coda Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 (edited) In the report, dubbed Project Hero, the authors suggest a script for ministers to persuade graduates to accept the worsening of their conditions. "We all live in difficult times," they suggest ministers argue. "You have a deal which is so much better than your younger siblings (they will incur up to £9,000 tuition fees and up to RPI+3% interest rates)". This can't be serious! Edited June 14, 2013 by coda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mockingbird_franklin Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 no such thing as a free meal MP's might snigger at that suggestion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Thing is, stuff has to be paid for eventually, no such thing as a free meal. If it had of been grants rather than loans, thats another 40bn that has to be paid off with higher taxes/lower public spending. This is absolute complete and utter bollocks. You do realise that those who have taken out a student loan in the past 15 years are paying compounded interest on it? The fact that interest rates were kept so low was an attempt to incentivise people into further education. Any attempt to raise interest rates after the fact would be nothing more than theft. Also it's quite interesting that they would choose the RPI when the CPI is now the official measure of consumer prices in the UK, the RPI is of course typically higher than the CPI... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Is William Hague morphing into Ian Hislop? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Michael Gove is poised to backtrack on major aspects of his controversial new history curriculum for schools in England aftersustained opposition from teachers and prominent academics, the Guardian has learned. "A major rewrite" is likely to see more emphasis given to world history alongside the mainly British focus originally suggested by the Department for Education (DfE). Schools will also be given much more freedom – current mandatory requirements will become suggestions. In addition there will be a drastic reduction in the scope of the primary curriculum. Winston Churchill is no longer named in the new draft. Five- to seven-year-olds will not have to learn about the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti, as suggested in the current draft, but instead could be told about the more modern figures of LS Lowry, Neil Armstrong, Tim Berners-Lee and Rosa Parks. Charles Darwin may feature in secondary school history lessons, while schools are to be given more scope to teach pupils about immigration and Islamic history. DfE civil servants met history teachers last week to unveil the changes, in a document seen by the Guardian. The first draft of the history curriculum, to be taught to five- to 14-year-olds from next year, was published in February. The education secretary was criticised by historians including Simon Schama, Sir Richard Evans and Sir David Cannadine for its alleged over-emphasis on English history and insisting on too much detail. Schama, a former adviser to Gove on the curriculum, told the Hay Festival that it was "offensive and insulting". The Historical Association carried out an online poll which found only 4% of respondents thought the February draft was a positive change, while 96% of 545 secondary school teachers taking part in a separate survey by the association said the proposed curriculum was too prescriptive. The new children's laureate, Malorie Blackman, told the Guardian this month that the proposals were "dangerous". She said: "The curriculum needs to appeal to as many children as possible or a number of them could become disenchanted with education because they feel it's not relevant." The first draft expected seven- to-11-year-olds to be taught British history from the stone age to the union of parliaments in 1707, with 48 bullet points taking schools through historical events and personalities they must teach, while history for 11- to 14-year-olds would cover 1707 to 1989. But, although some historians – including David Starkey, Antony Beevor and Niall Ferguson – backed the move, the DfE seems to have been chastened by the reaction, with Gove indicating last month to the Commons education select committee that the curriculum would be changed for its next draft. The draft presented last week sees extra topics from world history included, while primary schools will no longer be expected to teach the whole period until 1707. Instead, 1066 is being put forward as the new end-point for primaries, though they are also asked to teach one topic from beyond that point, and secondaries one from before it. "It's much more in line with what primaries do now," said a source who was at the meeting. Secondary schools could now teach history up to the present day. The curriculum's compulsory content has also been drastically stripped back, with detailed bullet points that were previously listed as mandatory now presented as suggestions. Five- to seven-year-olds will no longer have to grapple with "the concept of the nation", as controversially suggested in the February draft, but instead should be taught about "changes within living memory". In key stages 2 (for seven- to-11-year-olds), and 3 (ages 11-14), pupils will have to study a world history topic and local history alongside British topics. At KS2, a world history topic is required, including the possibility of studying "early Islam" or the culture of Benin in west Africa, while the crusades could be studied at KS3. Clive of India, described by Schama last month as a "sociopathic, corrupt thug" featuring in a curriculum which was like "1066 and All That, but without the jokes", appears to have been dropped as even a suggested topic while, more controversially, Churchill is no longer named. The source said: "There's been a major rewrite since the thing came out in February. I do not know if that is because they ran into a lot more flak than they were expecting, but they have been listening to people's objections. "There was a meeting last week at the DfE with quite a range of people and groups there and there is pretty much an awareness that this was a lot better and it is