Jump to content

There Was No Possibility!


Gluestick
 Share

Recommended Posts

[quote user="ebaynut"]

 

But then I never had Masters

as teachers, your man sounds like a proper decent gent

for sure, mine ( the one I mentioned) was a lazy fat failure of a man, who

deserved the loathing of his pupils in every way.

H
ence as I could afford it,my boys were educated privately,

and not by some failure in life who could not find anything better to work

as.

 

[/quote]

They were all gentlemen, EBN. I was most fortunate to attend an excellent grammar school, where every Master was indeed, since they all possessed Master degrees as well as their original degree. and all from top universities.

The Masters addressed us as "Gentlemen": and we to them "Sir!". We all had to stand up when a Master entered the classroom; and wear standard school uniform. I am a life member of the old boy's association and most proud to be so.

[quote]Perhaps if I worked

in teaching, my written word would be faultless, but as I have never had such a ‘pleasure’ I would not expect it

to be. People who look down on others lack of

perceived education, and then make such sloppy mistakes

themselves, which clearly any old idiot can spot, (and did)

 need it pointing out to them.
[/quote]

One ought to enjoy a reasonable grasp of English grammar and spelling, without having essentially been a teacher. Indeed, today, the standards amongst most "Teachers" is deplorable.

Actually, EBN I was just teasing, as is my wont. Point remains, however, when one plays grammar N.A.Z.I. it is critical to use a spell checker.

On teaching....... two friends of mine (One was the Deputy Chair) recruited me urgently to be parachuted into a problem secondary school, as a governor, since the new financial regime of LMS was being introduced. So I became a County Council Co-opted school Guv.

The idiot head teacher retired (big sigh or relief) and a leaving dinner and presentation was held for her. All the governors attended and their spouses were invited too.

On a long adjoining table, where the dress code seemed generally to be jeans, sweatshirts and trainers and as the noise grew and the roll-ups lit and clouds of blue smoke rolled up into the hall ceiling, Mrs Gluey whispered in my ear; "Who are those badly behaved rabble; old boys and girls?"

I laughed roundly; and rather sadly.

"Oh no!" I said, "They are the teachers!".  [:-))]

I would also agree, far too many grads opt for teaching as a job and not a vocation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 95
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

W/B wrote,

 

ebn, may I remind you that this is a forum about

France, not a personal space for you to get your prejudices out of your system.

If you really do need psychological help, my daughter could perhaps offer you an

appointment over in Brussels, though she is booked pretty solid so she tells me

and doesnt take just any old customer.

As others have said, there will continue to be plenty to keep your daughter

in Brussels busy. Although I would have thought there was plenty of subject

matter for her much closer to home.[Www]

 

As that is her line of work, looks like there could be plenty for her in NYC  if she fancy's a

change of scene.

 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

G/S wrote,

 

Actually, EBN I

was just teasing, as is my wont.

 

And righty so,

as I said before, written English clearly is not my best subject !!  I once had

a chap who needed to write me out a cheque for £500 for an item he had brought

from me. He wrote the five OK, then asked me the correct way to spell

Hundred,

so I told him,

T- H –O- U- S –A –N -D.

 

I was

always far better at counting. [;-)]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A little story you will appreciate, EBN.

As Word Processors (The standalone type, Wordplex, Wang etc) took over offices, no one realised, at first, the operators needed to be able to, well, spell, and count reasonably. As did their superiors....

A major US shipping company, US Lines, were having serious liquidity problems and drooping cashflow. They owned amongst many others two newish bulk carriers, under marine mortgage to a major Assurance Company; and failed to pay.........

So the Assurers sent in a bailiff to "nail a writ of default to the masts": which these days means selo-taping a waterproof pouch to a convenient bit of superstructure. The debt was actually $500 Million. The girly driving the WP, who was clearly not of the brightest, typed in "$500.000000". Obviously, some senior honcho in the department couldn't count either.

The assurer's bankruptcy action was similarly flawed.

US Lines immediately applied to the bankruptcy court for Chapter 13 (Which in the USA gives time for a sort out and re-financing package) and simultaneously sued the creditor for mischievous and harmful damage to their reputation and credibility. And won...

Good to be able to count when dealing with telephone number dosh!

[:D]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We had masters at school as opposed to teachers who were addressed as Sir and for whom we stood when they came into the classroom.

Utterly dedicated and caring about the pupils and the school. Many had had some pretty tough war service and had the scars and medals to prove it.

The last surviving one has just died; he was 90 odd. As a History master he made us really think and challenge what was on the page. RIP Don Culver.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of our Masters, Wooly, Mr "Spike" Limberg, biology, was crippled by the Japanese, when forced to build the "Bamboo Railroad". He was mentioned in Russell Braddon's famous book, "Naked Island" later made into a war film, "Camp on Blood Island".

Spike clearly had suffered a broken back...

Others served with distinction.

These Masters were leaders, excellent pedagogues, as well as damned men!

I remain eternally grateful for the discipline they instilled into me and the background of a Classics education now so much lacking.

(P.S. Check your PMS!)

