Post by steevo on Jul 13, 2007 21:41:11 GMT
This is one PC loon. Intent on censuring out any interference with his... vision.
A blogger: This will ensure healthy, climate adapted, semi educated Eurabian dhimmis & slaves who can understand their new masters. Isn’t that wonderful? Back to sleep now.
A blogger: This will ensure healthy, climate adapted, semi educated Eurabian dhimmis & slaves who can understand their new masters. Isn’t that wonderful? Back to sleep now.
The Madness of Brown
GORDON Brown’s politically correct onslaught intensifed last night as compulsory teaching of the life of Sir Winston Churchill was dropped.
A new school curriculum, unveiled as part of the Prime Minister’s barrage of initiatives, also scrapped the mandatory study of dictators Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. It was instantly branded “madness” by critics.
Instead, secondary school pupils will be taught classes in global warming, healthy eating, Arabic and Urdu. And they will get five-minute “attention-grabbing” lessons in subjects like French and mental arithmetic following claims that today’s youngsters cannot concentrate for long.
The move follows 15 days of relentless announcements by Mr Brown since he became Prime Minister, including plans for his own written constitution for Britain, raising the school leaving age to 18 and scrapping Tony Blair’s proposed supercasino at a cost of £1million to taxpayers.
The education overhaul was branded “trendy nonsense” by campaigners for better schools standards last night.
And the astonishing decision to remove Churchill – whose personal determination is credited with saving Britain from Nazi tyranny – from a list of historical figures who must be studied provoked outrage.
While ministers insist the war- time Prime Minister will still feature in compulsory classes on the Second World War, the decision was widely condemned.
Tory MP Nicholas Soames, Winston Churchill’s grandson, described the move as “madness”.
He said: “It is absurd. I expect he wasn’t New Labour enough for them. This is a Government that is very careless of British history and always has been.”
The Shadow Children’s Minister Michael Gove said: “Churchill is the towering figure of 20th century British history. His fight against fascism was Britain’s finest hour. Our national story can’t be told without Churchill at the centre.”
And Phil Reed, director of London’s Churchill Museum, said: “This seems particularly surprising, as the Prime Minister often quotes from Churchill’s speeches.”
But a spokesman for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said: “It is impossible to teach the history of the Second World War without mentioning Churchill, Hitler and Stalin.
“Teachers don’t need to be told that they must mention those names. It’s self-explanatory.”
And junior Schools Minister Lord Adonis dismissed the concerns as “nonsense”.
He said: “Nobody with any sense could believe that we could teach the Second World War – a statutory requirement – without covering Churchill and Hitler.” Among the few named figures to remain in the curriculum are William Wilberforce, who will be studied for lessons on the slave trade.
The history of the development of the European Union has also survived as a specified topic for study.
Ministers claimed the shake-up gave teachers more scope to set their own timetables, freeing up around a quarter of the school day from Whitehall-imposed compulsory lessons. Schools Secretary Ed Balls insisted: “By cutting duplication and clutter in the curriculum, teachers will have more time to concentrate on what is vital.
“Youngsters will continue to study the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Dickens.”
Mr Balls, one of the Prime Minister’s closest allies, said the new curriculum will be phased into schools over the next three years.
Ministers also want lessons in personal finance to help youngsters learn how to handle money and avoid excessive debt. Youngsters will be taught how to open a bank account and write a cheque.
Pupils will be taught how to cook basic meals using fresh and healthy ingredients.
Global warming is to become an essential part of geography lessons. And the range of languages is to be updated to include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Urdu.
Critics fear that the extra subjects will squeeze out traditional lessons, such as studying classic literature and learning key historical dates.
Campaign for Real Education chief Nick Seaton said: “Five-minute lessons sound to me like a lot of trendy nonsense. Youngsters should be getting their attention spans stretched at school.”
He was also uncomfortable about lessons in climate change and healthy eating. “Most parents think children should go to school to learn the foundations of the basic subjects like maths and English, not have their opinions and values dictated by the state.”
Chris McGovern, director of the History Curriculum Association and a former Government adviser, said: “The curriculum is being used as a vehicle for teaching politically correct concepts.
“It is about teaching happiness and making children happy with themselves. It will promote ignorance.”