workable, both at primary and secondary. It may still change again before the latest draft is published, but I doubt it will change much." A second source: "I think the DfE was genuinely taken aback by the response they've had on this. They've had to move." Another source said the DfE had had to respond to concerns that the currently-published version of the new curriculum, which must be taught in conventional state-run schools, was overly prescriptive, while the government's favoured academies do not have to teach it at all. He said: "Because of the academy programme, it is difficult for them to say to one set of schools 'do what you like' and to another 'follow this incredibly detailed programme of study'. They've had to give more flexibility." The DfE is due to go public on its latest draft in the next few weeks Gove said on Friday that the new draft was with David Cameron and Nick Clegg, awaiting their sign-off. A DfE spokesperson said: "The consultation on the draft programmes of study has now closed. We will respond in due course." Ins and outs Out At key stage 1, Isaac Newton, Florence Nightingale, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Christina Rossetti have gone. In They make way for Christopher Columbus, Neil Armstrong, William Caxton, Tim Berners-Lee, LS Lowry, Rosa Parks and Emily Davison. Out Five- to seven-year-olds are no longer likely to have to figure out the concepts of "nation, civilisation, monarchy, parliament, democracy, war and peace". In They will simply learn about historical events and changes, important figures and local history. Out At key stages 2 and 3 (ages seven-11), far fewer historical figures are specified in the latest draft, with Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren, Adam Smith, the anti-slavery campaigner Olaudah Equiano, William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee and even Margaret Thatcher no longer featuring. There is also no space for the empire figures General James Wolfe or Clive of India. In Charles Darwin is one of the few new personalities introduced in the latest version for older children. Topics such as "the development of the British empire", the slave trade and the second world war will cover many of the individuals above. Out Terms such as "Britain and her empire" and "the Heptarchy". In Now just "the British empire"; the "Glorious Revolution" is still there, but firmly in quotes. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10136732/Eminent-Victorians-dropped-from-history-curriculum-in-Gove-U-turn.html Gove backtracking? Neverrrrrrrr. 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peterms Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 But David Starkey and Niall Ferguson support Mr G's plans! Don't appease the liberal thought-police! No surrender to the Guardianistas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Niall Ferguson is one of the biggest idiots in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Re-sits for 15/16 year old students. Bad. Re-sits for Gove. Good. The man is a hypocrite as well as incompetent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Niall Ferguson is one of the biggest idiots in the world. And David Starkey is the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Conservative MPs launch attempt to bring back death penalty, privatise the BBC and ban burka Includes plan to call a bank holiday "Margaret Thatcher Day". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I have no problems with turning the 8th April into a national day of celebration. Everyone had a great time this year. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Conservative MPs launch attempt to bring back death penalty, privatise the BBC and ban burka Includes plan to call a bank holiday "Margaret Thatcher Day". It terrifies me that this reads like a story from The Onion. It can't be serious right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 A list of bills to be brought up by the loony Right according to LabourList Friday 5 July Margaret Thatcher Day - renaming the August Bank Holiday after Thatcher (Peter Bone MP) EU Membership (Audit of Costs and Benefits) - commission a study of the benefits and costs of UK membership of the EU (Christopher Chope MP) Friday 12 July Sexual Impropriety in Employment – abolishes sexual harassment cases in the workplace (except if a crime has been committed) (Christopher Chope MP) House of Lords (Maximum Membership) - sets a limit on the number of Lords, and stops more being appointed House of Lords (Maximum Membership) (Christopher Chope MP) Friday 6 September Face Coverings (Prohibition) – banning the Burka. (Philip Hollobone MP) National Service – bring back national service for young people. (Philip Hollobone MP) European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) – leaving the EU. (Philip Hollobone MP) Friday 13 September Withdrawal from the ECHR – leaving the European court (under the auspicies of dealing with terrorism.) (Peter Bone MP) Romanian and Bulgarian Accession (Labour Restriction) – restricts the rights of these two nationalities to work in the UK (Peter Bone MP) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Abolition) - abolishes Nick Clegg. (Peter Bone MP) Friday 18 October United Kingdom (Withdrawal from the European Union) – leaving the EU (again). (Christopher Chope MP) Asylum (Time Limit) - places a time limit (3 months) on how long an asylum seeker has to claim asylum. (Christopher Chope MP) Foreign National Offenders (Exclusion from the United Kingdom) – Anyone convicted of a crime would be barred from the UK. (Christopher Chope MP) Friday 25 October Young Offenders (Parental Responsibility) – parents would be legally responsible for young offenders crimes. (Philip Hollobone MP) Foreign National Offenders (Exclusion from the United Kingdom) – Anyone convicted of a crime would be barred from the UK. (Philip Hollobone MP) Asylum Seekers (Return to Nearest Safe Country) – sending asylum seekers to the nearest “safe country” to their home country. (Philip Hollobone MP) Friday 1 November Department of Energy and Climate Change (Abolition) – ending co-ordinated attempts to deal with climate change. (Peter Bone MP) Married Couples (Tax Allowance) Mr Peter Bone – tax cuts for married couples. (Peter Bone MP) Charitable Status for Religious Institutions – assumes all religious institutions are automatically charities. (Peter Bone MP) Friday 8 November Residential Roads - new roads must be adopted by the Local Highways Authority. (Philip Hollobone MP) Friday 22 November Equality and Diversity (Reform) - make positive discrimination illegal. Also would make Labour’s use of AWS illegal. (Philip Hollobone MP) Sentencing Escalator - tougher sentences for repeat offenders. (Philip Hollobone MP) Leasehold Reform (Amendment) - amends the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. (Philip Hollobone MP) BBC Licence Fee (Civil Debt) – would make no longer a crime not to pay the license fee. (Philip Hollobone MP) Smoking (Private Members’ Clubs) – ending the smoking ban by stealth. (Philip Hollobone MP) Friday 29 November Foreign Aid Ring-Fencing (Abolition) – ending the UK’s commitment to 0.7% GDP spending on aid. (Peter Bone MP) Same Sex Marriage (Referendum) – puts Equal Marriage to a referendum. (Peter Bone MP) Wind Farm Subsidies (Abolition) – ends government subsidies for wind farms. (Peter Bone MP) BBC Privatisation - privatises the BBC and hands “shares” to all license fee payers. (Peter Bone MP) Prime Minister (Replacement) – puts in place an order of succession if the PM is killed or incapacitated. (Peter Bone MP) Friday 17 January 2014 Benefit Entitlement (Restriction) - restricts EU citizens access to UK benefits. (Christopher Chope MP) Illegal Immigrants (Criminal Sanctions) – criminalise those who have entered the country illegally. (Christopher Chope MP) Collection of Nationality Data – data to be collected on the nationality of benefit claimants. (Christopher Chope MP) Control of Offshore Wind Turbines - restrict the height, number, location and subsidies of wind turbines situated offshore. (Christopher Chope MP) Employment Opportunities – presumably another attempt to undermine the minimum wage and employment rights. (Christopher Chope MP) Friday 28 February 2014 Prisoners (Completion of Custodial Sentences) – all criminals would have to serve their full sentences. (Philip Hollobone MP) Fishing Grounds and Territorial Waters (Repatriation) – claim certain fighing areas as “sovereign” UK territory. (Philip Hollobone MP) School Governing Bodies (Adverse Weather Conditions) – schools will be forced to open during adverse weather. (Philip Hollobone MP) Capital Punishment - introducing the death penalty. (Philip Hollobone MP) Government Departments - Amalgamates the Scotland Office, Wales Office and Northern Ireland Office). (Philip Hollobone MP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colhint Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 just wondering if there are any on that list you may agree with in principle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Some of that list are scary. Proper right wing stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 just wondering if there are any on that list you may agree with in principle I agree with these Capital Punishment - introducing the death penalty. (Philip Hollobone MP) Prisoners (Completion of Custodial Sentences) – all criminals would have to serve their full sentences. (Philip Hollobone MP) Sentencing Escalator - tougher sentences for repeat offenders. (Philip Hollobone MP) And to a degree Foreign Aid Ring-Fencing (Abolition) – ending the UK’s commitment to 0.7% GDP spending on aid. (Peter Bone MP) Equality and Diversity (Reform) - make positive discrimination illegal. Also would make Labour’s use of AWS illegal. (Philip Hollobone MP) I do believe we should bring back hanging for murderers and paedophiles. Though with this sentencing, there could be no room for doubt. What caused hanging to be abolished was too many cases of innocent people being hung, this would only be used against people like Mick Philpott for instance. People sent to prison should complete their sentences, it makes a bigger joke of our laughable justice system that people serve only part of their time and are let off, like Chris Huhne. Stuart Hall was only given a 15 month sentence for what he did and I have no doubt in my mind that he will not serve his full sentence. Tougher sentencing for repeat offenders, I don't see a problem with that. Foreign aid, yes, it is an honourable policy but in these times, I think that the British government should be putting Britain first, especially with so many people having to turn to food banks in this country. Positive discrimination, it can be an awkward one. I believe that the right person should be hired for the job, not just somebody that's chosen so that they can tick off some PC checklist. Being white, black, Asian, man or woman shouldn't come into it, the person who is best for the job should be chosen. But let's be perfectly honest, we all know there are going to be places that won't want to hire certain people because of who they are... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 "Control of Offshore Wind Turbines - restrict the height, number, location and subsidies of wind turbines situated offshore." Gets my vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 just wondering if there are any on that list you may agree with in principle What caused hanging to be abolished was too many cases of innocent people being hung, this would only be used against people like Mick Philpott for instance. So you want to hang people convicted of manslaughter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) Bringing back the death penalty would be a bad idea. We've evolved past that. Edited June 25, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 just wondering if there are any on that list you may agree with in principle What caused hanging to be abolished was too many cases of innocent people being hung, this would only be used against people like Mick Philpott for instance. So you want to hang people convicted of manslaughter? No, maybe not a good example because that is an awkward case I suppose. It wasn't first hand but he knew what he was doing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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