jbooth

a) Coursework is a means of assessment - just like an exam thereofre the ease of which it is marked has noithing to do with it. We are teachers - we mark the students work no matter how they have been assessed. The reason they believe the middle class kids get better marks doing it is because of parental support. If that it the case then it means their parents are doing the right thing and providing an example of what parental support can achieve. I am not saying that it decries the achievement of working class parents but should mean that schools look at homework clubs with more thought.

I have no problem with citizenship per se but I do find political education via an alternative means an issue. The development of being a member of society is one thing but telling people they have a voice and how to shout about it is another. All that will happen is each government will decide what element of citizenship they want to see more of. My big fear regarding the introduction of a European role in all of this will be the removal of our own Parliamentary democracy in return for some Brussels based government that has all the self interest of an alchoholic at a beer festival. Lets look at the facts eh...hardly anyone votes in european elections - why not? because they are always seen as bogus, corrupt officials with their heads in the troughs paid for at the tax payers expense.

What tosh! I am a History Teacher and I alue good history teaching - all this mumbo jumbo about citizenship smacks to me of nannying the people, telling them what to do, when to do it and what to say in the event of having a thought. Lord knows what it will be like in a 'pan European community'. Why else do you think Blair is looking at lowering the voting age to 16! Next it will be only those with GCSE in Citizenship to vote - what is next, political education in the classroom, political educators deciding the electorate in the classroom! why don't we all start waving the red flag and calling the Cold War a draw

I thought A Walker said you were interested in giving political 'nounce' this rather more looks like anti-blairite attacks on the policies! Top up fees etc have nothing to do with the original thread. If people are apathetic to the political system - it is their choice. Politics should not be rammed down people's throats. What is next, enforced citizenship in a hardline stalinist regieme?

I don't agree - I am not a prison officer just because I have no issue with who is Education Minister etc? It does not stop me from doing a good job does it? Putting a political slant on training may mean the some trainees may end up with a politcal agenda that does not sit well in the classroom. After all if teachers have to go through this then why not prison officers, the police etc.