Today I've mostly bin...

[Bunnylump]

Yeah - he deserves a degree! Go for it!!

University was only for the TOP 10% of brains, and I didn't have one.

STOP IT. Of course you do, and just because you don't have a piece of paper (and £21000 worth of debt to pay for accommodation and course fees) it doesn't mean you're not anything other than a very clever man who's brilliant at his job. So there.

And anyway, what's wrong with having two A levels? All the best people have that!!! (See, the twins have 4 between them- I've got English and Geography!!)

[giraffe]

Biscuit. "Grandparents " are like that. My Mum has never quite got over the fact that I married an engineer. (She seems to think that means someone who mends engines! ) It certainly isn't classed as a proper job in her eyes. My dad had a PhD so he was a proper scientist, so no one I married would ever match up. I've reached the point where I agree with everything she says and then ignore it.

[Bunnylump]

My Gran never forgave my Dad for not going to commercial college,(so he could work in a bank and get a "proper" job) and going to technical college instead. The fact that he worked in a laboratory with a man who won a Nobel prize for his work, didn't make any difference. My Mum, who was originally a bacteriologist, was a complete disappointment to her parents (they wanted her to be a teacher, which eventually she was). So it's all relative, isn't it? To be honest I'd just be pleased if either of my kids get a job of any description.

[Biscuit]

I know what you mean -

Have just had a long chat with mum who said that their friends have been telling them psychology is a "doss" subject. I have explained that there is quite a lot of avenues it can take you. Problem is i now understand that there is quite a lot of competition within their generation and they all meet together and discuss and "my son/daughter is at Oxford/Cambridge studying medicine comes quite high in the game of "trumps" grandparents play with each other.

I will bide my time, be pleased if my children are happy and well adjusted which they seem to be, and get a job they enjoy

And how nice is this.... When my son got ill last week I insisted he came with us for the weekend (didn't want him out of sight) whilst we settled my oldest into her uni house at exeter. Her boyfriend promptly insisted he drove down in his mum's car too to help with the luggage as we couldn't take as much luggage in our car. How nice was that. Cost us an absolute fortune feeding him thought - how can teenage boys eat sooo much.
Biscuit

[kathlyn]

I will bide my time, be pleased if my children are happy and well adjusted which they seem to be, and get a job they enjoy

You've got it one Biscuit

[Bunnylump]

What a nice lad! And yes, don't they?

And, that's absolutely spot on.

[eirian]

I'd better not make any comment about parents' expectations!
(and I'd totally agree with the subject of any degree being irrelevant in most cases - I don't think anyone at my work (part of the Legal Division at Manchester Council) has a law degree...)

further to Scurra's pic of his nephew, here's another selection.

Scurra & his nephew get acquainted:

Scurra, Wulfruna and Thomas

All but Scurra (well, someone had to take the photo!)

(and yes there are more for those that want)

[MBH]

Sam Ragan might let you qualify in Nodography - the study of puzzles.

If 'Study' doesn't involve the ability to 'Solve' then I've got a chance - I study many of them


Hello Wulfruna - nice to 'see' you at last

(How much did Bunny pay him to punch his Uncle on the nose )

[SparkOut]

Now... if only you'd stood on the other side of the group, Wulfruna!

90827227.jpg (77.01 KiB) Viewed 1727 times

Scurra, how could you let the opportunity for such a classic photo pass?

[Bunnylump]

What lovely photos. See, I told you that Scurra would be a besotted uncle, didn't I? Just look at him...

there you go, the "Evil Jester" image smashed forever.

And yes, lovely to see the whole family looking so happy. Delightful.

[giraffe]

Lovely photos

..............mostly bin trying to get sense out of the Education department at our council. Grrrrrr! We live right on the boundary of three councils. A couple of miles in one direction you are under one county, and a couple of miles in the other you are in a different county, but our town is separate for education purposes and deals with it's own schools. Add to this the fact that one local secondary school is an academy and deal with their own admissions. I was told in the Summer that by mid september I would have the info pack and application form for Lally, but I rang up to ask where it has got to.

I asked to be put through to secondary schools applications and the lady said she could deal with me. She then told me it would be another 3 weeks before the info is sent out. (Some of the applications have to be in before then) Then she told me that the local grammar schools dont go on the council form, at which point I asked if she was sure and she went off to consult someone else. Bear in mind that I have been through this twice before and know that two thirds of what they tell you is absolute rubbish, to the point they will deny that your child exists, announce that they have never heard of the primary school (because they have spelt it wrongly) and tell you that you should apply to the council where you live not them, even though you live in their area). At this point she transferred me to the person who actually deals with schools admission, which was what I had asked for originally, who told me that the information went out yesterday (told me I should have asked for her!) and that you do have to put grammar schools on the form. (Said she'd tell the other lady off for giving duff info).

