BBC presenter claims 'high up' figures pressurising teachers over new curriculum timetable

Friday, 24 February 2012 07:00
103 Comments
Print PDF

By Martin Kelly 

BBC Scotland reporter Seonag MacKinnon (pictured) has said that teachers may be being pressurised into withdrawing requests for a delay to the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).

Speaking on Radio Scotland’s Newsdrive, Ms MacKinnon claimed that “energetic encouragement” was being given which appeared to have originated “quite high up the hierarchy in Scottish education”.

The dramatic claim came in an interview on Radio Scotland after the Education Correspondent said she had received private tweets and emails from concerned teachers who say they have been ‘persuaded’ to withdraw their requests for delay.

“I have to say I’m a bit concerned about the number of messages I’m getting privately on twitter and on emails from teachers who are suggesting that individual departments that want to delay are finding that they receive energetic encouragement to withdraw their request.” she said before adding:

“And that persuasion seems to come quite high up the hierarchy in Scottish education”

Ms MacKinnon was reporting on the news that four private schools had requested a delay in order to monitor the implementation of CfE.

Departments in State Schools have the right to request a delay of a year in implementing the new exams, however thus far only one local authority, East Renfrewshire, has sought a postponement.

In an article for BBC online the BBC Scotland reporter appeared to imply that Education Secretary Mike Russell was instructing education authorities not to delay, when she wrote:

“Following the decision by East Renfrewshire to delay, education secretary Michael Russell has made it clear to the 31 other education authorities who run state schools that he does not expect them to follow suit.”

However a statement from Mr Russell in the same article appeared to call into question Ms MacKinnon’s interpretation of the situation and that the expectation came instead from the local authorities.

He said: "I think the vast majority of schools are well prepared and working very hard on this.  Thirty one local authorities have made it clear they do not wish to delay."

Ms MacKinnon has been critical of the SNP's approach to education, in a recent Radio Scotland appearance Ms MacKinnon claimed that the SNP’s pledge on class sizes was “impossible” to achieve and labelled it a “Rolls Royce” policy.

Tweeting yesterday on the latest broadcast of Call Kaye the BBC reporter described a teacher who questioned Mr Russell as a “brave teacher”.

Ms MacKinnon is the former Scotsman Education Correspondent and married to Peter MacMahon, who was former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish’s press secretary.  Mr McMahon is also a former political editor of the Scotsman and the Mirror newspapers.

The suggestion that teachers may be experiencing pressure from “high up the hierarchy in Scottish education” is very serious.

However it is unlikely that private tweets and emails will be deemed strong enough evidence to justify these claims and, if no concrete proof materialises, critics are sure to question just why such serious accusations were allowed to be aired.

Comments  

 
# Louperdowg 2012-02-24 09:19
Our local High School is extremely enthusiastic about the CFE and there are reports of second year pupils undertaking fourth year work with gusto.

The CFE will be a success if teachers and pupils want it to be a success.

The BBC are a disgrace.

Everything the SNP do, the BBC will to fail.
 
 
# Astonished 2012-02-24 09:31
If she cannot back this up - she has to go.

Surely someone must point out her very close connections to labour. How about it STV ?
 
 
# PrideoftheClyde 2012-02-24 09:58
Why are the connections of journalists in the BBC to political parties never mentioned? Some of them aren't just the wives or husbands of members of political parties but former members themselves. Baffles me.
 
 
# rgweir 2012-02-24 13:46
Quoting PrideoftheClyde :
Why are the connections of journalists in the BBC to political parties never mentioned? Some of them aren't just the wives or husbands of members of political parties but former members themselves. Baffles me.

I heard this piece and nearly gave my radio an Eric.I can't wait for the day when the BBC in Scotland has a clear out.
 
 
# Teri 2012-02-24 20:58
Dont you mean that you cant wait for the day we gain Independence and get rid of the BBC?

Come Indpendence those BBC journalists need not apply for jobs on our new Scottish Digital TV channel either.
 
 
# Hamish100 2012-02-25 02:00
Quoting Astonished:
If she cannot back this up - she has to go.

Surely someone must point out her very close connections to labour. How about it STV ?


Well who is she connected too?
Incidentally it was mentioned that some of the "private" schools will maybe do GCE's instead --turn on tele today to see that the English GCE's are being changed next year !! Maybe the Private schools will use the French schooling system !!! anything but Scottish.
 
 
# chiefy1724 2012-02-24 09:48
We just have to use the same mantra that we use against the Unionistas on other forums.

Prove it. A citation, a letter, an e-mail. Place the information that you have in the Public Domain

Otherwise, it is just tittle-tattle. Gossip.

It is as real as The Great Tangerine Jelly's "Piece of Paper" about SDS (No, Brian, we haven't forgotten that one !)

