![\"Wendy,](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/wendy_john_greg_02.jpg?resize=525%2C445\")
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I was a bit hesitant about suggesting that visitors from Southern California who come to London should be subjected to our version of Mexican food but since it is one of my favourite places to eat in town and it was but a ten minute stroll from their hotel, I thought we would give it a chance. They didn\u2019t object and, fortunately (as always), the food was excellent. John and Wendy were both very complimentary \u2013 John even commented to the waiter at the end of our meal that this was better than the varieties of Mexican food they can get at home. We certainly like it and it\u2019s nice to have our perceptions affirmed.<\/p>\n
After a delightful lunch we wandered up and around Covent Garden for a bit before making our way back to the Savoy (in through the front door this time – only a few quizzical glances from the uniformed staff). Wendy and John were due to attend Les Miserables<\/i> that evening before flying back to the States the following morning. So, we said our good-byes and went our respective ways. It was great fun to see them and to catch up with all our respective goings-on. Let\u2019s not let it be another thirty years before we get together again!<\/p>\n
A friend on Facebook who also has the misfortune to be a subscriber to the Weakly News commented that she was looking forward to this weekend\u2019s rant. I said I was trying to give up ranting but sometimes people do or say such stupid things that one simply has to make a comment after all. Of course, you can guess that the object of the anticipated rant was another of the seemingly endless stupid comments emanating from the mouth of the idiot Gove.<\/p>\n
This week, though, it\u2019s not one stupid suggestion he\u2019s made but two \u2013 my goodness, it\u2019s hard work keeping up with him and all his nonsense.<\/p>\n
Firstly, he is proposing to abolish all teaching assistants in schools<\/a>. For those who don\u2019t know, these are trained, professionals who are teachers in all but name and without whom schools could not function. Sometimes they work with individual students who need additional support; other times they will work with small groups while the teacher works with others. They are paid peanuts and carry out a myriad of essential tasks. I certainly don\u2019t know of any teacher who could imagine doing without their support.<\/p>\n But, of course, this is typical Gove \u2013 don\u2019t talk with anyone who works in schools before trotting out nonsense based on your own assumptions. The Guardian had an interesting metaphor which was apt, I thought: Phasing out teaching assistants is like axing all nurses from the NHS.<\/p>\n It would be a bit like proposing that the NHS runs without any nurses; there would just be more doctors on the wards getting frustrated because they are not able to get on with the job they were trained to do. And more nurses on the dole queue. And more patients not having their basic needs cared for. What a picture…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n On top of that bit of bonkers, Gove is continuing his mission to return education to where it was when he attended school thirty or forty years ago. He dictates how schools should be structured, organised and governed, what should be taught, how it should be taught and how children\u2019s progress should be assessed.<\/p>\n This time he is having another go (he’s had to make three U-turns so far, I think) at “reforming” the examination system and doing away with all forms of assessment apart from a final, sit-down written examination.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve got nothing against final exams per se<\/i> but they are not necessarily the best way of assessing how well children learn nor should they ever be the only way of measuring progress. Some children thrive in examination settings; many children get stressed and do not demonstrate their abilities to the full. Some children are very good at remembering facts; others may not remember precise details but might be very good at understanding and communicating their understanding.<\/p>\n Once again the Guardian<\/a> puts it better than I can:<\/p>\n No means of assessment is perfect. But for a cohort who will arrive at work with more information in their pocket than Encyclopaedia Britannica ever contained, in the form of a smartphone, it is impossible to believe that the only challenge that should count is the challenge of pitting one’s memory against the blank page.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I’ve always thought it was a bit bizarre in today’s society that we expect children to memorise and regurgitate “facts” when they have access to more information than Gove or I will ever remember. Much better, surely, to ask them to demonstrate their ability to research, synthesise, organise and communicate their understanding as part of the assessment process.<\/p>\n Steve Bell\u2019s cartoon also sums it up pretty well:<\/p>\n So, after two rants I guess we need to finish with something somewhat lighter. How about some images from Desk Safari<\/a>. Some of these are very clever.<\/p>\n Or some photos from this year\u2019s Shed of the Year competition<\/a>:<\/p>\n![\"Gove](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/gove_exam_reform.jpg?resize=512%2C373\" "\\"Gove")
<\/p>\n![\"Desk](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/desk_safari.jpg?resize=525%2C350\" "\\"Desk")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Shed](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/shed.jpg?resize=525%2C388\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/dad.jpg?resize=224%2C233\")
And finally, is today Father’s Day in the States as well as here? I think it is so Happy Father’s to the best father I’ve ever had.<\/p>\n