Edge

15,202

21 January 2010 Let's motivate these disengaged young people! A message for:

The next Education Secretary

As a long-serving Teaching Assistant I have spent countless frustrating hours trying in vain to motivate young people in learning subjects they have no interest in, no hope of gaining a credible qualification in and are therefore a complete waste of education. They need practical skills that will equip them for life, enable them to physically see and be proud of their achievements and give them the drive and ambition that is sadly lacking in the youth of today. Its too late to wait till year 10! - we need to start to capture interests and develop skills with 10 to 11 year olds whilst they still have enthusiasm for learning. Denise Denise Poole

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21 January 2010 vocational learning A message for:

Ed Balls

If we offered more vocational subjects, children who struggle academically could feel that they could shine, in a worthwhile vocation that could keep them in good stead for the rest of their lives. To be taught a trade instead of leaving school with barely a qualification to their name. I have always believed that all children have a gift of something, it just needs a helping hand sometimes to develop. Why cannot we as a nation make sure that schools provide vocational subjects alongside the curriculum, if we leave it to 16+ colleges it is sometimes too late. Give the option at school, with all the local schools sharing the facilities between them. Get local firms interested in sponsoring pupils and offering apprentices. Antoinette

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07 February 2010 Vocational Learning A message for:

Michael Gove

As an ex further education lecturer, I think the present government's policy of trying to get 50% of young people into higher education is very much misguided. Whilst I would not want to deny anyone with the right attitude and attributes to become a fully fledged professional in their chosen field, be it law, medicine, engineering or whatever, I do thinkthere are at present large numbers of young people who are going to 'uni' for reasons that are not entirely sound. I believe that many of them would respond better to training of a more practical or vocational nature. They would then be likely to gain secure employment at an earlier age which may well lead to better long term prospects.They would also be free of having to pay back large student debt. With the economy in the state its in, if there is any debate on how the education budget should be reallocated I suggest that the economy would benefit more from extra investment in the further, rather than the higher education sector. Mr Christopher Keable

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05 February 2010 stop meddling A message for:

The next Education Secretary

Stop all the unnecessary paperwork that is now generated. Encourage students to take up non academic studies such as plumbing/construction as we have an aging workforce and need new blood. Make apprenticeships with large companies compulsory so the training is on going. Give teachers encouragement and praise when they are doing well and stop making all schools an extension of the social work network as teachers are there to teach not 'mother'. Give schools back the power to discipline children properly but fairly and teach parents to 'parent' their children not leave it to schools to teach manners and social skills. All govenrments have meddled too much without knowing what is going on in schools. Janet Harlow

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05 February 2010 - A message for:

The next Education Secretary

Not every student fits the usual education system, and do, as anyone does, become disillusioned with not only themselves but teachers and the institution if they are unable to grasp the curiculum. Therefore their talents need to be addressed, or at least activities which will provide them with a feeling of personal achievement and respect from others. In the scheme of things, children and young adults like to feel like they are succeeding and that others see it too. If they are confident in a task they are less likely to become distracted or disinterested. Make children feel confident by playing to their natural abilities. Alice -

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26 November 2009 Too much pressure to perform I have a son in upper sixth form and he is taking three A levels. He feels so close to breaking point now because of the pressure put upon him, i feel, perhaps wrongly, that all the school system is fighting for is their position on the 'leader boards' at the expense of our childrens sanity. Oonagh Moreton

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30 November 2009 Facilitate don’t teach Throughout my education I got good grades but that was because I learnt how to pass exams, it wasn’t because I learnt a great deal about all the subjects. It wasn’t until I completed a National Diploma that I felt I was learning. This was because, as at university, I was able to challenge myself and learn through a mixture of practice and theory. The biggest problem I found throughout my education was making subject choices. I ended up studying Graphic Design all the way to undergraduate level, not because I wanted to be a graphic designer, but because it was a subject that suited my learning and desire to solve problems. Researching and investigating a problem to produce an innovative and creative solution, is what I think I do best, but what subject is that? Now I have a graphic design degree that could potentially be as much of a restriction as it is an advantage to me in my search for a career. Harry Smith Brighton

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20 November 2009 Why educate? I believe there is a fundamental question to ask ourselves; why we need to "educate" our children and why is it that when we say educate we immediately see an adult standing in front of a young person "educating" them. I see in most "educated" people incapacity to share, incapacity to negotiate, incapacity to change, incapacity to understand new ideas and concepts, incapacity to think, incapacity to manage power, incapacity to communicate, incapacity to act and incapacity to love and innovate. If we adults can't do this how can we put ourselves in the front line for administering, designing and providing "Education”? Andrea Puerta London

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11 September 2009 Qualifications Make more vocational courses available, especially in Special Ed schools. Employers are not interested in GCSE grades below a C so why con pupils and parents with the idea that E,F and G are passes. Bernie McGee Bedford

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05 February 2010 Uni is a waste of time & funding. A message for:

The next Education Secretary

Univesity degrees aren't worth the paper they're written on. Half my friends who have degrees used other peoples work. The best way to learn is on the job, Problem today is, it's not about what you know, it's about who you know. Chrissie -

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09 March 2010 vocational education A message for:

The next Education Secretary

I'm a retired university lecturer. I think we need universities for vocational learners. We should turn some of our ex-polys or colleges of further education into degree-giving institutions for builders, painters and decorators, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, stonemasons, roofers etc. Students would be undergraduates with all that that implies...they would learn trades along with business studies and have opportunities for other cultural activities. Current colleges do not offer young people the life-style for which we should aim for all our children. judith Alnwick

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04 March 2010 ex-Army officers trained as teachers A message for:

Michael Gove

Not everyone shares my view but speaking as an ex-Further Education lecturer, I think its an excellent idea!

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