And if she can't, or won't issue a retraction, then we have to raise it and keep raising it as she is clearly another one of the Biased BBC "journalists".

Prove it. Prove it. Prove it. Or retract.
 
 
# Juteman 2012-02-24 09:51
Yet another BBC/Labour 'spaver' connection.
These incestuous relationships really must be brought to the publics attention.
It is nothing less than thinkspeak.
 
 
# cokynutjoe 2012-02-24 09:57
Gary Robertson this morning, Johann Lamont's question to the FM on female unemployment was broadcast in full. Presumably the FM responded but this was not broadcast.
As Johann Lamont has even less control over Scottish unemployment than the FM, and this issue is of major concern to folk, why is the BBC failing in its responsibilitie s.
I phoned Pacific Quay to complain, a first for me. The number is, 013700 100222
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-02-24 11:22
It just wasnt the replay of Lamont's question to the FM, but the bizarre interview with Harridon Harmen, which even started to try Gary Robertson's patience.
The one thing that I did twigg was this.
During Scottish Questions , Margaret Curren stood up and asked Michael Moore about '400 jobs have been lost in Scotland every week' no gender was mentioned. This was following hot on the heals of an earlier Lamont attack stating '200 jobs a week'.
Now Lamont's latest rant is '400 wumin's jobs' , what happened to the men?
In all of this, I dont think there has actually been a hard fact issued by Labour, in connection to job losses, such as naming what closures has resulted in what redundancies.
The other pertent fact that Labour and especially Lamont avoids is the fact that as long as Scotland does not have full control over its finacial affairs, it will not be able to do much other than trying to attract jobs
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 12:14
The problem O.S. is that the Labour party wouldn't know a hard fact, even if it hit them square between the eyes!
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 10:13
“And that persuasion seems to come quite high up the hierarchy in Scottish education”

Name names please.
 
 
# Louperdowg 2012-02-24 10:21
Labour, and by association, the BBC, sense that because the CFE is new and unproven, if they shake the tree hard enough some fruit will fall.

Why shouldn't Mike Russell (if it is him) put his shoulder against this opportunistic pressure and persuade the teachers of the merits of the system?

He would be failing in his duties if he didn't.

I would be very angry if the CFE were to fail because of the political machinations of Labour lackeys like Seonag Mackinnon.
 
 
# ds12 2012-02-24 10:20
And this is the problem ,the BBC are acting as the opposition in Scotland.This is the kind of stuff you would expect from full time politicans.
I heard Mike Russell yesterday,he couldn't have been clearer he was asking anyone who had concerns to get in touch so that supports could be put in place.
The BBC are at it yet again,unfortuna tely they always manage to avoid it when called to task as we saw with Brian Taylor's "piece of paper"
 
 
# reiver 2012-02-24 10:23
I listened to Ms MacKinnon's report last night with some incredulity. Her inferences don't appear to be backed up by the facts on the ground - just - as chiefy says - tittle-tattle. I'm a parent council member for our local High School and I hear nothing but positive stuff about CFE and how it's progressing.

Glad to see that NNS has highlighted this.
 
 
# Union City Blues 2012-02-28 01:53
I am also on the parents council and have recently attended my sons patents might so can comment from the inside and as a parent. ZcfE is new. anything new causes problems for all people required to implement them, the difference is how they handle it. Generally speaking younger teachers love CFE. The old hands hate it. To quote one old hand "I much prefer my way, write it on the board, they copy it down, they learn it". As an employer myself, I want kids that have been through CFE. It teaches them to be independent and teaches them to think for themselves. Teachers just have to do their jobs,this is the system,make it work.
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 10:28
I've just been reading her 'tweets'.

She tweeted on the 3rd of Feb posing the question :

'will the flood gates open now that East Ayrshire have delayed the new curriculum ?'

Now she tweets that a few private schools have delayed the new curriculum also. Maybe the flood gates didn't open as she asked and they require a little bit of greasing ?

Also, she describes the teacher appearing on the BBC Radio programme to ask Mike Russell questions as 'brave'. What kind of language is that to use ? It implies a lot of negative things about Mr Russell and the Government.
 
 
# Ready to Start 2012-02-24 11:05
Slightly O/T but EBC at it again this morning. Coverage of World Match Play failed to mention either of the two Scots in the third round amazing as outside the USA which had 23 entrants Scotland is the only country with two players in the third round.
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 11:09
Quote:
Ms MacKinnon is the former Scotsman Education Editor and married to Peter MacMahon, who was former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish’s press secretary. Mr McMahon is also a former political editor of the Scotsman and the Mirror newspapers.



