Ladymuck

I think you should attend the next EDF drinks and we could all "score" you...followed up with constructive advice of course (should you need it). *holds up card saying "dix points" - for Declan's posts, anyway*

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 100 Damn! Have only just twigged! *declares WAR*

daizie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Who are what is Crystal Clear? Never heard of him > . He's another user...he was extremely upset over something and allowed his emotions to spill out into his posts in such a way that Admin had little choice but to remove the thread. To be honest, I've been guilty of similar conduct many a time (but without the swearing)!

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Er Big, I think that you should read Brum's post > again I think he's very much with you..... Absolutely! Please re-read BN5.

*in tears* Yes really. First and foremost: Mockney, please don't give up being a moderator. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on-line...but I just see that as part of life - in this case, on-line life. How boring a place would it be if we all got on all of the time. The very thought turns my stomach! You are a good moderator and fair. Dealing with incidents such as has occurred here surely has to be part of that role? I appreciate that everyone has their flashpoint - yes, even moderators - but I beg you, yes beg you to reconsider. Whilst I can fully understand your upset, I would just like to vouch for HAL9000 in very much the same way as you have for Crystal Clear. Yes some of his posts hit hard - that is part of his style. However, the majority of his posts are thoughtful, helpful, informative, intelligent, and yes even witty. I would ask you not to take offence at this Mockney, in the same way as I did not take offence when you stuck up for your friend Crystal Clear. HAL9000 made a point - one which he felt he was entitled to make, and looking at his point objectively and without digging up the past or allowing the emotions to interfere, as far as I can see, his point was that of "conflicts of interests". Yes, it has escalated from there and that is regrettable. At risk of being pelted with the equivalent of verbal rotten eggs, please believe me when I tell you that HAL9000 is basically a good person and that, on this occasion, he has been misunderstood. As I appear to be on some sort of soapbox, I would just like to cut-and-paste something which I posted on another thread a little while back. The post was in response to another one of those situations where Admin were under fire...unfairly so, I thought. Some of the content applies here...so here goes: *approaches nervously and tentatively* I think the only mistake that Admin appear to have made here is to basically spoil the lot of us over the years! Most of us, in all probability, now take this Forum for granted - myself included. When we attempt to log onto it, we expect it to be there, functioning without fault with all of its trimmings. If it slows down we complain, if a thread develops a malfunction we express further displeasure, and if a post disappears we throw the toys out of the pram (well I do!) and so on. Now that Admin have more or less decided to do away with signatures we communicate our dissatisfaction once more - most vociferously. It's only natural, we are merely human after all. However, we should in all fairness stop and remind ourselves that this Forum is not a right...we are not entitled to access it as of right, by law, or under some contractual arrangement... ...at the end of the day we should all remember that Admin could shut this forum down if he felt so inclined. And, to be honest, I wouldn't blame him given the hard time he is currently experiencing... *ducks* And while I am at it, annaj...I never thought I would ever hear myself say this...but please could you return to the forum. The place is not the same without you. What happened is all water under the bridge now. *offers laurel branch to annaj* *still in tears bye the way*

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What's a WUM? A wind up merchant? Bye the way...I was asking a serious question...earlier

Declan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Only MP can answer that in this case. So it seems. Alas, he hasn't yet. *adopts pleading look in the direction of Mockney Piers*

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lady Muck "2025" *bursts out laughing* All right clever clogs...but I bet you simply just clicked onto Ladymuck - right? Just as I have just clicked onto ???? and spied 6179. Or is there another way? Or do moderators receive a special signal (or something) which provides additional information about a user? I am curious...very curious.

Declan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just click on the name of the poster LM. I thank you Declan...and I don't wish to appear ungrateful...but that I am aware of. I was wondering if there was another facility or way of telling. It's just that I am mystified as to why someone would wish to click onto a user's name in this situation. Seems odd to me.

Mockney, I'm curious...please...how can you tell (other than by using the search facility - which would seem a bit odd in this instance) how many posts a user has made? Am I missing a trick? HAL9000 congratulations to you.

SteveT Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The alternative if you haven't got big bucks for > private tuition, > is to move close to the Charter school as they > have a very small catchment area. Not so easy if you happen to live in rented council accommodation for example.

masticate (I presume soft cell are a pop group?)

enunciate

speak (bonjour Poubelle)

goodbye

val Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Happy birthday tomorrow to Bob S I hope the postman delivers all his cards.;-) In case I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY for tomorrow Bob S and here's wishing you better luck with your post too!

david_carnell Wrote: -------------------------------------- >I would like to see what Young calls "comprehensive grammars". >This is a accepts-all-comers school that then utilises >streaming in each subject to both push those at the top of their >subject and give a helping hand to those who need it. Personally, I would feel more at ease with this type of system. I especially like the idea of streaming by subject as opposed to streaming the person as this gets around the problem of where to place the pupil who, for example, excels in one subject but then requires extra support in another. I think 3 levels would be appropriate: one for the gifted, one for the "average", and one for those who, for one reason or another, would require additional support. Smaller class sizes would be the icing on the educational cake. A return to the less than perfect tri-partite system of which the grammar school was part would do relatively little to solve the current problems surrounding (in)equality - in my opinion. Similarly the current comprehensive system whereby gifted children are taught alongside not only the lesser gifted but also alongside those in need of much support is woefully inadequate to deal with the educational needs of mixed-ability pupils. However, as alluded to above, the implementation of such proposals would amount to a complete waste of time and resources if high quality teaching is lacking in our primary schools. This in my view is where the priority lies. >...Finally it also allows for proper social integration by not discriminating >against those who cannot afford private tutors or expensive houses in catchment areas. Indeed DC. That entry into the best schools should be dependent on means rather than ability is not only inequitable, but, in these days and times - quite abhorrent (in my humble opinion). That the situation is allowed to persist is also inexcusable.

HAL9000 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well, that was a shocking eye-opener: what chance > do the kids stand when their teachers can't pass > the eight-year-olds' math tests? Certainly was...and they don't!

HAL9000 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dispatches: Kids don't count - tonight at 8:00pm > on Channel 4. This two-part edition sounds > relevant to this thread although it "asks why one > in five British kids leave primary school without > the basic maths skills required by the national > curriculum." Damn! Just seen this...thanks HAL9000. *dashes off to front room*

ur1ne (hi daizie)

Congratulations ???? on the big one (5,000). *goes back to 100s School for a refresher course*

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 5000 *loud piercing scream*

I think, before addressing secondary education, we need to ensure that consistently high levels of teaching are present in all our primary schools. This would ensure the best possible level playing field for all pupils irrespective of background when the time came to moving on to secondary education. After all, there is not much point in providing top notch schools (whatever they are called) which teach Latin, Greek and Hebrew only to discover that primary school leavers are unable to string a sentence together in English or struggle with basic maths for example. Certainly our current comprehensive system is failing our pupils and there is an urgent need for reform. However, whilst I do not dispute that grammar schools have their positives (and there is evidence to suggest that they do improve social mobility), I would be wary of returning to the old tri-partite system per se whereby the public's general perception was that grammar schools were the best schools and by implication therefore anyone who attended anything but would be considered as having failed.

Happy Birthday Jah!

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I saw him You saw him...oh now I'm really envious...was he really as wonderful "in the flesh"? >1971 Upton Park >West Ham 2 Man U 1 > 'Georgie Best, superstar, walks like a woman and > he wears aa bra' *rolls eyes* Hmmmm...I presume you were there in support of West Ham then!