rsjg80

P.S. I should note I can't drive. In fact what I really am writing should be: The other day I was trying to get Villa into Europe, I was doing really well and had been fortunate with injuries and suspensions etc so I was getting there a lot quicker than I thought I would when I set off. Anyway with about a third of my season still to go the thought I had a tiny squad came up but it wasn't a good time to buy players as it was expensive, I thought at the rate I was going I could probably get all the way to Europe before I needed to reinforce. I complained to the press that the squad was small but decided to carry on going. I kept passing all these transfer windows but the cost of it was ridiculous or it was cheap short term solutions when I only like to put Premium in. I kept going and then hit a tiny injury crisis and that ruined the whole campaign. By this time I'd passed all the transfer windows and then the inevitable happened. I ran out of steam. This cost me a lot in having to attract new players with no carrot and I didn't even get close to Europe. Now a lot of fans are saying that's my fault, I should have at least had a 'splash and dash' and then reinforced when it I could find my Premium players. The press agree and are saying I'm solely to blame. But if the right player isn't available or I thought I could make it on what team I had then surely it wasn't my fault and was just purely an accident? Even if I'd made it the missus thinks it was foolish to even gamble that on getting to Europe. What do you think?

The other day I was driving to a wedding, I was doing really well and had been fortunate with speed camera and traffic jams so I was getting there a lot quicker than I thought I would when I set off. Anyway with about a third of my journey still to go the petrol warning light came up but it wasn't a good time to buy fuel as it was expensive, I thought at the speed I was going I could probably get all the way there before I needed to top up. I complained to the missus that the fuel was low but decided to carry on going. I kept passing all these petrol stations but the cost of it was ridiculous or it was cheap Supermarket fuel when I only like to put Premium in. I kept going and then hit a tiny traffic jam and that ruined the whole journey. By this time I'd passed all the petrol stations and then the inevitable happened. I ran out of fuel. This cost me a lot in having to have the tank drained fully, refill from scratch and I didn't even get close to my destination. Now a lot of people are saying that's my fault, I should have at least had a splash and dash and then filled up when it I could find my Premium fuel petrol station. The insurance company agree and are saying I'm solely to blame. But if the right fuel isn't available or I thought I could make it on what fuel I had then surely it wasn't my fault and was just purely an accident? Even if I'd made it the missus thinks it was foolish to even gamble that on getting to such an important event. What do you think?

Four is possibly one of the worst designs for anything - I mean anything! I went for one, out of those choices it is the best - simple flag. And like people above I'm hoping three is out of date sooner rather than later. But come on, we're all missing an opportunity to be creative. I've had a go, reliable MSPaint! I'm expecting better from some of you lot - this took me five minutes and some of you clearly have more time to waste than me!!!!

I see it on a daily basis - it is not a perceived change through the media (although like anything it can sometimes not help) but children are certainly worse year on year, you can almost visibly see it in schools, the percentage of troublesome kids in each class is higher the LOWER down you go - Yes, in the later years they know HOW to cause trouble more effectively but the younger the class the more of them there are trying to cause trouble - and by the time they know HOW to cause trouble they'll be more of them. But maybe, unlike the person above, I don't work in some good schools. I work in a few but they would be considered some of the rougher schools. Someone also mentioned above about children's right and adults reaction to that fear. If there are two children fighting, the first thing I do is get VISUAL assistance even if it's a lady on the verge of retirement: this is because of the fear that even the remotest bit of physical contact (even to protect themselves or others) needs to be witnessed for fear of reprisals. A lot of adults will basically stand by and watch if they can not obtain that protection. The same applies to pedophilia - especially as a male; having to be constantly aware of ANY physical contact (again for their protection or little ones wanting to hold your hand in the playground) or even language - correcting children immediately (bearing in mind some are four) if they say they love you; "no, you like me" with a real fear in your voice.....

