Current Affairs

[Stephen]

He’s not someone I’d have round for dinner, not unless he’s prepared to pay for the chair, knife and fork, plate, food, use of bathroom facilities etc etc.

And he would have to stand the whole time (so he wouldn't need a chair) but you could charge him for excess clothing

Unless he brings his own oxygen the bu99er can gasp until he dips into his purse to pay for one.

[Kendhni]

Oh joy of joys let joy be unbounded, a new strain of bird flu has raised its cockscomb in China.

Although it doesn't seem to be overly virulent

[david63]

Does anyone understand what the current situation is with education?

Because of the pandemic some (most?) children have fallen behind with their education so the Government have pledged a chunk of money (in fact a second chunk, with more to follow) to rectify this so the guy in charge resigns. From what I have read the pupils do not want to do any extra hours or have less holidays because they need their "downtime" - so how will this catchup learning be done? And on top of that we will then have the teachers moaning that they have extra work to do.

When I was at school (many years ago) the day started at 09:00, finished at 16:00 and then you went home and did three (sometimes more) hours of homework and went to bed - didn't have time for any "downtime"!

[Kendhni]

Does anyone understand what the current situation is with education?

No rea idea. What I do know is that the number of university places this year has been severely restricted so many teenagers that expected to go into their next stage of education have failed to get a place (due to the previous year not having completed). This is likely to snowball into next year as well as those kids complete with many that had no choice but to take a year out.

When I was at school (many years ago) the day started at 09:00, finished at 16:00 and then you went home and did three (sometimes more) hours of homework and went to bed - didn't have time for any "downtime"!

My memories area bit different to yours. After primary school we usually went out to play until tea time, then after tea there was about an hour or so of homework and Friday nights and weekends were our own. At grammar school it was similar, the homework was no more than 2 hours (some we did before tea, some after tea) and while Friday and Saturdays were our own we often had to do homework on Sundays (maybe half a day). So plenty of down time.

[Esprit]

When I was at Primary school I was sent off to the "Thicko's" class as my mates called it for reading and writing. Not sure I would have appreciated the term "Special needs" back then. If only spell checker and predictive text was available back in the sixties!

[Manoverboard]

I could read 'n' write ok but had to be punished because my writing style was less ' copper plate ' than wot they wonted it to bee. Had to stop in after school and write 100 lines of the example in front of me, 200 if it wasn't perfect ... would they allow that now ?

[Esprit]

I could read 'n' write ok but had to be punished because my writing style was less ' copper plate ' than wot they wonted it to bee. Had to stop in after school and write 100 lines of the example in front of me, 200 if it wasn't perfect ... would they allow that now ?

OMG! the lines I had to write in detention. My lack of attention in class and poor reading and writing was never associated to my dyslexia back then.

[Manoverboard]

OMG! the lines I had to write in detention. My lack of attention in class and poor reading and writing was never associated to my dyslexia back then.

I was probably just lazy ... funny thing was that I wrote in ' copper plate ' thereafter ...

[Stephen]

OMG! the lines I had to write in detention. My lack of attention in class and poor reading and writing was never associated to my dyslexia back then.

I was probably just lazy ... funny thing was that I wrote in ' copper plate ' thereafter ...

Copper must have been cheap in those far back days.

[barney]

Excellent news that there are no new countries on the holiday list.
I read that many Chelsea fans who went to Portugal for the football tested positive for covid on return and should now isolate.
It’s obvious that international travel is driving the infections up and should be as restricted as is possible.
Even my brother, who is usually four or five foreign holidays a year has decided to stay in the U.K. this year.

[david63]

I am not sure if we (as a country) are putting too much emphasis on infection rates unless those infections translate into hospital admissions. The last I read on this subject was that of those in hospital the vast majority had either not had a vaccination (mainly due to not being offered one yet) or had not had both jabs, which further translates into the majority being in the younger age groups who do not have a history of having severe symptoms.

