I decided to put up Amazon's ad banner at the top of my site after being assured that the content it would advertise would be directly relevant to the people viewing my Blog.
I therefore expected ads for Mensa applications, books about Astrophysics, Philosophy, Politics and Fine Arts. Instead all I've got is stuff with the word 'Chalk' in it.
So much for hi-tech. I'll give it another day or so then bin it if it doesn't improve.
'A' Level results out in a couple of days- I am willing to take bets against the following:
1) Every broadsheet newspaper will have a picture of half a dozen pretty girls from a very nice school, waving their 'A' Level results along with a good looking young Headmistress congratulating them for getting about 12 grade 'A' s each.
2) The results will be the best ever. A ridiculous number of kids will get A-C grades.
3) Somebody important will try to claim that 'A' levels are not getting easier.
4) Lots more students will go on to University to study Psychology, Media Studies and Sociology. Lots fewer will go on to study anything serious.
Any other bets considered.
Oh, why not enter your guess for the sweepstake on the largest number of Grade 'A's achieved by an individual this year. I'm going for 8.
ps. Many thanks to whoever ordered a DVD Box set of "The Goodies" sending the kitty up to £9
20 comments:
Examboards:-
a) Loose Scripts subsequently destroying the students lives
b) Use Tadpoles as examiners to mark them subsequently destroying the students lives
c) Get the questions wrong subsequently destroying the students lives
d) Dont realise the teachers have been teaching the wrong syllabus for 2 years subsequently destroying the students lives
e) Dont spot the cheating/plagiarism subsequently not destroying the students lives
Somewhere in faraway lands, a Mr Patel and a Mr Chang will be rolling around laughing and will be rubbing their hands with delight.
Last year there was an article in Private Eye about how this year's A-level results girls were better-looking than last year's ones, but critics said it was because they were wearing more make-up.
Don't forget the photo of the beautiful twins (girls of course) who have managed to get 47 A* between them and are off to different Oxbridge universities to study ... something.
There will, of course, be the obligatory everlasting video footage of crowds of students (girls) giggling like maniacs around the noticeboard, with one screaming "I got an A star!!!!"
At the risk of sounding middle-aged and stuffy, there was never any doubt about maintaining standards in my day. O level grades were apportioned on a percentage basis; i.e. the top grade (grade 1) was given to only those pupils who achieved 90% or more, while those with 85-90% gained a grade 2 and so on. Thus if the exams were 'easier' or 'harder' in a given year, the marks to achieve a particular grade were automatically adjusted.
Of course, that would completely negate the Government's obsession with benchmarking everything!
I managed to scrape a few A levels in the 70's. This includes Physics!! I never reveal my grotty E and Ds to my kids although having looked at their exam papers they now need to invent another alphabet that soars beyond 'A'. Can I suggest we use punctuation marks. An '!' is better than an 'A', and an '?' is better still. '??' would require an out of competition drug test. But a '****' would be the best of all. Hence kids would go to the better universities only if they got '****' good marks.
How old will this year's child genius be. I'm guessing 12.
I blame global warming.
You people are not leaving me any scope to be ultra cynical to an AA********* level.... subsequently destroying my life..... sob
Jurgen
I reckon the daily mail will print a comparison of an a level paper from 1956 with one from this summer, to prove that mums going out to work is the reason for the lowering of standards.
My own mother will believe this, arguments will ensue...
Whats St Thickchilds like on A Level Results day? I bet its a slow start early on.The majority of teenagers I deal with never seem to get up before the crack of Noon on holidays.Or have to wait minding the youngest before Mum/Dad/other get up (having slept off last nights excess).Or sit in a cell awaiting Mum/Dad/Other(having slept off etc..)to act as appropriate adult
You were right on just about every count!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4801035.stm
Matt
No, the twins got 3 As each but are going to Liverpool.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/south_west/5260704.stm
I remember when I first heard of the A* GCSE, a relative got a load of them. "WTF is that!" Was my response. When it was explained I said that I would assume that A* was what an A used to be so therefore a B was now an A. And joking that "Ha, whats next? A**, A***!" This was in the mid to late '90s
So yes eventually everyone will get As of some sort. Is that correct? (Im not a teacer you see)
Er, or even a 'teacher'.
whilst i enjoy your blog, i'm very much annoyed at your criticism of pscyhology. having studied the subject for 7 years, i assure you its relevent and fascinating. how can you claim that a subject that covers topics like neurobiology,evolution, statistics, pharmacology and the fundamentals of human behaviour is not serious?
im an nqt and am excitied about teaching such a brilliant subject to kids. i know it gets bad press as an easy subject, but its just not as simple as that.
I agree with Anonymous above, who puts it very well.
Yes, if you allow A* and A** results to be higher grades than a mere 'A', then in effect you are changing the way the results are presented, and therefore everyone will LOOK as if they're getting better grades than they might otherwise have done. This then makes it look like everyone is 'doing better'. Anyone with half a brain can see that this idea is pure, utter, complete and total nonsense.
In my day (1970s) you only got an 'A' if you were really good. These days you get an A** instead. What a load of cobblers. I'd like to see the justification for such dubious practices.
Presumably in years to come we'll have A**** being the top grade and a plain 'A' will signify what would formerly have been an 'E'.
Whoever devised this ludicrous 'star' system needs a bloody good kick up the arse. The whole point of a simple 'A' grade is that it's the best result available.
It's true, there's never a minger on the front pages. Or a boy.
Incidentally, I agree with the slightly-hurt Pyschology poster - at Uni we had to take another subject in addition to our chosen one for a year. I chose pyschology because I thought it would be interesting. Well, it was - but a lot of it was bloody hard. It only went and got all sciencey on me. I was there to study English, not use my brain, for goodness' sake.
I think it's perfectly wonderful that the nice young birds get to smile so broadly as abortion takes its toll and perfectly decent men are "chucked over the side" because the lady of the house is bored. Women's liberation has at last brought us that wonderful world toward which we've been striving. What, possibly, could anyone have against the West?
Anonymous said...
I think it's perfectly wonderful that the nice young birds get to smile so broadly as abortion takes its toll and perfectly decent men are "chucked over the side" because the lady of the house is bored. Women's liberation has at last brought us that wonderful world toward which we've been striving. What, possibly, could anyone have against the West?
17:58
Huxley's Brave new World has become our moral reality, just as Orwell's 1984 is rapidly becoming our political reality.
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