Education Revisited!

This emotive subject will be returned to many times I am sure, but I was alerted to 2 different reports this week which I have considered for this piece. That is hot on the heels of Ed Balls suggesting that Sats' should be scrapped for 14 year olds (probably the most crucial time in a persons academic life) we learn he wants to give those self same student lessons in money management , family values and, some what belated in my view, sex, chlamydia and pregnancy advice! Oh boy is this guy Minister enough for the task at hand, and why has he so much time to think up hair brained schemes such as this?
In my earlier article I suggested that, and I have now decided it should be the final year of primary school, pupils should , along with regular curriculum teaching, be given preparatory lessons in what to expect when they attend secondary school. This is the time to teach more responsive children the basics in sex education ( they won't get it at 5 or 7) they should also be warned about drugs and the related crime that is linked not only in the inner cities but now out here in the sticks too! Peer and media pressure on teenagers is at extreme levels these days especially on girls where sex, drugs and rock and roll doesn't even come into it,

so a Strong multi-faith R.E class teaching moral and ethical values for all in society and all they are likely to meet as they grow into adulthood, and a greater understanding of social issues and self esteme awareness, children of this age may rarely read a newspaper but with so much being thrust upon them via the Internet, this bombardment of information has to be reasoned out and prioritised, the latest I-Pod, mobile phone or 20 fags may have to take second place if you have not got enough for food at the moment!

The second item to catch my attention was to see Nick Ferrari, Gloria Hunniford and Tracy Cox discuss her new book on sex education and how liberated everyone is today and even how much better it is all done in the Netherlands! Maybe it is an age thing (I am about the same age as Mr. Ferrari) but I was delighted when this renowned radio presenter and journalist suggested why don't we just instill the word NO into the mind set of experimenting teenagers and let them consider the consequences of their actions at say 14 (this seems a focal age these days) and what if a great opportunity comes your way at the age of 17 or 21 and you can't go to say the US or Japan because you have a young unplanned child in toe! I have the utmost respect for Nick Ferrari who handles many issues in a measured way being quite tough with politicians (I love it when he corners Boris) and showing a sensitivity as with an interview last year with Susan Gale who shopped her son for drug dealing, and more recently the case of Chris, a Father from Hackney who was so concerned that his son was getting into the wrong company in London he was considering sending him away to family in Turkey just to keep him safe!
Nick Ferrari, Guido Fawkes and Jon Gaunt bring me all the news-politic I need each day and they knock the perversely regulated Today programme into a cocked hat , Nick even starts his show with the Radio 4 UK theme, I just wish he would invite Gloria Hunniford on to his show and discuss the Grandparents issue she is so passionate about as I believe, along with Jimmy Deuchars campaign 'Grandparents Apart', they hold the key to resolving the family law issue in Britain right now!


You can still punch Lennox Lewis on the nose with your curser at the bottom of the blog-page for more on this.