ChatterBank1 min ago
Britain has let down young people?
52 Answers
http://www.telegraph....-says-Archbishop.html
/// Rioters who took part in the summer’s unrest were expressing “frustrations” felt by many young people, the Archbishop of Canterbury says today. ///
I am fed-up with all these type of excuses being made, to somehow neutralise the seriousness of the rioting and looting that took place.
What about the 'frustrations' felt by the elderly, who struggle to keep their homes warm, worry about the yearly increases in their food and household bills, and then the additional worry that at the end of their days, they may have to sell the house that they have spent all their working life paying for, so as to pay for their care.
Frustrations? these are real frustrations, perhaps while some are still healthy enough, they should also give this rioting and looting a try?
No Dr Williams get it right, 'Britain has let down old people'.
/// Rioters who took part in the summer’s unrest were expressing “frustrations” felt by many young people, the Archbishop of Canterbury says today. ///
I am fed-up with all these type of excuses being made, to somehow neutralise the seriousness of the rioting and looting that took place.
What about the 'frustrations' felt by the elderly, who struggle to keep their homes warm, worry about the yearly increases in their food and household bills, and then the additional worry that at the end of their days, they may have to sell the house that they have spent all their working life paying for, so as to pay for their care.
Frustrations? these are real frustrations, perhaps while some are still healthy enough, they should also give this rioting and looting a try?
No Dr Williams get it right, 'Britain has let down old people'.
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" a far smaller proportion of sixty year olds I encounter are illiterate when compared to those who are much younger."
That's fine. But it isn't what you said before. You said "Well I don't know where the 100,000 of the same age as me and who are unable to read and write all are, Gromit, because I don't know of any." Which, as you've just said, isn't true because you do know of some - albeit to a lesser extent than 16-25 year olds.
Incidentally, I think I should say I'm aware this is probably coming across like pedantry and petty point-scoring, but it really isn't intended like that at all - I just think this kind of thing is important.
That's fine. But it isn't what you said before. You said "Well I don't know where the 100,000 of the same age as me and who are unable to read and write all are, Gromit, because I don't know of any." Which, as you've just said, isn't true because you do know of some - albeit to a lesser extent than 16-25 year olds.
Incidentally, I think I should say I'm aware this is probably coming across like pedantry and petty point-scoring, but it really isn't intended like that at all - I just think this kind of thing is important.
Possibly how it came across, Kromo, but not what I intended.
No, I don't "know" any illiterate people of any age (as in, have them as friends or relatives) but I do encounter them in some of the work that I do. To expand a little on what I said earlier, not only do I not know any people of my age who cannot read and write (and this of course is not surprising because people tend to associate with others similar to themselves). Nobody to my knowledge left my primary school unable to do so (and certainly not the 16% that are said to leave secondary education unable to do so). My school was not exceptional, or outstanding or in a particularly affluent area. It was just “normal”. My primary teachers would have been horrified to learn that anybody they had been teaching for six years left them unable to read and write.
Once again, I’m not saying there are none. But if even 5% of sixty year olds left primary school in 1962 unable to read and write I would be very surprised indeed. But I am asked to accept that the level of reading and writing today (where 16% of pupils leaving SECONDARY education are effectively illiterate) is the same as it was fifty years ago.
Sorry, I don’t buy it.
No, I don't "know" any illiterate people of any age (as in, have them as friends or relatives) but I do encounter them in some of the work that I do. To expand a little on what I said earlier, not only do I not know any people of my age who cannot read and write (and this of course is not surprising because people tend to associate with others similar to themselves). Nobody to my knowledge left my primary school unable to do so (and certainly not the 16% that are said to leave secondary education unable to do so). My school was not exceptional, or outstanding or in a particularly affluent area. It was just “normal”. My primary teachers would have been horrified to learn that anybody they had been teaching for six years left them unable to read and write.
Once again, I’m not saying there are none. But if even 5% of sixty year olds left primary school in 1962 unable to read and write I would be very surprised indeed. But I am asked to accept that the level of reading and writing today (where 16% of pupils leaving SECONDARY education are effectively illiterate) is the same as it was fifty years ago.