But Mick Waters, the QCA’s director of curriculum for pupils aged 11 to 14, said: “Anne Boleyn will still be beheaded, Trafalgar will still have taken place in 1805, the Pennines will remain the backbone of England, Romeo will still love Juliet.”
GORDON Brown’s politically correct onslaught intensifed last night as compulsory teaching of the life of Sir Winston Churchill was dropped.
A new school curriculum, unveiled as part of the Prime Minister’s barrage of initiatives, also scrapped the mandatory study of dictators Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. It was instantly branded “madness” by critics.
Instead, secondary school pupils will be taught classes in global warming, healthy eating, Arabic and Urdu. And they will get five-minute “attention-grabbing” lessons in subjects like French and mental arithmetic following claims that today’s youngsters cannot concentrate for long.
The move follows 15 days of relentless announcements by Mr Brown since he became Prime Minister, including plans for his own written constitution for Britain, raising the school leaving age to 18 and scrapping Tony Blair’s proposed supercasino at a cost of £1million to taxpayers.
The education overhaul was branded “trendy nonsense” by campaigners for better schools standards last night.
And the astonishing decision to remove Churchill – whose personal determination is credited with saving Britain from Nazi tyranny – from a list of historical figures who must be studied provoked outrage.
While ministers insist the war- time Prime Minister will still feature in compulsory classes on the Second World War, the decision was widely condemned.
Tory MP Nicholas Soames, Winston Churchill’s grandson, described the move as “madness”.
He said: “It is absurd. I expect he wasn’t New Labour enough for them. This is a Government that is very careless of British history and always has been.”
The Shadow Children’s Minister Michael Gove said: “Churchill is the towering figure of 20th century British history. His fight against fascism was Britain’s finest hour. Our national story can’t be told without Churchill at the centre.”
And Phil Reed, director of London’s Churchill Museum, said: “This seems particularly surprising, as the Prime Minister often quotes from Churchill’s speeches.”
But a spokesman for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said: “It is impossible to teach the history of the Second World War without mentioning Churchill, Hitler and Stalin.
“Teachers don’t need to be told that they must mention those names. It’s self-explanatory.”
And junior Schools Minister Lord Adonis dismissed the concerns as “nonsense”.
He said: “Nobody with any sense could believe that we could teach the Second World War – a statutory requirement – without covering Churchill and Hitler.” Among the few named figures to remain in the curriculum are William Wilberforce, who will be studied for lessons on the slave trade.
The history of the development of the European Union has also survived as a specified topic for study.
Ministers claimed the shake-up gave teachers more scope to set their own timetables, freeing up around a quarter of the school day from Whitehall-imposed compulsory lessons. Schools Secretary Ed Balls insisted: “By cutting duplication and clutter in the curriculum, teachers will have more time to concentrate on what is vital.
“Youngsters will continue to study the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Dickens.”
Mr Balls, one of the Prime Minister’s closest allies, said the new curriculum will be phased into schools over the next three years.
Ministers also want lessons in personal finance to help youngsters learn how to handle money and avoid excessive debt. Youngsters will be taught how to open a bank account and write a cheque.
Pupils will be taught how to cook basic meals using fresh and healthy ingredients.
Global warming is to become an essential part of geography lessons. And the range of languages is to be updated to include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Urdu.
Critics fear that the extra subjects will squeeze out traditional lessons, such as studying classic literature and learning key historical dates.
Campaign for Real Education chief Nick Seaton said: “Five-minute lessons sound to me like a lot of trendy nonsense. Youngsters should be getting their attention spans stretched at school.”
He was also uncomfortable about lessons in climate change and healthy eating. “Most parents think children should go to school to learn the foundations of the basic subjects like maths and English, not have their opinions and values dictated by the state.”
Chris McGovern, director of the History Curriculum Association and a former Government adviser, said: “The curriculum is being used as a vehicle for teaching politically correct concepts.
“It is about teaching happiness and making children happy with themselves. It will promote ignorance.”
But Mick Waters, the QCA’s director of curriculum for pupils aged 11 to 14, said: “Anne Boleyn will still be beheaded, Trafalgar will still have taken place in 1805, the Pennines will remain the backbone of England, Romeo will still love Juliet.”
