Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Education

Many young people traipse through our education system for many years and then leave unable to read, write or understand simple arithmetic. Employers are complaining, but we should all be complaining. Something is wrong. The system is controlled by targets, statistics mean everything to our politicians, who shout over any criticism by blabbering on about the increasing percentage of children entering university, or obtaining higher GCSE grades.

None of this matters. Bright children will succeed, come what may and most millionaires have mediocre academic records. We should be concentrating upon the percentage that fail - for they should not be allowed to slip through our education system without being able to read, write and do arithmetic. It's a national disgrace if they do.

This stupid state should be laid firmly at the feet of our politicians and educators because these failures tend to be the most disruptive elements in our society. They become the burglars, the street reprobates, the drug-dealers because the wider society has nothing to offer them. They make our world a less attractive place to live. Collectively we should take steps to ensure that every child reaches an acceptable standard. Our own lives depend upon the education of these young failures.

Until that happens we are likely to face more disruption. The political party that recognises these simple precepts will garner support. While they continue to believe that more university places will help us - we will continue to slide downhill.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Life

If I don't hurry up my life will be over before I've finished everything.

After too many years of chasing around to match the expectations of other people I've decided to rebel, to take a little more time for myself. One result of such selfish actions is that true friendships begin to shine through like bright beacons.

Now there are those who contact me for my own sake, to talk, to laugh together, to offer help and advice, and they are so lovely. It's such a change after so many years of responding to demands.

We are all selfish, all worried about our own little worlds, often because we take on obligations, make promises, often passing them across to others to fulfill on our behalf. When our subcontractors let us down, all hell can be let loose.

From now on there'll be more of me in my life. I awoke this morning full of plans to build sculptures in my garden. One will use a 40ft radio mast that's been hanging around from the previous owner, which I plan to turn into a huge fishing rod, to dangle a large gold fish over a very small pond. The other joins together some wonderful ceramic cardamon heads I bought some time ago. Joined to the end of 10 ft steel rods, sheathed in copper tube they will make a great flower display - one that will not fade.

There is more to life - let's keep it going.