Sorry, I don’t buy it.
in respect of the op - at least older people have their own homes. i work full time (usually 60-70 hrs a week) as a nurse and cannot afford to buy my own house. i will never be able to save a ridiculous amount of money for a deposit/fees etc. as my money goes on extortionate rent that pays for my landlords daughter to go to university currently (and i am paying for my own, my husband's and son to study at present to 'improve' our chances at having a better life - and i reckon it will actually do jack sh** if i'm honest - due to the state of this country at present. something else you older generation have done for us younger people).
pensioners get far more money than younger adults dependant on benefits, yet continually moan about being poor and hard done by - i'd like to see them try to live on £70 odd quid a week and survive. as for paying for their care....if they have assets, why should they not be used? my tax is being spent on it, i am paying into a pension now and if i eventually get a house (and i am sitting here laughing at that comment) that will get taken of me too. so how are they any different to anyone else? sometimes i think a reality check needs to be made about issues for the the elderly vs. the young - life is a pile of crap whoever you are and thanks to the politicians and b/Finance Specialists the young generations of today and the future will be paying for everything numerous times over and will never have some of the chances afforded to generations of the past.
pensioners get far more money than younger adults dependant on benefits, yet continually moan about being poor and hard done by - i'd like to see them try to live on £70 odd quid a week and survive. as for paying for their care....if they have assets, why should they not be used? my tax is being spent on it, i am paying into a pension now and if i eventually get a house (and i am sitting here laughing at that comment) that will get taken of me too. so how are they any different to anyone else? sometimes i think a reality check needs to be made about issues for the the elderly vs. the young - life is a pile of crap whoever you are and thanks to the politicians and b/Finance Specialists the young generations of today and the future will be paying for everything numerous times over and will never have some of the chances afforded to generations of the past.
Oh dear! What a tale of woe and despondency, lgc.
Of course the generation older than me left the country in fine fettle. Devastated and financially ruined by six years of war. Still never mind. Times were hard for us too (double digit inflation, interest rates of 15%). Glad you’re doing your best to improve your lot. That’s what we oldies did. But we didn’t moan about it. We just got on with it.
Of course the generation older than me left the country in fine fettle. Devastated and financially ruined by six years of war. Still never mind. Times were hard for us too (double digit inflation, interest rates of 15%). Glad you’re doing your best to improve your lot. That’s what we oldies did. But we didn’t moan about it. We just got on with it.
I have to honestly say that in my view, we cannot simply blame Britain as a whole, nor can we totally blame subsequent goverments or society as a whole! It is the parents who are meant to bring their children up, not pass responsibility on to others, i.e. the schools, the general public, society, politicians etc! Yes, governments have made a lot of mistakes over the years that have not helped get things under control, or should I say they have not done enough! But ultimately we, as parents, are in the front line of teaching our children how to behave and this is where so many have failed miserably here. Saying Britain has let the children down is not right! There are a great many well adjusted, well brought up children in this country whose parents have made every effort, have spent the time and had the dedication needed to help these young people to grow up and be respectable, confident, polite, and caring adults who do everything they can to work and pay their way. But, so many parents have become lazy, couldn't care less about the future of their children and have come to rely on the government handouts instead of setting a good example for their children and working / looking after them properly. "Passing the buck", as the Americans would say, has become all the norm. Not good! Oh, and my ratter says "ditto"!
In many cases there have been failings but in a significant number of cases kids are just lazy, they don't want to put any effort into anything then blame everyone else for it. No one is willing to accept responsibility for anything they do, especially kids, they want everything handed to them on a plate.
The lefties that have dragged us into the PC nation we've become are at the root of the problem, kids can't fail in schools, don't use a red pen because it upsets the kids, don't make them have to sit exams because it causes them stress.......it's all ***, the country has lost the backbone it once had and until it gets it back, we've had it.
The government does need to do more in terms of investing in the future of the country but a lot of young people need to give themselves a kick on the backside and give themselves a shift. This is a double sided solution.
The lefties that have dragged us into the PC nation we've become are at the root of the problem, kids can't fail in schools, don't use a red pen because it upsets the kids, don't make them have to sit exams because it causes them stress.......it's all ***, the country has lost the backbone it once had and until it gets it back, we've had it.
The government does need to do more in terms of investing in the future of the country but a lot of young people need to give themselves a kick on the backside and give themselves a shift. This is a double sided solution.
New Judge,
The experts say that the levels of illiteracy of school leavers has hardly changed since the 1950s. But you say it is rare for you to find a 50-60 year old who cannot read. A possible solution to that apparent disparity is that in the intervening 40 odd years, they have since learned to read and write like the lady in my link earlier.
The experts say that the levels of illiteracy of school leavers has hardly changed since the 1950s. But you say it is rare for you to find a 50-60 year old who cannot read. A possible solution to that apparent disparity is that in the intervening 40 odd years, they have since learned to read and write like the lady in my link earlier.
No Gromit. That does not explain why I knew of nobody when I was eleven who could not read and write. Nor do any of my friends and relatives. And there's nothing special or unusual about any of us.
A possible explanation could be that the standards expected of youngsters (the definition of "literacy") is considerably lower today than it was fifty years ago (as it is with other examinations). Other than that I've no explanation.
A possible explanation could be that the standards expected of youngsters (the definition of "literacy") is considerably lower today than it was fifty years ago (as it is with other examinations). Other than that I've no explanation.
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