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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731   
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We've just pulled our son out of a crap private school in Germany where he was learning absolutely nothing useful. He's now apprenticing as a cabinet-maker and is much happier
Today, he actually asked me to explain how a diesel engine works which I happily did - in great detail (poor kid). He never asked me such things when he was at school, probably as he was too stressed dealing with the trivial crap there. When we'd finished, he just looked at me and said "Wow, who the hell thought of that?"  All I could reply was "people who didn't go to your school".
I went to a private school in Suffolk (in the early 80s) full of farmer's sons - we learned carpentry, casting, engine maintenance, soldering...the list goes on. It's not like that any more but I wish I could go back in time and send my sons there instead  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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19th Aug 2014 1:58pm |
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| smb Member Since: 15 Jan 2013 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1232  
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Couldn't agree more. Not only that the more expensive the school the longer the holidays they seem to have
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19th Aug 2014 2:07pm |
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us off.
| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5110  
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You have a point ZeDefender, I teach at a University where I lecture students from many countries, while the British students are very well educated, in principle few of them would know how to wire a plug or in fact do anything practical, whereas the students from the Asian continents have a wealth of knowledge on the more practical issues of life.
One of the key factors lacking in Britain is that our Department for Education is not listening to the CBI and what it wishes our young people in schools to be taught, re for future employment in industry, as a consequence we have a generation of teenagers that are leaving school untrained for the present workforce. Our government seems hell bent on education grades in science and the arts on a world stage while forgetting that schools are a perfect place also to teach the nitty gritty skills that will help through life. I sometimes despair for our young persons who leave school without qualifications and who think that either being a footballer or appearing on the X factor is the only way to riches. |
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19th Aug 2014 2:52pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443  
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I'm so glad my youngest went to our local village school(84 kids) He learnt a lot through the school inviting local(usually parents) to talk to the kids and show them a bit about their jobs. They had visits from mechanics, carpenters, builders, cleaners and cooks, they've also had visits from the police and fire brigade, didn't get any from the armed forces as most of the kids have parents linked to the local camp.
Now he's at high school which is another "small" village type school(450 kids) he has a greater awareness of the local world around him, it is so nice that he shows his appreciation of the countryside around him when we're greenlaning over the border in Wales, we were on Doctors Pool on Sunday evening and it was him that kept asking to stop so he could watch the sun working its magic on the Black Mountains in the distance. |
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19th Aug 2014 3:02pm |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2658 
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They probably did have lectures/talks from the armed forces from the local camp. It's just they got in, did the talk and got out again before anyone realised they were there
 110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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19th Aug 2014 3:10pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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I guess it's comforting to know it's happening elsewhere too, although I wish it wasn't  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... Last edited by ZeDefender on 19th Aug 2014 3:26pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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19th Aug 2014 3:13pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443
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Good one Walfy, you can allways tell which ones to listen to, they're the ones with the beards and suntans
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19th Aug 2014 3:25pm |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2658
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And that's just the mums,
110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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19th Aug 2014 3:27pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443
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Now that's cruel, I can see why you don't live around here
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19th Aug 2014 3:28pm |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2658
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I've worked with "them" a couple of times and instructed on specific courses for them. I have he utmost respect for them. They were like sponges when it came to instructing them. Their thirst for knowledge was unreal.
110 D250 SE HT
110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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19th Aug 2014 3:30pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443
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Like everybody round here I have the utmost respect for "them" and utter contempt for the fakes. You wouldn't believe how many try it on round here
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19th Aug 2014 3:37pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5110
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You have to remember it’s not all about teachers and schools they can only teach what the government decrees in the national curriculum.
Parents should be the greatest teachers of their children; trouble is if the parents know nothing what chance have their children got! Knowledge used to be passed on from father to son, mother to daughter and the like; however modern life is having its impact on the practical side of life, such as out throwaway society, when it’s broke buy a new one, even electric plugs come sealed nowadays and many parts are impossible to repair. Look at pluming which used to be an apprenticed skill that took years to learn, now we have push together plastic fittings, we have components that have a built in obsolescence, little wonder that our children are taught differently. |
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19th Aug 2014 4:05pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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My problem is that my younger son hates it when things break and always wants to fix them himself. When he comes to me for help, mostly with Chinese electronics, I often just panic...
The big stuff is okay but faulty sound cards, mobile phones etc. are just depressing Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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19th Aug 2014 4:26pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20359
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So true, I left school at 11 so can tell a few tales. I'm now self employed and doing relatively well considering, I'm proud to be a little different to the hoard of others but don't wish them bad luck providing I'm not treated lesser! I also think financial management is a critical thing to learn and understand and schools do not do it. But as mentioned schools and teachers only follow the draconian rules that are laid out before them. Parents often have little life or time due to financial commitment that is forced up on them. Also you cannot learn from paper or online only, practicality come into it most of the tine and those that due not possess a practical ability will need very deep pockets paying for this and that for others to do their work. That's providing there is trades still available in the future as everyone thinks they are better than doing such a job. |
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19th Aug 2014 4:37pm |
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