Now I'm not trying to sound like a smug git here or anything but I have 10 GCSEs, 4 A-Levels, a degree and PGCE and found all of them mind numbingly boring and easy and did no work for any of them, yet I didn't feel the need to ever be rude or troublesome to the teacher - I just went to sleep in the corner or skipped school to play snooker! I never understand this excuse of 'Oh I was bored' or 'the work was too easy/hard' etc to justify appalling behavior. They same excuse would not be acceptable in later life. Whilst I agree with some of the above (tailored eduction) there is a necessity to provide some of the basic skills to survive in life. As I'm sure you're aware, your plans for your life change drastically between the ages of 10 and 20 so to say children should drop certain things is a bit premature. Children get the opportunity to drop less important subjects in secondary school for others but I thing it would be extremely irresponsible to allow them to drop some of them - you'd have some children who may display an aptitude for the maths/ sciences dropping them for fear or peer group reprisal!! However once you get beyond compulsory education then I fully agree that pushing children down the academic route as a 'one size fits all' plan is also pointless. But although you NOW know what was useful to you and what wasn't you can't be so sure at the time. Besides, the idea of education is not so much the what but the how. Well that's how I approach teaching, knowing the facts is all well and good but I'm much more interested in teaching children HOW to learn rather than filling them with mindless facts that most adults wouldn't know.

'itdoesntmatterwhatthissay' has got it pretty much spot on - the kids know the system back to front and how to get round it. They know exactly what YOU can't do so they know they can do x and x without any reprisals. They learn this at an earlier and earlier stage in their lives. They are extremely aware that there is nothing non-parents can do, and then they have useless parents who just laugh, shrug or swear at their kids to compound the issue. Children need to have something they like before you can withhold that benefit as a consequence of misbehaviour - and especially in Primary there aren't such things as all they crave is PSP's and mobile phones which we don't have control over.

Interesting reading. Maybe I'm just in some bad schools, if they don't want ANY of the rewards then there is no punishment in taking away any of them. They have no interest in funny books, or stickers or anything. They really could just be zombies!! Right off to the match now, and I can forget all this rubbish!

Right it's up to all you parents now then - you lot spread the good parenting message and make my life easier! Remember I don't have sweets, telly, money, games to hold back so it's all in your hands! And on that, goodnight - but I'll be checking back on this thread tomorrow!

I disagree .. when I was a teenager my mum would be soft with us , my dad firm ...but fair , a clip when it was warrented , nothing more ..which one do you think my brother and i reacted better to when it came to matters of getting into trouble at school my mum with her ..don't do it again or my dad with a clip around the ear and the impied threat that more was to come if you did it again it's hard to put a view point on something like this across without it looking unfavourably bad on me ... but as always on VT , I'll always give an honest answer rather than the right answer .... People here don't really know me as a person so it's hard for you all to judge how I turned out as a result of what i believe was a very good pbringing given to me by my parents .. if you read my comments that i would "clip" my child in years to come you may pickup up an opinion of me that probabaly doesn't do me justice ..where as if you were a close friend you would understand the context of who i am and how I am ... and know that a clip is not something i would give out for the sake of it not sure if i'm making sense now .... ?? Making perfect sense Tony. As someone mentioned earlier 'Horses for courses'. I do not deem any parent a bad parent for a light clip around the ear if it's warranted in the same way I don't accuse parents of being bad parents if they avoid physical punishment of all kinds. I like you will say what I mean on here without fear of being PC!!!

I think taking away a privilege is far more effective, imo. The "naughty step" just seems to me as if it would lose it's effect after a while. Teaching kids that they actually have to earn their priviliges through behaving well is what it's about. I personally believe that any sort of additional punishment, beyond taking away a privilege, won't really do any good when raising a child. My mum is a primary school teacher, and a bloody good one at that, and she raised me using this philosophy and applies the same approach when she teaches. What privilege does she take away? I'd like to know!! Nothing works in all the schools I've been at; breaks, sports, golden time, none of it...

The problem is now they don't want to do ANYTHING!! Admittedly my knowledge of older children is a bit more limited but of the ones I do teach they have no interest in anything, even old favourites like sport. PSPs and DSs is all they care about. I like to think I'll make a difference for even a few - but what a country/ world they'll live in?.....