I would accept that there are some countries where travel should be treated with caution, such as South America and Africa but for the rest of the world I do not see why, based on the current information that the public have, that travel should not be more relaxed - with caveat of "just because you can does not mean that you have to".

We have got to get to the stage sooner rather than later of accepting that we have to live with Covid and it will be around for many years to come.

Having said all of that it does not matter for me as I am not leaving these shores this year!

[Kendhni]

I could read 'n' write ok but had to be punished because my writing style was less ' copper plate ' than wot they wonted it to bee. Had to stop in after school and write 100 lines of the example in front of me, 200 if it wasn't perfect ... would they allow that now ?

OMG! the lines I had to write in detention. My lack of attention in class and poor reading and writing was never associated to my dyslexia back then.

I must have been a goodie two shoes - I never once got detention in my entire schooling.
I did get expelled once (along with 5 other people), the week before we were meant to be sitting our A levels (which meant we could not sit them at the school). My father went down to the school and had a word with the headmaster - he refused to budge on his decision. My father called in a few favours and went back to the headmaster with reporters from the BBC and one of the national newspapers, within the hour we all got a public apology from the headmaster (through gritted teeth) and reinstated. I was actually interviewed outside the school and made it onto the 6 o-clock news. The problem ... my hair was too long.

[Kendhni]

We have got to get to the stage sooner rather than later of accepting that we have to live with Covid and it will be around for many years to come.

I think that is the crux. I can't remember which official said it but we have reached the point where we have given this our best shot, we have thrown everything we have at it, there is nothing left in the arsenal at the minute (although we hopefully will have better vaccines later in the year). The choice is basically continue to hide in the bunkers or start the return to normal living and getting the economy running again and, as you say, learn to live with it.

As per your earlier post we have kids that, despite working hard and getting the grades, cannot move into the next stage of their education because the spaces just aren't there. We have had a year were many people have been looking for work but can't get it, because so many factories, shops and industries are currently furloughed.

It is not ideal and it may not be ideal for another few years.

[Onelife]

OMG! the lines I had to write in detention. My lack of attention in class and poor reading and writing was never associated to my dyslexia back then.

I was probably just lazy ... funny thing was that I wrote in ' copper plate ' thereafter ...

Copper must have been cheap in those far back days.

I spent more time at a desk outside the classroom…I think the teachers were trying to teach me a lesson

[oldbluefox]

I met a past pupil years after he had left. He said "I bet you don't remember me".
I told him "I should do. You spent more time in my office than I did!!"

[Kendhni]

I met a past pupil years after he had left. He said "I bet you don't remember me".
I told him "I should do. You spent more time in my office than I did!!"

Is that a reflection of his poor behaviour or your lack of work ethic?

[Stephen]

I only had the cane once. That was enough.

[oldbluefox]

Is that a reflection of his poor behaviour or your lack of work ethic?

Not exactly. It meant I had other pressing engagements and wasn't sat in my office all day like some trying to be a smarts**e.

[Stephen]

I see O'Leary was talking garbage again this morning on BBC breakfast

[screwy]

Nothing new there then.

[Onelife]

I see O'Leary was talking garbage again this morning on BBC breakfast

Whenever he speaks it should come with a public health warning

[barney]

I genuinely feel sorry for the individuals caught up on the Amber list for Portugal but every single one of them booked a holiday full in the knowledge that things could change.
To listen to people on LBC whining this morning about the government changing the rules was pathetic.
They didn’t change the rules. The clearly warned that situations could and probably would change.
It’s really about time people started taking responsibility for their own decisions.

[david63]

The clearly warned that situations could and probably would change.

In fairness though the Government did say that there would be a "green watch list" and two weeks notice would be given for any changes.

[Manoverboard]

Today there were 6,238 cases, the highest since March 2nd ... there's no time to bugger about giving two weeks notice

[Kendhni]

In fairness though the Government did say that there would be a "green watch list" and two weeks notice would be given for any changes.

I have to say that I am not understanding this decision, but based on the logic being provided then we should be stopping people moving around the UK as well - basically mini lockdowns??