Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
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Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/pr ... ldren.html
Whilst I have every sympathy for kids in this situation - having found myself at a disadvantage in a foreign language on many occasions - is it right to insist on dumbing down exams in the English language by omitting humour or irony, simply because an albeit significant minority may not be able to understand it? Surely if it's covered in the curriculum which is taught to all pupils whatever their background, then it should be included? Where do you draw the line?
I thought barmy diktats like this went out with the last government...
Whilst I have every sympathy for kids in this situation - having found myself at a disadvantage in a foreign language on many occasions - is it right to insist on dumbing down exams in the English language by omitting humour or irony, simply because an albeit significant minority may not be able to understand it? Surely if it's covered in the curriculum which is taught to all pupils whatever their background, then it should be included? Where do you draw the line?
I thought barmy diktats like this went out with the last government...
Last edited by Marylou on Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Marylou
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
Errrr, OK, Magwich.
Marylou, I completely agree with you. Sorry, I'm going to have to go and lie down, after Magwich's post I've lost all train of thought.
Marylou, I completely agree with you. Sorry, I'm going to have to go and lie down, after Magwich's post I've lost all train of thought.
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Sally-Anne
- Posts: 9235
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Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
Snowdrops, Magwich's post has been removed in the interim.
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
Ah, thanks Sally-Anne. I had a hurt head last night trying to get my head around that. I honestly thought I was going barmy and missing something!
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
me too!Snowdrops wrote:Ah, thanks Sally-Anne. I had a hurt head last night trying to get my head around that. I honestly thought I was going barmy and missing something!
mad?
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
Why was it removed?
I'm not rascist as I am married to an Iranian, but this is ridiculous!!
If our DC went to live in France for example would they adjust the exams there because French is not their first language? I don't think so!!
I'm not rascist as I am married to an Iranian, but this is ridiculous!!
If our DC went to live in France for example would they adjust the exams there because French is not their first language? I don't think so!!
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
I am also married to a foreigner (albeit second generation); I tend to think his inability to understand the subtleties of my humour has more to do with his gender than his heritage.
Not sure the exam system could easily correct for that.
Not sure the exam system could easily correct for that.
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
Absolutely!
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chicko-mum
- Posts: 294
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Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
You speak for many of us there Amber! (:roll: this is me when he doesn't get it). Not sure that ANY system, exam or otherwise, could correct for that!Amber wrote:I tend to think his inability to understand the subtleties of my humour has more to do with his gender than his heritage.
Not sure the exam system could easily correct for that.
Re: Is it me or is this just plain barmy?
To quote Oscar Wilde
" Mixed marriages will never work, - men and women are just too different"
" Mixed marriages will never work, - men and women are just too different"
