The General Decline in Standards Today

[Hydro]

Surprisingly enough I do support it for the reasons you stated although I was consistently in the top set so being with the most able did enable me to learn more

I support it, if done correctly. I was in the top set at primary, which encompassed all three core subjects of maths, science and English. At primary level, I was a voracious learner and I still feel anything less would have made me restless and disruptive at having no challenges.

Come secondary school however, and my weakest subject, maths, started to really become a burden. I've never had a good mind for dealing with figures and a mental block quickly comes down on me and renders my head utterly incapable of visualising figures. Hence, I went into the lowest ability group and only put forward for Foundation GCSE maths. Anything higher, and I guarantee I would've utterly failed an important core GCSE. As such, I gained an acceptable grade at some level of maths.

Nowadays I still struggle from time to time, but engineering has really increased my mathematic capability by tying it all to physical applications and with plenty of diagrams, which aid my mental visualisation no end. I struggled to do equation balancing in my apprenticeship, which was basic stuff, but I could apply Boyles law, other thermodynamic theories, Bernoulli's principle and do calculations for things like dam construction no bother.

 

[SS4]

Unfortunately, there are some fathers that simply refuse to pay maintenance for their own children. I listened to a friend's conversation with her ex about money for the kids, in which he laughed out loud at her and said 'I'm not giving you any money, that's what benefits are for'.

Yet on the flip side there are those fathers forced to pay maintenance but the mother denies all access.
It's a shame really because time and attention are the best gifts both parents give to a child

 

[Greenback]

Yes, you are right. Some fathers are treated very badly. Some behave very badly, there are faults within the divorce and maintenance/child access system.

But I hope we can do away with the attitude that someone else should take responsibility. I doubt it, but I am an optimist.

 

[LE Greys]

The way I usually sum it up is that parents get the children they deserve.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When you see the state of some parents, it's hardly surprising how the kids turn out. I remember being at Llandrindod Wells a few years back, there was a family walking down the road about 3 or 4 pm - one kind in pushchair and another under 5. I suspect, juding by Dad's behaviour, they had been in the pub all afternoon, every sentence he shouted contained the 'f' word. A fine example and role model to the children. It seems responsibility is an optional extra for some people when it comes to parenthood.

I concur with everyting that you have said above. In the area of Wythenshawe, where I made reference to in the sickening incident report that I made in the third posting on this thread (which I hope that every poster had read), occurrences of this type of family group behaviour are seen often.

 

[HST Power]

When you see the state of some parents, it's hardly surprising how the kids turn out. I remember being at Llandrindod Wells a few years back, there was a family walking down the road about 3 or 4 pm - one kind in pushchair and another under 5. I suspect, juding by Dad's behaviour, they had been in the pub all afternoon, every sentence he shouted contained the 'f' word. A fine example and role model to the children. It seems responsibility is an optional extra for some people when it comes to parenthood.

100% agree.

Not so long ago, whilst boarding at Stevenage, a mother threatned her son (who couldn't have been more than three or four) that if he didn't get on the train, she'd ----- batter him. The train was running a fast service and the platform was heaving. Everyone in the carriage looked up in shock. But she didn't seem bothered, as she fought to get her pram onto the service, which doubtlessly contained yet another unfortunate child.

The way I usually sum it up is that parents get the children they deserve.

And that's the nail on the head.

 

[43021HST]

I support it, if done correctly. I was in the top set at primary, which encompassed all three core subjects of maths, science and English. At primary level, I was a voracious learner and I still feel anything less would have made me restless and disruptive at having no challenges.

Come secondary school however, and my weakest subject, maths, started to really become a burden. I've never had a good mind for dealing with figures and a mental block quickly comes down on me and renders my head utterly incapable of visualising figures. Hence, I went into the lowest ability group and only put forward for Foundation GCSE maths. Anything higher, and I guarantee I would've utterly failed an important core GCSE. As such, I gained an acceptable grade at some level of maths.

Nowadays I still struggle from time to time, but engineering has really increased my mathematic capability by tying it all to physical applications and with plenty of diagrams, which aid my mental visualisation no end. I struggled to do equation balancing in my apprenticeship, which was basic stuff, but I could apply Boyles law, other thermodynamic theories, Bernoulli's principle and do calculations for things like dam construction no bother.

I'm so glad to hear from someone in almost exactly the same situation, all throughout my schooling I've had a mental block to maths. The only part of maths I fully understand is geometry because I used it a lot when I was planning out model railway track plans. I even struggle with basic maths when I'm put under pressure.

I dont why I have such a severe mental block too maths, but all I can say is both my parents are crap at it too.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I'm so glad to hear from someone in almost exactly the same situation, all throughout my schooling I've had a mental block to maths. The only part of maths I fully understand is geometry because I used it a lot when I was planning out model railway track plans. I even struggle with basic maths when I'm put under pressure.

I dont why I have such a severe mental block too maths, but all I can say is both my parents are crap at it too.

I had exactly the same problems with maths at school, it was only after I left and starting working and watched how a colleague did a calculation, that it all clicked into place, (He was not using a calculator).

 

[HST Power]

I'm so glad to hear from someone in almost exactly the same situation, all throughout my schooling I've had a mental block to maths. The only part of maths I fully understand is geometry because I used it a lot when I was planning out model railway track plans. I even struggle with basic maths when I'm put under pressure.

I dont why I have such a severe mental block too maths, but all I can say is both my parents are crap at it too.

Neither of you are alone, I had the same problem.

