Why do you support Labour?

ronib

Now I have to comment - one of my sons had a form of visual dyslexia and had not the slightest interest in learning Latin. So he didn’t. My other sons had no problem at all with Latin. So that was that. I can’t understand why when the Conservative government introduced Latin to State schools, the Labour Party takes it away. Equal opportunities my …..

I would hazard a guess levelling down

Now I have to comment - one of my sons had a form of visual dyslexia and had not the slightest interest in learning Latin. So he didn’t. My other sons had no problem at all with Latin. So that was that. I can’t understand why when the Conservative government introduced Latin to State schools, the Labour Party takes it away. Equal opportunities my …..

Iam64

Grannygravy I’m sure the rest of us want the best opportunities for all children. I’m struggling with adding Latin to a curriculum weighted to academic subjects. We have many children who feel like failures because of dyslexia, adhd, dyspraxia, neglectful home lives -I’m sure you recognise this but I can’t not fkag

I think our education system needs a total rethink.

There should be an option to choose Trades as well as GCSE subjects in year 9.

The system as it stands just sets up a percentage of our young people to fail, that feeling of failure can remain throughout their lives.

I wouldn’t add Latin as compulsory. I did it as an option. If we’d been offered a wider choice of languages I’d probably have chosen one of those.
I agree about the curriculum already being packed with academic subjects which may prove to be totally unnecessary.

Grannygravy I’m sure the rest of us want the best opportunities for all children. I’m struggling with adding Latin to a curriculum weighted to academic subjects. We have many children who feel like failures because of dyslexia, adhd, dyspraxia, neglectful home lives -I’m sure you recognise this but I can’t not fkag

Oreo

The voter/member of any political party who can’t bring themselves to disagree with any of the choices and policies put forward is acting in a tribal way, it happens and you see it on many forums.

👏👏👏👏👏

I just think its time, and resources, and difficult choices, given the range of subjects and topics that different people think "should" be available as part of the curriculum at year 9.
Ask different educationalists and you'll get different answers...

I am for broadening young minds and giving them choices of subjects they wish to study in year 9 and above (exam years) not narrowing them and removing options.

I am not advocating that Latin should be part of the national curriculum, but why should only the elite schools and pupils have the option of studying it?

Oreo from my post yesterday 19.02, note the comment in brackets:

They have shown some commitment to re-distribution of wealth e.g. means testing the WFA; removing the tax break for private schools; revising the unequal inheritance tax enjoyed be farmers. (I would like them to go even further in the area of wealth distribution). Those with the broadest shoulders should contribute more to society

I don't think that Latin was ever taught as a mainstream subject in the state system except in Grammar Schools.

Nearly every Latin text book that was passed down to me from year to year contained the verse:-

"Latin is a language as dead as dead can be
It killed off all the Romans and now it's killing me."

Sago 😂😂😂😂

Beeches

Shinamae you got so angry earlier the moderator removed your comment, time for bed I think - sleep well

Yes but your whole thread was removed.

I think that top trumps Shinamae.

P.S You obviously missed the thread on paragraphs.

Really?
What choices and policies put forward do you not agree with?
All that I have seen is the WFA which has almost universally been dissed in the way that it was done.
I’m hopeful overall but after the celebrations when Labour got in six months ago it’s been one thing after another.The thousands given for new glasses, suits and dresses was yet another groan from me.The Budget was another.

If Latin is being freed as an extra, but not as part of the curriculum, that is absolutely as it should be.

I would hope it is making room for other more valuable subjects.

In my family I have doctors, lawyers, biologists, scientists.

Not a single one took Latin as an option to further their career option.

Oreo

Casdon

Oreo

Indigo8

I have found several threads attacking Labour "goady" and one particularly offensive one is still running.

?
Report anything goady and suspicious, if the mods agree it will vanish, if not it won’t.

