Education in the UK (Part 1)
This post has been a long time coming. I've wrote so much about how the education system is a failure before in my blog I'm sure. Something I'll have to search through I think! This time I wanna go into depth.
Real change is needed in our education system. I'm not just talking about university fees which I've spoke about before and the Open University tried to make clear in a letter the sent me below 
Open University explains tuition Fees!
Eric Schmidt criticised the UK education system back in August and I agree with him (and the pirate party appeared to as well). He said the UK had a strong, proud past of scientist and technological pioneers. As someone who left the school system in 2005, I will try and list what I believe is missing to create future pioneers in this country without being boring 
A simple IT lesson today isn't good enough. The children know more and if they don't in many cases they adapt faster to technology then the person teaching them. Teaching a child or teen how to work with Microsoft Excel or fill entries in Microsoft Access will (mostly) set them up for a lifetime of work. In addition to this even in workplaces other software systems are being used and embraced. A wider range of IT knowledge needs to be added on the curriculum. I can't speak for the current curriculum though, but I would hope it's been updated from my recollections. I think in terms of teaching IT in UK schools there should be two separate subject matters one being the traditional information technology and the other being computer science.
Many other subjects particularly at secondary level are stagnant statics. I mean the curriculum doesn't change year after year. How can the best be provided and given when it isn't current or broad enough? This is especially true of subjects like history. The history of the Atlantic slave trade or WW2 are both very important components in their own right these are drawn out and analysed far too deeply. International history should also be on the curriculum.
Lets take a look at the very broad (IB course) approved by the UN. It doesn't just focus on academics. It teaches life skills. It teaches for real life rather then just programming people for work or jobs in a system. Life skills need to be taught that are broad. Enabling students to think about creativity. Not just another robot, so to speak.
A random secondary school
Teachers in UK schools are often focused on meeting targets and achieving grades. To which most are very misleading and confusing. The problem is the curriculum in schools it just doesn't allow students to achieve the best. Often students are put in groups in English, Maths and Science. Where they generally perform to the level of the group they are in. Allowing mixed ability students to work together would work best allowing student matching. The aim being that the weaker student can learn with how the strong student does. If lessons are tailored correctly.
We really need to improve our schools. If we don't, we will need to rely on foreign countries to supply us with brains. We already have problems producing a workforce!
It's like most of our country at the moment we really need to self sustain more and improve what we have.
I personally feel that I've learnt more in the six years out of school, then I ever learnt at school! That cannot be the way no longer. Students need to come out of school ready for the world. I've got more to say in part 2 on this series. I actually meant to post this a few months back but didn't finish it!
They still don’t understand the cause of the riots…
Kit Malthouse - Deputy Mayor of London
Instead of addressing the cause of the August riots. The deputy mayor is still focusing on what he calls "the large majority of criminals" who took part in the unrest. Can nobody see that unrest just doesn't happen? It's a issue with society.
The fact it took our own prime minister three nights to cut his holiday short in Tuscany and return home, just shows what a mess everything was.
People have felt marginalized. Whether through race (ignore what the media feeds you people do get treated differently in this country!), poverty, bailing out bankers, university fees, price increases (due to the global crisis), unemployment or a whole host of issues.
It's too easy to sit back and say what a bunch of thugs and vermin these people were and not get to the root cause of the situation. I don't condone this behavior but this is what happens when there is a mismatch in society.
The investigations into what happened do seem to be continuing here.
However, they garner little media exposure. We just hear crap about everyone who took part being hardened criminals to put the population down in their rightful place. The media can influence so many things and bend the truth. Reporters don't know much of Tottenham and yet much of the reporting was inaccurate at the time. Media can just evoke problems with the masses at sensitive times.
During the riots, We had one reporter(BBC) saying there is a Jewish community in Tottenham. The Jewish community he is referring to is in Stamford Hill a mile and a half up the road. Meaning they had come down (for some unknown reason) when the unrest took place. Inaccurate reporting such as this lead people to believe only a people of one race, or religion is causing the trouble in a particular area. The media really is a lethal thing 
Pah.... I've got so much to say on this issue it'd bring my blog database down and render it unusable
Marco Simoncelli death and funeral
Marco Simoncelli
After a terrible few weeks in Motorsport. The death of Marco Simoncelli on 28th October was a big shock. It's something I meant to post sooner but really couldn't. I don't really know what to say. Its a terrible loss to Moto GP and from what I saw he really brought some flair to everything.
Rest in peace Marco.
Muammar Gaddafi Killed
Seems my blog is just all about death. I've not intended it that way! Not good, but that's all that's been happening out there. Muammar Gaddafi was reported captured and later killed earlier on today. I don't like people getting killed regardless of what they have done, so I wanted to see him captured and brought to the International Criminal Courts at The Hague to be tried for his war crimes. This man was deluded and in my opinion sick mentally (its said he was bipolar).
However in terms of changing Libya, I don't think it will make that big a difference. Democracy has to be formed. The country has no history of democracy. Weapons have to be called in and accounted for. A insurgency could still form. This is just one step. Bringing his government down was one MAJOR step this is a MINOR step in my opinion. The country will progress however. Of course after 42 years of brutal dictatorship the Libyan people deserve to celebrate this moment... but its not over. This is merely the beginning.
I feel I have more to write on this. If I think of something I will come back to it. It's late! Red-eye!
Some articles on him from the guardian below.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/20/gaddafi-how-did-he-die
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/20/colonel-muammar-gaddafi?newsfeed=true
RIP – Dan Wheldon
Motorsport has lost someone great. May you rest in peace. Horrific way to go.
Hope his wife and kids are given the time and space they need to heal.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/17/dan-wheldon-emberton-grief
Steve Jobs, May you rest in peace
Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs
I really meant to post this yesterday but had work and panic after.
Steve Jobs, Thank you for bringing us the first computer with a mouse. The iPhone, the iPod and for all you done to change people's lives.
You will be remembered and missed.
Terror Victims
R.I.P the 2,976 Americans who lost their lives on 9/11. R.I.P the 48,644 Afghans and 1,690,903 Iraqis who paid the ultimate price for a crime they didn't commit, and the hundreds of thousands of people who die through terror attacks around the world.
News from a eventful summer!
Four years for inciting?!
Britains Youth Crisis!
Darling slams "arrogant" bankers!
A little bit of sense after the riots…
From the only paper with a bit of sense it seems. Got a snippet of something very well written too. Coming soon!
TV and it’s role in informing us
Many times people fuss over story lines in soaps and TV shows. Criticizing them, calling them too outlandish and unsuitable for screening. The Eastender's baby swapping scandal, Waterloo road's recent transgender episode being the two most memorable.
I happen to think many of these shows do actually serve a role in society. Nobody can deny how powerful TV is on changing minds, maybe even more so then the internet. So, having these issues brought out makes the public aware of them. How to confront them so they are not hidden away and left to fester. The transgender episode of Waterloo road (school television drama) stood out the most in my opinion. It touched on many issues I'd imagine a person who feels trapped in the wrong body would be going through.
Having initially thought he was just a sex mad teen. Chris Mead, The deputy headteacher caught the boy looking at underwear magazines and in the girls changing rooms. In the end the deputy headteacher learned that not everyone is the same. By bringing this to the screens (if done right) this educates society = that has to be a good thing?
Anyway.. hope the other episodes of Waterloo road continue with the storyline and don't mess with it too much. Got another blog post coming soon (not on this subject) so stay tuned 