[B]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="richard51"]Gluestick wrote

"

These Masters were leaders, excellent pedagogues, as well as damned men!

"

Not a description that gives them much credit

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedagogue

And can't women be good teachers or was there other things going on.[/quote]

Strange comment.............

I used the word in the sense of pedantic: i.e. sticklers for knowledge and accuracy.

Thank goodness.

In those far off halcyon days, women taught in the girl's high-school, immediately next door. which itself, had and has an excellent academic record.

Bearing in mind pre-pubescent and pubescent boys become rather fixated on sex: girls, today, are sexually active it seems from around 13. Parents unfortunately, indulge them and allow 14 year old girls to dress and behave in a rather unfortunate way......

Allowing school children to wear make up, body piercing and have their hair styled and dyed and dress in a totally unsuitable style, creates competition in any classroom; plus in mixed-gender schools, emotional pressures create even greater undesired pressure.

Focus, concentration et al, evaporate and Facebook and Twitter tend to take over...

Leaders? Well pretty self-explanatory; however, it would seem you prefer the concept of "teachers" ideally being scruffy, ill-mannered oiks, who are unable to keep order, lack discipline and couldn't lead anyone out of a damp paper bag?

It seems to me, UK teachers are now more fixated on two missions in life:

1.  Teaching young fertile and non-discriminatory minds about the joys of same sex relationships and wondering whether they are actually boys trapped in a girls body and the reverse.

2.  Teaching (Brainwashing) children with the standard Marxist-Socialist polemic.

Such a great shame they cannot actually teach them to read, write, spell, count and comprehend.

Quote:

"...........how it is we intend to achieve a reduction in unemployment when 20% of

the adult population is functionally illiterate and a third cannot add

up two three-figure numbers."

Since all state secondary schools became comprehensives between 1965 and 1975; and since the commencing secondary age was between 11 and 12, then today, those pupils average 62 years old to 52. Thus this problem is not a recent phenomenon.

Source:

Source:

How on earth the UK can create and maintain competitive advantage in the increasingly digitalised globalised world, I know not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gluestick - for someone who appears to be so pedantic I am surprised that you have not "researched" the word using dictionaries.

For example - "excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous" is not a flattering description for a teacher. Especially true for those of artistic talent but also true for sciences.

Excessive ramblings can lead to a loss of the bigger picture would you not say?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is a question of balance, Richard; instilling discipline into academic method and thinking does not preclude bigger picture thinking by any means, but it does instil rigour which is very necessary in all fields, even the artistic.

In music, you may produce a pop group with a few bits of fingering but to create top class musicians or the potential to become so does require pernickity discipline and attention to detail.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your accountant remark has reminded me of a true story.  Not about an accountant, but about an architectural student noted for his meticulous attention to detail, his ravishingly produced plans and drawings and considered to be the best in his year at uni.

He had a brief to design a block of flats and indeed the finished drawings were to his usual standard.  Having been taught how to look at plans, I started with the floor plan of the ground floor, then first floor, etc.  They were not a high block, I think only about 4 or 5 floors in all.  There was the cloakroom with toilet and hand basin next to the lift shaft, well and good......except that the toilet detail was not carried up to the other floors, thus ending with a small, functional and very necessary room with a ceiling that is 4 floors' height above ground floor!

It IS true that you can sometimes miss the wood for the trees!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="richard51"]Wooly - you miss my point. Rigorous methods are obviously a necessity to be taught, but not by pedantic (see definition) teachers.

I'm sure you know of the accountant who tries to account for every penny, yet misses out a material factor worth perhaps millions.[/quote]

As a qualified accountant, then the man you cite cannot be an accountant; since items of value, assets, receivables, debts etc must clearly be taken into account or the end result is a  false statement.

BTW: Contingent Liabilities are part and parcel of any full responsibility and/or going concern statement, be it balance sheet, management account, analysis, whatever.

Furthermore. the new accounting and auditing rules make abundantly clear, implied responsibility and liability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Opposite of "Incontinent Liabilities": i.e. dodgy false statement made to deliberately mislead people and accountant suffering from, err, loose bowels whilst they await that knock on the door by the Serous Fraud Office!

[:D]

Thanks for heads up, Wooly: typo. G missing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gluestick wrote:

"As a qualified accountant, then the man you cite cannot be an accountant; since items of value, assets, receivables, debts etc must clearly be taken into account or the end result is a false statement."

Just one topical professional person Gluestick though I think there are loads more - "Christine".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="richard51"]Gluestick wrote:

"As a qualified accountant, then the man you cite cannot be an accountant; since items of value, assets, receivables, debts etc must clearly be taken into account or the end result is a false statement."

Just one topical professional person Gluestick though I think there are loads more - "Christine".[/quote]

Ah dear tangerine face.

However, the lady is a lawyer; and they can rarely actually count. Well, all apart from their outlandish fee bills, that is! Which are completed by costs draughtsmen/women, in any case.

Providing forensic evidence, I have invariably had to show 'em how to actually read an Excel spreadsheet..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...