AyatollahPies

I did find some articles with the opposing view too. I just think BSF was being used as a cloak to hide the real issues that are affecting education. I agree that a nice new building is more welcoming than a dilapidated one, but it's the curriculum and the standard of the teaching of it, that surely makes all the difference?

Daily Wail not in sight. I imagine you'll feel at home reading the Guardian link. :-) Independent article where Ed Balls states that the problems lay beyond the classroom. Computers blamed as reading standards slump - Education News, Education - The Independent Guardian article? No way man. The lefties can't think this too! Falling school standards: Can students cope at University? | Education | guardian.co.uk Times article about a report by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). British pupils falling in world rankings - Times Online BBC article about a report by Reform (Right Wingers so BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!) BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Maths exams 'have become easier' Belfast Telegraph referencing Doctor Bernard Lamb & Professor Loreto Todd (Academics) How falling standards of English are forcing colleges into drastic action - Education, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk Royal Society of Chemistry Science pupils couldn't handle O-level questions in online competition Research by Michael Shayer, professor of applied psychology at King's College, University of London Children are less able than they used to be | Education | The Guardian A few statements by academics in amonst those, so will that do? You say you haven't seen any evidence but I imagine that is because you haven't looked. Ask whoever enters the assessment data into the schools MIS about the "massaging of grade boundaries" over recent years. For a laugh, you could even have a search through the TES forums.

Does it though? My parents' generation (in their 60's) had far worse environments to work in than any modern school, yet it's widely regarded that the standard of education has plummeted over the last 20 to 30 years.

Give Mint Linux a try. It's based on Ubuntu, thus Debian.

I'd prefer a Mason-esq Tie-pin, with a logo that only fellow Edugeekers would know. We could then create a special handshake too.

I think it's time you left Sonny Jim! :-)

Creedance Clearwater revival's version of 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'

As long as it's not based upon how many times a poster has been thanked, as this function is abused beyond a joke.

Nah, throws up a lovely error saying "Unable to get the registry keys for SQLBinnRoot or SQLData from the registry"

Seriously, is how much they cost? Sweet Baby Jesus!

Typical ruddy Tories! Damn you Thatcher. First you take our Milk, now our Love Chips website! Welcome to Love Chips!

You actually look like your Avatar. (No we didn't speak & no i thankfully don't look like my avatar :-) )

I've never heard of any presentation being described as groovy so I guess I should look forward to the conference. Mind you, I am taking my netbook and dongle should the football prove to tempting.

I can send you some Capita pens. Got loads of them.

What's the freebie this year Phil? I got a shoulder bag and food poisoning 2 years ago. :-)

I can see Tablets being far more useful in schools than netbooks have been. You'll note I said Tablets and not Ipads. However, as others have mentioned, there needs to be a planned reason for buying them. I support netbooks at various schools where they were simply bought because the head had heard that another school was using them. Suffice to say, the netbooks rarely get used, and when they do, it's to browse the internet. Seems a rather expensive way to browse the internet if you ask me. I think any school looking to purchase something like the Ipad, which is brand new to market, needs to hold back for a while.

Well I'm basing my opinion on recent job adverts, and in terms of qualifications required for the job, in return for a decent salary, the public sector get a far better deal. Perhaps that's more of a problem with HR in the private sector asking for every skill set under the sun and offering peanuts in return. Most jobs in Education IT support seem to be happy if you are "working towards" an MCSE etc. Well, you could argue that having an MCP is working towards an MCSE. (Yes, that's quite a large generalisation, but it seems very common) I'm aware there are many that contribute to Edugeek that are on very low salaries, but I'm also aware of the same in the private sector, and the conditions are stress seem far worse there. Of course, there are always exceptions, as described by Rydra. From personal experience and speaking with colleagues that have left public sector employment to go in to the private sector and Vice versa, the consensus is that we have it damn good in the Public sector, pension or not. Like Sandeep2504, I too am seriously considering stopping payment into the LGPS, as I do not believe my those under 50, are going to get anywhere near as good a return as my parents generation, that are due to retire within the next couple of years. The majority of colleagues under 30, do not contribute to the LGPS, so as it stands, I am at the bottom of the giant Pyramid scheme.

I'm sorry, but these days public sector pay is on a par, or better than the equivalent in the private sector, especially in IT Support. However, I agree that just because the private sector pensions have been destroyed, that is no reason to turn on those in the public sector.

Well, I correctly predicted the score for the opening game (Not on here I might add). I'm gunning for the country that makes Homer Simpson laugh in the next game, but I think it will be another 1-1 draw. Roll on tomorrow evening. The energy and Adrenaline is already pumping through my veins. Damn I love Football!

It depends who removes. I've overheard enough conversations in pubs to suggest there are an awful lot of dodgy folk out there that just dump on waste land.

Does anyone else have "World In Motion" on a continuous loop whilst driving? Best footy song EVER! (Even better than the Anfield rap)

And what about the many female fans?

Oooh, looks interesting. I see they will be making a version based on Ubuntu soon.

I'm pondering the taste of Whisky on toast.

Cut out Dairy from your diet for a week and see how you feel.