Brown loses Sun newspaper backing

[Sysman]

But that's not really an objective way to judge the state of an industry. I mean, does anyone have a partner that doesn't come home and spend half an hour raging about the stress-outs in the office? My missus used to work as a guide for the National Trust and you'd think she was in charge of air traffic control at Heathrow, FFS.

No. In my experience teachers are the worst for doing this.

Oh the news is on and the Beeb can't let this Sun headline go

[Sysman]

I picked the 80's because my maths teacher explained how it worked when I did my A Levels. Back then the A level was self regulating. About 40% had to fail and the grades were set on percentages - so A would only be given to the top say 2.5%. The distribution of scores would essentially follow the same normal distribution and chopping that 40% at the end maintained the A Level status.

I clearly remember the Dean of Science telling us at the beginning of the first uni year that having gained places there we were in the "top 2%" (whatever that really meant).

The catching up to the same level TLG mentions was done in the first term and was necessary because different examining boards had different curricula. Very few dropped out or were ejected. I only recall 2 lads from my courses who disappeared at the end of the first year - one because he was impatient to start earning and the other because he was a lazy twunt.

[BoredBloke]

I clearly remember the Dean of Science telling us at the beginning of the first uni year that having gained places there we were in the "top 2%" (whatever that really meant).

The catching up to the same level TLG mentions was done in the first term and was necessary because different examining boards had different curricula. Very few dropped out or were ejected. I only recall 2 lads from my courses who disappeared at the end of the first year - one because he was impatient to start earning and the other because he was a lazy twunt.

That catch up thing was common because it brought everybody to the same point because, as you say, different examining boards cover different portions of the course to a greater or lesser extent. What we have now is the uni having to teach the students the things they would reasonably expect them to already know. This is because the kids are only taught what they need to know to pass the exam rather than the subject itself.

It would be interesting to see how a maths student from today would cope with an A Level paper from 20 or 30 years ago. That would be a good test.

[bekarovka]

I'm not a dedicated Labour voter

Oh come come now

a load of stuck up toffs

I think you're showing your true colours here, proper little class warrior aren't we?
For the record, I can't wait until next June when hopefully we are going to see the labour party consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belongs.

[wurzel]

Did anyone see his hissy fit this morning? Thought it would have been up on Youtube by now if it was any good.

[d000hg]

It would be interesting to see how a maths student from today would cope with an A Level paper from 20 or 30 years ago. That would be a good test.

No it wouldn't. Curricula don't just get reduced, they change as well... things are added as well as removed. Plus of course, the way questions are presented and the 'syntax' used in maths go through 'fashions'. I've seen easy questions on old papers as a school-kid that made no sense until it was explained that f:->x meant f(x) or whatever...

[d000hg]

For the record, I can't wait until next June when hopefully we are going to see the labour party consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belongs.

Because obviously losing an election means the party has to disappear completely. It seems these days people are ever less prepared to give anyone time to prove themselves - football managers sacked after a few games, politicians go from hero->devil if a new policy doesn't change the world in a month - so I think we could easily see the governing party flip-flop every election. Everyone's used to voting out the ones they don't like every 5 minutes thanks to stupid reality TV shows.

[Board Game Geek]

LG Posted : The dumbing down is forcing the top of the food chain to find different ways to distinguish the wheat from the chaf.

Which is what the Socialist hates with a passion, because Socialists have a massive inferiority complex, and loathe anyone who is more successful than they are. (Which isn't difficult to be honest)

Hence, the socially-engineered agenda to promote mediocrity is based on jealousy, class hate, and ineptitude.

When everyone is as educated as everyone else, then there is no lowest common denominator, and thus even Socialists can feel good about themselves.

[cybersquatter]

Did anyone see his hissy fit this morning? Thought it would have been up on Youtube by now if it was any good.

It's here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm48t...layer_embedded

Genius.

[BrilloPad]

I did not believe the election was lost for Labour until today. Tory government from May. Not that it will make any difference.....