I could easily have accepted what the first woman said and left the problem until after the closing date for applications. Grrr.

Sorry, needed to rant!

[LAT]

OH the wonders that are our local education authorities!

Great photos of Thomas and family!

[Bunnylump]

You try working for them, Giraffe!! School applications are a total nightmare. We are stupidly over-subscribed, and with all the appeals we ended up being forced to take extra pupils. Some of the classrooms have to have children sitting on the ends of the others' desks because there isn't enough room for them. We have an open evening coming up, and I can guarantee you that I will spend all evening trying to calm down irate parents who have been messed about by the applications office at Herts County Council.

Mind you...my personal perspective is that if pupils just HAD to go to their local school, then that would be a lot better all round. Both mine went to the local comprehensive school, and yes, there were some nightmare kids there, but there were also lots of lovely bright ones too. Both of mine did perfectly well, and have had an experience of all walks of life. I would NEVER EVER EVER have sent my kids to private school (even if I could afford it) and certainly not to a single sex school. I do realise I am in the minority having this view though!!

Gosh, what a grown up post! I must quickly get back to unnecessary innuendo, confusing references to men in crates and Jester bashing.

[giraffe]

The problem with the local comprehensive , when there are grammar schools nearby, is that they are not comprehensive! There are some really good ones round here, but unfortunately our local school is severely undersubscribed and I would have no trouble getting Lally in there, which speaks for itself. She's very bright, so hopefully she will get into Kingsley's school, which is a girls' grammar. A single sex school suits some children, I don't think it would matter to Kingsley whether the school were mixed or single sex, but I know Lally would prefer a girls' school. Fernando's school is mixed, he just ignores all the girls, unless they threaten his top spot in the maths class. His school is private, but he won a scholarship, so it doesn't quite cost an arm and a leg. (There is no boys equivalent of Kingsley's school)

[Biscuit]

i think you should choose the school for the child. Some private schools are really good, some state ones are. Its horses for courses. Boarding private schools can be a very dark place for some children as I think some parents with money (especially children from abroad) off load their children to be looked after by someone else so they can get on with enjoying their lives. Again this happens in the state system where parents try to get their problems sorted out by the school rather than make changes at home.

My son actually goes to a private school - it has actually got a bit on teachers tv for its alternative teaching techniques, that it got awarded for. It is vegetarian, no school uniform, teachers by first name, it is multi faith and they have morning talk rather than assembly and looks at the individual and this is very good for my son. I am not saying he is an angel but a lot happier than his previous school where the emphasis was on sport and conforming. He even stayed late tonight at an after school "behind the scenes theatre" club that they call wombles. Something I would never have imagined at his previous school. The school is really down to earth - probably known as the "hippy" school and they work hard and spend their money carefully and there is no "i go to private school" mentallity that you get at some schools, which I would not tolerate.

Biscuit

[giraffe]

There are state boarding schools too. My friend's son goes to one, although he is a day boy. He goes for breakfast and comes home after tea, which suits him, because he wouldn't be very motivated to do homework at home. ( Mind you to me that is part of the point of homework.)

F's school is quite relaxed, although they do have a uniform and call the teachers Miss and Sir. (Which I find hilarious!). One of the problems round here is the number of different types of school grammars, academies, good comprehensives and grotty ones, and one of the adjoining councils has middle schools, which messes things up some more! I shall just be glad come March, when the schools thing is behind us.

[Bunnylump]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm only speaking from a personal perspective of what would have been right for my children. If you find that private / single sex (or whatever) floats your boat for YOUR children, then that's cool. I'm not meaning to sound bigoted or critical. (Although I realise that's probably what I sounded like.)

I'll shut up now.

[fernando]

F's school is quite relaxed, although they do have a uniform and call the teachers Miss and Sir.

Well you do have to appear to be polite. That is how I get all the remarks in my report saying that I am a 'gentleman in the making' or whatever else they said.

[tricia]

catchin up on my sleep
- i slepped from 9pm to 9.30 am and am still sleepy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tricia

[Bunnylump]

Aha! YOU've been having all the sleep that I can't get!!