Is this Tesco Director right

[jaysay]

They can't read, can't write and think the world owes them a living: Tesco director's damning verdict on school-leavers | Mail Online
A Tesco Director has laid into school leavers and their standard of education is she right or wrong

[MargaretR]

Like any 'generalisation statement', he speaks from his personal experience only.
I imagine that the really intelligent kids wouldn't want a job at Tesco, so he hasn't met them


PS there I go again - making excuses for bigotry

[cmonstanley]

i agree partly with his sentiments ,a high percentage of kids these days are spoilt and dont have the work ethic and need a kick up the jacksy ,but then again there is a high percentage of adults with same attitude..

[Benipete]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Like any 'generalisation statement', he speaks from his personal experience only.
I imagine that the really intelligent kids wouldn't want a job at Tesco, so he hasn't met them


PS there I go again - making excuses for bigotry

No there you go again not reading the link He happens to be a She

[garinda]

The basics aren't taught as well today, as they were for our ancestors. Many of whom left school at twelve, or younger, to work in the mills, with beautiful writing skills, and a good understanding of English grammar.

[yerself]

You only need to look at some of the posts on here to know she's right.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Benipete

No there you go again not reading the link He happens to be a She

I did fast read it earlier, before this thread happened.
I stopped reading it before the end - bigoted generalisations 'disturb my vibes'

[BERNADETTE]

They just don't learn the basic numeracy skills these days because they are allowed to use calculators. We were given a brain to do things like adding, subtracting, multiplying etc but if you aren't taught the basics you can't use them. It used to amaze when doing bar work that the younger generation couldn't work out how much change to give without the till helping out. It is something I notice often when shopping as well.

[MargaretR]

Now if I was a young person reading this thread and battling the inadequacies of our present (underpaid) teachers, I would be tempted to throw in the towel and become a hoodie in order to comply with the opinion that society has of youth today.

Many of them are being educated well using their own initiative, despite poor teachers, which shows that this Tesco person is a pessimist.

[webglynne]

SHE says there is a lack of discipline at school and at home.

Then in here there is an assumption that only the brightest should be able to do basic arithmetic and English, things that are and should be the base of an education.

I have poor grammar and spelling but I know that and can take steps to rectify that, that I don’t is laziness.

Underpaid teachers? When a head teacher can earn more than a P M?

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by webglynne

Underpaid teachers? When a head teacher can earn more than a P M?

Head teachers don't teach - the pay scale starts, and stays lower, than many other professions.
You get what you pay for - the days when there was such a thing as a 'vocation' are well gone.

[Ken Moss]

I went to school in Bamber Bridge in the days when teachers weren't hampered by rigid lesson plans from the National Curriculum. We were taught many things which I suspect are now out of the window but the teachers knew EVERYTHING and I got a really well-rounded education.

I can still remember, clear as day, our fourth form teacher bringing in a vinyl copy of The War of the Worlds which we had to listen to and evaluate. It gave me the view that there are more interesting ways of learning than simply by looking at textbooks and blackboards.

I fear that any 'wildcard' methods of trying to teach children things these days would result in a formal reprimand.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

I went to school in Bamber Bridge in the days when teachers weren't hampered by rigid lesson plans from the National Curriculum. We were taught many things which I suspect are now out of the window but the teachers knew EVERYTHING and I got a really well-rounded education.

I can still remember, clear as day, our fourth form teacher bringing in a vinyl copy of The War of the Worlds which we had to listen to and evaluate. It gave me the view that there are more interesting ways of learning than simply by looking at textbooks and blackboards.

I fear that any 'wildcard' methods of trying to teach children things these days would result in a formal reprimand.

Spot on Ken, before the onset of Secondary Schools, when you went into class the same teacher taught everything from maths to history and in the main made lessons interesting, if a kid is interested they are more likely to learn

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Spot on Ken, before the onset of Secondary Schools, when you went into class the same teacher taught everything from maths to history and in the main made lessons interesting, if a kid is interested they are more likely to learn

I agree, and as time has gone by it has become more and more apparent that there are two distinct type of person when it comes to learning - the academics and the practicals. Each will find different subjects more interesting than others and gain knowledge in the areas that appeal to them.

I fall firmly into the academic category whereas my brother never really excelled at Maths or English and instead made a successful career as a joiner because he is far more adept at practical tasks than I will ever be.

My sister is lodged halfway between and always seemed to regard school as something that got in the way of doing what she really enjoyed. On leaving school she has worked in jobs that she liked doing and has ended up as a senior pharmacist, despite never showing any real interest at school. On the flip-side of my sister's coin are those who are simply not interested in doing any work whatsoever.

However much pay might be brought into it, I don't envy teachers one bit. Curriculum targets and rules lump all children together as being of equal learning capacity and low grades are pushed back onto the teachers. Johnny is disruptive and totally disinterested in learning, Ben is quiet and enjoys reading. With good teaching of a rigidly defined curriculum they can both leave school at the same academic level. Yeah right.

People are different - The End.

After 50 years of the comprehensive education system I would have thought they might have worked this out by now.

[MargaretR]

This Tesco person condemns them all as illiterate selfish yobs
That isn't right - give credit to some kids for rising above the poor education they have been 'dished up'

What bright kid is going to seek a career at Tesco