On 8 Nov 2017 at 8:53am Get a grip wrote:
ESCC's leaflet on school attendance 'Get a Grip' has caused a furore in the press both nationally and locally and has the backing of a large petition.
It has a whiff of dark and threatening authoritarianism about it, not least with its challenging crass cover. It says a great deal about ESCC'S Conservative views; rather than showing an informed opinion about the current tragedy unfolding in education (created largely by its own policies) it attempts to harshly condemn and cause fear instead. Special needs provision is in chaos, there is little or no support anymore for the emotional and psychological needs of children. Gross cuts in the numbers of teachers and assistants, the culling of creativity, a a curtailed drab curriculum, all this makes school an often distinctly unwelcoming place. In many cases I believe the present climate in schools may create a lack of attendance in the first place.
We live in times where enlightened care of our troubled children has never been more necessary. This leaflet has revealed a distinctly unhelpful ignorance and disdain of the true facts about the pressures all young people face nowadays.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 9:28am it's just another wrote:
brick in the wall
On 8 Nov 2017 at 10:52am Billy wrote:
The response to ESCC's leaflet is typical of today's mollycoddled society. The kids of today don't stand a chance, not because of the State but because of the parents. Show some spunk, get a grip, put an extra jumper on your kids and send them to school. Surprisingly, they will live!
On 8 Nov 2017 at 11:08am Earl of Lewess wrote:
@Billy - If only it was that simple.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 11:11am Clifford wrote:
Tell us Billy, are you one of the graduates of 'the university of life'?
On 8 Nov 2017 at 11:28am Billy wrote:
Clifford, yes, I guess I am. Although I was grammar school educated until 16, I went straight into employment. My parents taught me by example about the importance of manners, timekeeping, reliability etc and I have continued to learn from others (both good and bad) throughout life.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 11:52am Dexter wrote:
@billy. I appreciate your sentiment Billy and agree with you to a certain point but that leaflet was disgusting; especially when considering that education, like the NHS is collapsing.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 12:05pm Good Grief wrote:
What exactly are people upset about? Being told that they shouldn't take their kids on holiday in term time? That they shouldn't stay at home if the have a bit of a cold, or are a 'bit tired' (bless)? That a certain level of attendance is required to ensure that the syllabus is fully covered? Or is it that they think their children are 'too intelligent' to need to go to school every day? Or, more likely, is it that they feel guilty because the leaflet has struck a chord? If you are bringing your kids up properly, then what is the problem with being reminded of your obligations. Obviously people haven't taken any notice of previous attempts or there wouldn't be the need!
On 8 Nov 2017 at 12:13pm Old un @ Billy wrote:
Was that Lewes Grammar Billy ? I was there '65 - 70 for my sins. And like you went straight to work. Previous to that I went to a CofE primary in a Victorian building - outside bogs and no heating
On 8 Nov 2017 at 12:24pm being lectured wrote:
@Billy
People have always complained about poor public services and idiotic politicians lecturing them. This isn't about a "mollycoddled society".
Glad to hear you had a good grammar school education
On 8 Nov 2017 at 1:20pm Billy wrote:
I'm not proud of my Grammar School education although I never missed a day through sickness. I ended up doing woodwork, metalwork technical drawing and art! Completely failed my Latin, French, German etc. (Eastbourne Grammar by the way).
On 8 Nov 2017 at 1:22pm Earl of Lewess wrote:
Ironically, we didn't get the leaflet because my child was off school the day it was given out.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 1:23pm Billy wrote:
Ha, my junior school (St Mary's Boys - Eastbourne) also had outside bogs. I remember we had a uniform inspection every Wednesday morning and the smartest pupil wore a rosette for the week, awarded by the headmaster in assembly.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 3:46pm Hamid Barr wrote:
The Lewes outraged out again ( some exceptions well said Billy)
Expect further snowflakes
On 8 Nov 2017 at 4:57pm Zzzz.. wrote:
You are an ugly little sore Hamid.
On 8 Nov 2017 at 5:06pm Clifford wrote:
What used to make me laugh, and still does when I think of it, was the note my mother used to write if I was off sick. 'Dear Sir, I'm sorry Clifford wasn't at school yesterday. He wasn't well. Yours faithfully...'
On 8 Nov 2017 at 10:12pm perceptive wrote:
Professional disrupters at work here I presume..... shows what a political disaster 'Get a grip' has been for ESCC. Just the thing for a sweet engaged seven year old to pull out of their schoolbag, register its dramatic black front page.... and read! (I don't think) How crass and ill advised this whole
debacle has been. I wonder how much WE paid for its glossy pages and for the wages of the 'creatives' who thought up this slick crass and cruel 'message' in the first place. Perhaps some of it could have been spent on improving schools and the education of our children.