sticks to the rules. He is a Welsh speaker although not actually Welsh (Like ex-smokers .... the worst possible of all worlds) so the poor little buggers have to do an hour of "speaking in tongues" each week. Stupid thing is when they get to GCSE options Welsh is one of the subjects that they are allowed to drop. At the High School attended by THW there are 6 pupils doing GCSE Welsh out of a year group of 300.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Barman on March 10, 2008, 09:15:12 AM
Snoops, have you sent your kids to one of those welsh language school jobies?

Good God NO!

Only 10% of the population of Denbighshire claimed to be Welsh on the last census. If there are more then thrity Welsh speakers living in this village of 1950 souls I'd be amazed. BUT 1 hour of Welsh is on the National Curriculum. The old headteacher, now retired, used to satisfy this requirement by holding the morning payers and the lunch time "Grace" in Welsh. The "new man" is a different kettle of fish and sticks to the rules. He is a Welsh speaker although not actually Welsh (Like ex-smokers .... the worst possible of all worlds) so the poor little buggers have to do an hour of "speaking in tongues" each week. Stupid thing is when they get to GCSE options Welsh is one of the subjects that they are allowed to drop. At the High School attended by THW there are 6 pupils doing GCSE Welsh out of a year group of 300.
Assuming they don’t work longer hours than kids in England, what do they drop from the National Curriculum to fit the Welsh in?  rubschin:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 09:16:53 AM
They have no opportunity to learn French or Spanish
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Bar Wench on March 10, 2008, 09:18:12 AM
Probably modern languages. Or they fit it in in the afternoons. Mr Wench's school basically does core curriculum in the morning and "extras" in the afternoon.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 10, 2008, 10:11:11 AM
English, I spect.

Mrs Nick said she wanted to go and look at some rugs yesterday (not the Barman sort). Fine. She gave me directions to the shop.

It was in effing RHYL! Banghead
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 10:36:36 AM
Oh do drop in. We are in chaos as usual and have one child off school with threatened but as yet not actual vomit.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Bar Wench on March 10, 2008, 10:38:35 AM
I've just had a bit of a nasty turn. Nearly passed out!  eeek:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Barman on March 10, 2008, 10:39:13 AM
I've just had a bit of a nasty turn. Nearly passed out!  eeek:
Stop looking at all that fetish-wear then!  noooo:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 10:40:02 AM
I've just had a bit of a nasty turn. Nearly passed out!  eeek:

 rubschin: You need a tonic or summat. How's your blood sugars?
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 10, 2008, 10:42:04 AM
Oh do drop in. We are in chaos as usual and have one child off school with threatened but as yet not actual vomit.

Thanks but this was yesterday! Do try to keep up!

http://www.ghfrith.com/index.php?p0=home (http://www.ghfrith.com/index.php?p0=home)

We bought a rug!












£850!!! cussing:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Bar Wench on March 10, 2008, 10:43:11 AM
I've just had a bit of a nasty turn. Nearly passed out!  eeek:

 rubschin: You need a tonic or summat. How's your blood sugars?

Low I think. But that wasn't it. Horrid stomach pains.  eeek:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 10, 2008, 10:43:37 AM
Morning sickness?
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Bar Wench on March 10, 2008, 10:44:08 AM
 Banghead

NO!
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 10, 2008, 10:45:47 AM
Of course, of course
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 10:47:46 AM
Oh do drop in. We are in chaos as usual and have one child off school with threatened but as yet not actual vomit.

Thanks but this was yesterday! Do try to keep up!

http://www.ghfrith.com/index.php?p0=home (http://www.ghfrith.com/index.php?p0=home)

We bought a rug!












£850!!! cussing:

Barnum said it! One every minute.

You could have flown sleazy jet to Turkey and haggled for a rug for much less. (Think Johnny English)

You were less than a mile from me and you didn't even ring. We had scones and fruit bread and stuff too. sad24:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 10, 2008, 10:48:51 AM
We had to get back sharpish to release the chatty painter who was working SUnday and who insisted we lock him in the house (search me)
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 10, 2008, 10:50:17 AM
We had to get back sharpish to release the chatty painter who was working SUnday and who insisted we lock him in the house (search me)

I trust you searched hm or at least counted the silver spoons before he left.
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 11, 2008, 01:34:33 PM
I Just called their Press Office.

"We are having a bit of a debate about this apostrophe. We are not sure if you are right or not"

 Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Snoopy on March 11, 2008, 02:04:06 PM
Send them this link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fowlers-Modern-English-Language-Classics/dp/0198605064
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Nick on March 13, 2008, 10:13:03 AM
They have now corrected it. I spect they had to have a committee meeting noooo:
Title: Re: Educational Standards again
Post by: Darwins Selection on March 13, 2008, 10:26:12 AM
They have now corrected it. I spect they had to have a committee meeting noooo:
Probably spent £10M on consultants to resolve it.  noooo: