tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post7077518098041354891..comments2023-10-25T13:12:46.025+00:00Comments on THE ELLORY JOURNAL: R J Elloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-68835034637265267112011-02-20T12:53:46.376+00:002011-02-20T12:53:46.376+00:00Max,
The simple truth is that everyone I speak to ...Max,<br />The simple truth is that everyone I speak to agrees, and yet we seem incapabale of doing anything really effective about it. I shall just continue working as hard as I can, and writing to as many people as I need to, and I shall become a real troublemaker!<br />Best wishes,<br />Roger.R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-41656106689683918002011-02-18T23:29:43.123+00:002011-02-18T23:29:43.123+00:00Roger,
Another extremely honest and interesting ...Roger,<br /> Another extremely honest and interesting post. As one of your readers, it's disappointing to hear about the pushing back of 'Bad Signs,' and, as someone who wants to be an author, finds the situation of the publishers extremely worrying.<br /> Society at the moment seems to be at a standstill. I can understand cuts being made, but I'm left dumbfounded by some of them - essentially, my generation of people going to University will be left in a heap of debt, with little amount of jobs. Having taken a gap year, I'm fully aware of the horrific job situation. It seems there will be a growing trend of people with degrees, but unable to find even basic work...<br /> Glad that you're actually writing to politicians. <br /> I'm impressed by your persistence! <br /> Max.Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336596976796226150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-84044071398855931022011-02-15T07:58:49.714+00:002011-02-15T07:58:49.714+00:00You know, the Romans educated kids in the basis of...You know, the Romans educated kids in the basis of language, numbers and general knowledge (philosophy, geography etc.) until they were twelve; then they isolated the area of interest of the child and concentrated on that. The Romans employed the 'apprentice' system, and got kids actually doing something productive that had a value to the society within which they lived. Now, I'm not saying that the Romans got everything right, but it seems to me that in this area they hit the nail on the head. What would happen if we - as a nation - turned the education system on its head? Take out government interference; let teachers teach (and teaching - as far as I'm concerned - is one of noblest and most selfless of all professions); start schoolchildren out with real Reading Skills, Vocabulary, English Language and Literature, Maths and General Knowledge, and do nothing else until they are twelve. Teach them about the world they live - about politics and religion, about different philosophies, about where we have come from as a race of peoples. Then find the area where the child shows the greatest interest or ability and focus on that area, meanwhile supporting a broader range of general education in real subjects that have something to do with living life. At fifteen or sixteen, give them an apprenticeship, whether it be in an advertising company, as a bricklayer, as an athlete, a photographer, a chemist or whatever. Pay them a basic wage. Require that a percentage of that wage be directed to their parents or guardians so the teenager begins to grasp the concept of exchange and that 'nothing is obtained for nothing'. By the time they reach eighteen or nineteen, you would have someone who could read, write, accomplish all aspects of mathematics necessary to function in life (work out their household finances, balance a chequebook, calculate standard of living costs against income etc.), someone who understood world politics and current affairs, someone who had a profession and career ahead of them, and could actually perform in that field with competence and pride in what they were producing. Seems to me that such a program would undercut and address aspects of all of our social ills - racism, intolerance, violence, crime, vandalism, graffiti, absence of manners and courtesy, the 'benefit society', hooliganism, and many of the contributory factors that lead to alcoholism and drug dependency. That - to me - doesn't seem too hard to achieve, does it?R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-68015553225854766882011-02-15T07:47:15.981+00:002011-02-15T07:47:15.981+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-72889088734573015612011-02-14T19:35:47.369+00:002011-02-14T19:35:47.369+00:00i agree Roger, especially about kids thoroughly le...i agree Roger, especially about kids thoroughly learning the basics till around 12 years of age.<br /><br /> I read about an idea that at 14 kids should choose either to attend a technical college and become skilled trades people or continue with their academic education and go to university. This might improve academic standards and give this country a much needed skilled workforceMichael CPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04687534245499713242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-44473728186363831142011-02-14T18:40:48.034+00:002011-02-14T18:40:48.034+00:00It was great reading your blog, loved it in fact b...It was great reading your blog, loved it in fact but how could I or anynoe else not do reading these words straight from the heart.Steve Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05510613040547793557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-68131037796796343382011-02-14T18:28:33.070+00:002011-02-14T18:28:33.070+00:00Agree with your sentiments Roger, It appears to be...Agree with your sentiments Roger, It appears to be a worldwide problem. In Ireland the pupil to teacher ratio of nearly 30 to 1 severly impacts on the teachers ability to teach. Consequentley the knock on effect will be devasating particularily on the next generation. A change is needed and fast.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00606112146089947449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-81321341196814697682011-02-14T16:04:53.845+00:002011-02-14T16:04:53.845+00:00Jen,
I didn't know that you taught in school. ...Jen,<br />I didn't know that you taught in school. I can only barely imagine the level of frustration you must have felt. My wife specialises in recovering kids who have been thrown out of school because they are 'ADD' and 'ADHD', and these conditions are just invented myths that give license to put kids on drugs. In every case, there was something physically wrong with the child (allergies, physiological hypertension, reaction to tartrazine and that other lethal poison, Nutrasweet etc.), and in every case the child was handled medically, put on a proper diet, re-educated in the basics, and they went back to school with no problem. Breaks my heart to see what is going on, and a change is needed fast!R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-11798808306429615452011-02-14T16:00:27.568+00:002011-02-14T16:00:27.568+00:00Izze...