I think a lot of us are bigger than that. Goady posts show up the poster for who they are, and nobody is obliged to reply in like vein. If there were no goady posts it would be a lot more constructive on here, but also much duller.

Yet the poster is complaining about ‘offensive’ threads so perhaps should complain where it matters to her.

You consider goading threads and posts exciting?I’d prefer dull and constructive.

I’d prefer constructive posts too Oreo, I’m often accused of taking things too seriously on here because I do like a detailed political discussion. The danger is though that if there were no goady posts less people would be attracted to join in discussions, it would become an echo chamber.

I'd like to see what so many of us have suggested so many times - that for non- academic students there are courses relevant to future work.

As regards tribal behaviour and a choice for Labour, I feel very free to support or not support various specific choices or say "I agree with "x" strongly but they need to re set the details, and cannot recall anyone supporting Labour totally uncritically on GN.

To Oreo.

I certainly haven’t noticed any Labour supporter on GN unable to bring themselves to disagree with the choices and policies of their party.

Indeed, just the opposite!

GrannyGravy13

Mamie

ronib

All I want to know is why the party of opportunity has removed opportunity?

What opportunities do you think Latin provides in the twenty-first century ronib?
All I can say is, that it was mildly useful for A level French in 1968.
I guess you can try and show off to the gullible like Boris Johnson does, but proper classicists say he gets quite a lot wrong.
What subjects would you take out of the National Curriculum in order to include it?
What would be its particular use in the workplace?

Latin is a gateway language.

It is widely used in medicine, botany, sciences. It helps with learning other Mediterranean languages and even with the origin of many English words.

State school pupils should not have this option removed, as it will limit their degree choices.

It really doesn't limit degree choices GG13. It didn't when I went to university, it didn't when my children went to university and it hasn't for my grandchildren, including the one studying medicine. If you study law it doesn't take much to learn sub judice, in loco parentis etc.
Etymologically it is interesting and I loved the poetry of Catullus when I learnt it, but I can honestly say as a fluent French speaker that Latin is of very little help in everyday French; even the medical French that occupies much of my time at the moment.
I think it is fine to study as an extra, but not justified as central to the curriculum. STEM subjects rightly occupy a lot of space now. Which of those would you take out for Latin?

Latin is useful in many ways. Mr I studied Latin at his boys grammar school. It had no relevance to his successful career but was useful in his crossword addiction.
Oreo makes the relevant point about how much the curriculum can fit in. To be frank, I’d rather see the arts, drama/music/painting drawing sculpting etc retained. There’s so much evidence about the life long contribution to our mental health made by the arts

The voter/member of any political party who can’t bring themselves to disagree with any of the choices and policies put forward is acting in a tribal way, it happens and you see it on many forums.

And speaking up for Labour is considered blind support, whilst constant sniping is supposedly even-handed criticism if 'balanced' by stating something vague about how the Conservatives made some mistakes in their 14 years in power

Doodledog 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

LizzieDrip

^It’s silly to agree with everything Labour do in a tribal way, and doesn’t do anyone any good^

Rather a ‘goady’ comment IMO Oreo.

If you’re addressing it to me, I don’t agree with everything Labour do in a tribal way - rather insulting.

I happen to agree with Labour’s mean testing of the WFA. That’s my opinion and, as far as I know, am still allowed to my opinion!

It was addressed to all Labour voters on here.

On the subject of learning Latin, it may be useful for some things including understanding a lot of our own language and is def useful for certain jobs but schools generally don’t have the space or time to teach absolutely everything and prefer to teach modern languages which have more relevance for children.

ronib

Mamie Latin is very useful in a number of ways - in law Latin is frequently used - Starmer must know this. The two classicists I know have very advanced linguistic ability and can easily pick up new languages. Also the discipline of learning Latin is not confined to only that specific subject but helps in persevering when learning difficult subjects. Oh I forgot we have AI now!!!

Totally agree ronib I missed the law in my summary of Latin and its uses.

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