From Years 6 to 9, I had six different Maths tutors. Six tutors! Yet still my grades were low, still I struggled with the basics and still I found it hard to get the equations going in my mind.

I studied Foundation Maths in Y10 and Y11. I would've been stuffed on anything higher. It just didn't make any sense to me. The only concept I found reasonably easy was statistics. For some strange reason, quartiles and graphs added up, quite literally!

Still, I pulled through at the end of Year Eleven, and went into Sixth Form with the all important C Grade, and my Maths books burning at the bottom of the garden.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Neither of you are alone, I had the same problem.

Still, I pulled through at the end of Year Eleven, and went into Sixth Form with the all important C Grade, and my Maths books burning at the bottom of the garden.

Do I take it that rules you out the running in future years to fulfil the conditions of the post at 11 Downing Street?

 

[Hydro]

Do I take it that rules you out the running in future years to fulfil the conditions of the post at 11 Downing Street?

I thought that would've made him a prime candidate.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I thought that would've made him a prime candidate.

Hello, Hydro, nice to see you in good form again.

It will take a lot to beat the words of "When I was a lad" in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, to show how the most unsuitable person can rise to the highest position.

 

[HST Power]

I thought that would've made him a prime candidate.

I'm starting to like these.

Do I take it that rules you out the running in future years to fulfil the conditions of the post at 11 Downing Street?

I'll need to get a seat in Parliament first. Even so, I doubt I could be PM!

For now, I'm happy in my current role. It's a good job. I have to travel a lot, but I work with some excellent people and face a whole range of exciting and interesting challenges. I would like to become an MP at some point in the future, though now is not the time.

 

[43021HST]

I'm starting to like these.



I'll need to get a seat in Parliament first. Even so, I doubt I could be PM!

For now, I'm happy in my current role. It's a good job. I have to travel a lot, but I work with some excellent people and face a whole range of exciting and interesting challenges. I would like to become an MP at some point in the future, though now is not the time.

Just too let you know I think Paul was being sarcastic

 

[HST Power]

Just too let you know I think Paul was being sarcastic

Well of course he was, I couldn't run the country for toffee!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Well of course he was, I couldn't run the country for toffee!

I'd run it for toffee. I like toffee.

 

[HST Power]

I'd run it for toffee. I like toffee.

I prefer the fudge they do at Sainsburys.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I prefer the fudge they do at Sainsburys.

That's why nobody would vote for you - you'd fudge it up!


(Don't worry, I'm getting my coat!)

 

[HST Power]

That's why nobody would vote for you - you'd fudge it up!


(Don't worry, I'm getting my coat!)

Coat, door, out!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm starting to like these.



I'll need to get a seat in Parliament first. Even so, I doubt I could be PM!
.

Not only will your Mathematics let you down, so will your Geography.:roll:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer resides at number 11. This was stated in posting #40.

It is the Prime Minister who resides at Number 10.

This matter rankled with Gordon Brown for years!!!

 

[LE Greys]

Not only will your Mathematics let you down, so will your Geography.:roll:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer resides at number 11. This was stated in posting #40.

It is the Prime Minister who resides at Number 10.

This matter rankled with Gordon Brown for years!!!

Didn't stop him doing all his "best" work at Number 11, the work the current lot are trying to undo even as we type.

 

[Seacook]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer resides at number 11. This was stated in posting #40.

It is the Prime Minister who resides at Number 10.

No, that's not accurate. Those are the official residences (and offices), but the living quarters at number 11 are larger so Tony Blair's family lived there and Gordon Brown's at number 10. I believe David Cameron and George Osborne have a similar arrangement.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

No, that's not accurate. Those are the official residences (and offices), but the living quarters at number 11 are larger so Tony Blair's family lived there and Gordon Brown's at number 10. I believe David Cameron and George Osborne have a similar arrangement.

Well done, that man!!! There are not many would have made the connection between OFFICIAL and UNOFFICIAL use of both these two properties.

 

[HST Power]

Not only will your Mathematics let you down, so will your Geography.:roll:

Oh well, I've never got lost in Westminster (which believe me, considering the size of the place is a massive achievement) so I can't be that bad at map reading!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The only part of maths I fully understand is geometry because I used it a lot when I was planning out model railway track plans.

That is the advantage of having a really good hobby where the use of Mathematics has a real meaning.

Small radius track + fast express model train = disaster.

How about that for a formula.

 

[HST Power]

When I first started playing TRS2004 I couldn't figure out how to add new baseboards, so I made a rather pathetic attempt to cram as much of my proposed track layout into the one board. Didn't work out very well, though I figured how to get new boards eventually!

 

[NSEFAN]

That is the advantage of having a really good hobby where the use of Mathematics has a real meaning.

Small radius track + fast express model train = disaster.

And then your physics should tell you to tilt the track inwards in order to increase linespeed. It's like building the WCML in your attic! :P

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And then your physics should tell you to tilt the track inwards in order to increase linespeed. It's like building the WCML in your attic! :P

All the use of physics known to mankind will not keep a fast model express train running on a inwardly tilting trackwork where the curved track radius is too small. Speed can increase, but there comes to a point where the train will derail.

Scalextrix tracks have sections where such inwardly curved ramping is available, but most of us who have used such track, will bear witness to the fact the the car ALWAYS comes off at the highest speed.

Tests have been carried out when LIMA were making model trains. Model trains are capable of running at strange scale speeds, but the only real life equivalent of the smallest curved section radius gauge are those found in dockyards or quarries, where express train speed is not normally encountered.