I would love to come to Brazil. I have onl...Izze...<br />I would love to come to Brazil. I have only had one book published in Brazil, and I hope they will publish more. I think that the difficulties I am talking about with reading are actually everywhere, not just in the UK and Europe. We need a Campaign for World Literacy! That's what we need! Great to hear from you.<br />Roger.R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-31843644377292274412011-02-14T15:59:46.475+00:002011-02-14T15:59:46.475+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-21834616266795053072011-02-14T13:38:27.981+00:002011-02-14T13:38:27.981+00:00Roger,
Your post rings true with me here in the ...Roger, <br /><br />Your post rings true with me here in the States as well. I taught high school English for a handful of years and discovered my students had never been required to take a book home and read. Many had never read a complete novel.<br /><br />In high school I had wonderful teachers who encouraged me and pushed me to be the best I could be and I have thanked God for them every day. When I tried to be that teacher to my students...to set high expectations and help them reach honorable educational goals, I was shot down by parents and administrators for expecting too much of the students...students who were preparing to enter the "real world."<br /><br />I have no doubt that grades are inflated and standards are in the gutter. As you said, if you lower the standards then everyone succeeds and the administrations look good while the students ultimately suffer.<br /><br />That is a big part of why I blog. I want to share my love of reading with everyone without having an administration tell me I expect too much. It's not too much. I know that in my heart and I live in my life. I can't imagine being deprived of that gift.<br /><br />Here's hoping we can get things turned around for the good of our future generations. :-)<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing you later this year. Cheers!Jen Forbushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13325129568512353951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-58556242150696410152011-02-14T12:44:11.742+00:002011-02-14T12:44:11.742+00:00Hi, Roger!
I had seen the photos on your Facebook...Hi, Roger!<br /><br />I had seen the photos on your Facebook with so many places that you visited. But when are you comming to Brazil? You could come to FLIP =D<br /><br />And about the state of education, here in Brazil we have a big problem about it. Children here read less than there in USA. And when I say "less" it means almost nothing. The public education it's a shame. I never had a great literature class in my old school, everything that I discovered about books I had to learn by myself. Unfortunatly, there aren't so many people that do the same thing, and what we have here it's a semi-analphabet society.<br />We never published and sell so many books here before, but we aren't reading this books like you said. It's sad. <br /><br />Well, sorry about my terrible English, but I just wanted to say that I enjoy your article =DIzze.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18010063979532375831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-48207802373986894502011-02-14T10:46:02.960+00:002011-02-14T10:46:02.960+00:00I am disappointed too, Mike, but Orion are doing a...I am disappointed too, Mike, but Orion are doing a complete redesign on all covers and 'branding' to see if we can't inspire a bit more interest. We shall see how it goes!<br />Hope all's well.<br />Roger.R J Elloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438870435444248710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456518.post-54536088559845627182011-02-14T09:36:43.064+00:002011-02-14T09:36:43.064+00:00Big thanks for that, Roger. I enjoy reading about ...Big thanks for that, Roger. I enjoy reading about your travels and your travails. (sorry, couldn't resist) Your comments about the state of our education system and levels of literacy are well received here. It is a worrying trend and can only be compounded by the closure of libraries throughout the country. I look forward to hearing about your reply (if any) from the politician. Keep fighting the good fight.<br />Michael<br />ps - DISAPPOINTED that Bad Signs is being held back a few months.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.com