This might sound like me hating my job but it isn't that. I don't care about planning, I don't care about mindless paperwork for the sake or paperwork, meetings for the sake of meetings and silly colleagues - that's all jobs!! I care because I'm one of those deluded teachers who actually thought you could make a difference and I'm just beginning to realise it's FAR too late. And I see it everyday naturally but my point is its reflection on our society. God, I'm 27 and generally happy go lucky and I sound like a right moany git tonight! Ah well, it's the weekend and the one saving grace - The Season Ticket in my wallet!

Yes, I agree fully. No-one can disagree with that. So does that mean the damage on the 90/95% of the children I teach is now irreversible as they clearly do not have such like minded parents? And they will continue the pattern. If parents (or at least a majority) were like you and Tony life would be easy. Naturally I can not divulge details of schools, names etc and speak from a safe anonymity of a forum but this is what ALL teachers think away from parents evenings and public comment.

True. But furthermore the few good children see that crime pays in effect. That is the lesson that is taught. It will be the naughty ones who are rewarded for even mediocre behaviour in an attempt to appease them - whilst the good children are ignored for superior behaviour.

Ianrobo, I am not a parent and I ask purely out of interest; but when Amy is 9-10 or so and point blank refuses to go to this naughty step (although not allowed to use the word naughty in schools anymore - no joke!!) what do you do then? I'm not being facetious I am genuinely interested in what your next step would be.

Oh I would love a tougher approach to children's behaviour. I'm in serious danger of turning into a Grumpy Old Git aren't I?! Parents like you Tony fill me with hope but you are few are far between. I wouldn't even want to smack a child that wasn't mine but it disgusts me that punishment has been taken out of the parents hands too. In schools we can not punish them at all - expelling children is basically forbidden by the county council, parents have to agree to detentions (which they never do) and children know they can get away with everything. The most common thing I hear is "so? what you going to do" and the honest answer should be "nothing". We can't keep them in for breaks, they walk out and we can't physically touch them/ lock them in, there parents won't intervene and the law makers say we must keep everyone in school. I really can't repeat enough I'm talking about Primary kids here. I'm just speechless it's got this bad. Maybe not being a parent I don't know all the techniques but even with my training I've run out of ideas! The kids have everything they want (PSP's in their pockets, mobiles in their bags) and there is NOTHING that will control them even a reasonable amount.

It's especially interesting to hear younger members of the forum saying they think children are awful these days. However I agree with some of the above posts, it probably should have been written "are parents getting worse" as children are a product of their environment. However that is all a bit deep for a forum poll! I just wondered if, for whatever reason, people agreed with my concerns. I would not have a child in this country now, I really wouldn't; I feel as if we are on the brink of a real social meltdown and that seems slightly over the top but I only see one or two children a SCHOOL by Year 6 that are anywhere near respectful - they're 10 and that idea scares me. Teachers hands are tied and parents are getting younger and care less - how can things get better?

Very off topic (so in the right section!) but just a quick poll; are kids in this country getting worse by the day or am I just getting old and forgetting it's always been like that?! Be interesting based on your ages too. I'm relatively young (27) but I remember being really scared of the Head, even the really naughty kids were. Now even the 'better' kids couldn't give a monkeys and mouth off and kick Teachers and Heads etc. So, in you opinion, has kids behaviour declined that rapidly (i.e. in 10 years since I left school) or is it just the same as it always has been, each generation slightly worse than the last!! Reason I ask is I'm a supply teacher in PRIMARY and 90% of the kids are mouthy to me (We'll I am Supply) but also the Head etc in a variety of schools and I just can't believe it seems to have got this bad - or am I just getting old as I half suspect?!

There are a few and it is hard to choose but looking at it from a strictly financial/ future view it has to be Young. Hes' the player that will be the most significant for us in the coming years and will cost the most money to replace like for like. If the choice was based purely on performance this season (e.g. the question was which player couldn't we lose to injury this season) then it'd be Laursen. I'm a bit disappointed Mellberg is not higher up in the poll. People seem to forget he's playing out of position and is really a CB who has been arguably one of our best players every season he's been here. If he was still playing CB he'd be getting a lot more appreciation and we'd all be a lot more fearful of losing him like it looks like we're going to. My biggest regret will be that we never get to see Mellberg and Laursen playing together as CBs for a prolonged period of time.