I think this says all we ever needed to know about Ms. MacKinnon. Come to think about it I think it says more than we we ever needed to know!
 
 
# Marga B 2012-02-24 11:18
The BBC aren't in this alone, they are just a mouthpiece. If they didn't have the support of a large Scottish entrenched elite, they wouldn't be so brave.

Even to denounce them puts you in the wrong ("free speech"). There must be some way to start making inroads on this entitlement culture which after 6 years of SNP government is completely undented and increasingly vocal.
 
 
# sid 2012-02-24 11:34
the last couple of days has not been about cfe it has been about Ms MacKinnon or someone else at BBC Scotland getting a cabinet secretary scalp
Sid
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 11:44
Reminiscent of that idiot on Newsnight Scotland who was not interested in interviewing the,then, transport minister but was only interested in getting him sacked.
 
 
# Seagetagrip 2012-02-24 11:37
A curious case last night. Chan 4 reported on the resignation of Emma Harrison from a Downing Street think tank on employment into which she had been welcomed with a great fanfare from Downing Street. She is a business woman and her methodology had been questioned. Point being, it was the lead item on Ch4 News with Snow. Totally ignored on BBC six o`clock news.
I have thought for some time that BBC were under a strong element of Downing Street control evident from news presentation.
Ergo, should we surprised at the political position of Pacific Quay?
 
 
# Legerwood 2012-02-24 14:05
This sort of think is not an isolarted incident. I often watch the BBC 6 o'clock news then CH 4 news at 7 and sometimes you wonder if the BBC is even on the same planet such is the difference in what they report and highlight as leading items.

In large part I think it is down to the quality of the reporters on CH4 compared to the reporters on the BBC and the editorial decisions that are made as much as anything.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-02-24 11:37
I have never been that impressed by the said lady and her education reports. I don't think she is particularly competent to be doing that job. It would seem that her background is the main criterion.

Whatever happened to Chris Patten's promise to look at the problem of biased reporting in BBC Scotland?

If there is no truth in her twitter reports, or she is being selective, it is the duty of the educational authorities to rebutt them. It would also help if teachers who feel strongly supportive of the new curriculum to speak up as well.
 
 
# Marga B 2012-02-24 13:51
Good point, the more noise true professionals make to start to undermine these "false professionals" in the media (i.e. whose lights are switched on from outside the building) the better.

Also making known the witness borne by real-life parents, as some have already done on this board.

Truth will out but sometimes it needs more than a bit of help.
 
 
# sid 2012-02-24 11:38
surely all the new teachers that have just qualified will have been taught how to deliver CFE so all the stick in the muds can easily be replaced and allow us to deliver the education system that employers & most politicians want Scotland to have.
Sid
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 11:41
“I have to say I’m a bit concerned about the number of messages I’m getting privately on twitter and on emails from teachers who are suggesting that individual departments that want to delay are finding that they receive energetic encouragement to withdraw their request.” she said.

If they are private messages then that is how they should remain. As soon as you place them in the public domain then thats how the messages should be treated, because until you name some names or sources or these teachers indeed come forward of their own accord - this story should be treated with the contempt it deserves, as a fabrication.

Lastly, how many teachers have contacted you ? If you've received 50 pieces of correspondence from 50 separate people, then that may seem like a lot, but in terms of the number of teachers in Scotland it is a tiny fraction. Does this then give you and the BBC to take the angle you have with this story ? and what credibility do these teachers have when they will come running to a reporter but will not speak to their local authorities ?
 
 
# jafurn 2012-02-24 12:17
“I have to say I’m a bit concerned about the number of messages I’m getting privately on twitter

I don't know a great deal about twitter and am ready to be corrected by anyone who does but I thought a tweet was open to be read by anyone following whoever sent or recieved the tweet. The point being it wouldn't be private.
Excuse my ignorance if that is a really daft query.
 
 
# creag an tuirc 2012-02-24 13:21
yeah a tweet is public, but as with most forums and social network sites you can private message (PM) friends/followers/forum members. Now Newsnet eds, where's our PM facility? :-)
 
 
# Holebender 2012-02-24 13:21
I was thinking the same thing. Does anyone know if a private tweet is even possible?
 
 
# creag an tuirc 2012-02-24 13:36
a private tweet is not possible in a sense. if you have set your twitter account to private (locked), then only your followers can see them and not the public. so if the people she claims tweeted her and their accounts were private, then the public would not see them, but her followers would see them.

I hope i'm making sense here :-)
 
 
# jafurn 2012-02-24 15:26
Thanks ..I think I get it.
So in the end it's a case of put up or shut up
 
 
# Teri 2012-02-24 21:02
Does that mean that all those teachers who sent private tweets to her are followers of McKinnon or that McKinnon is a follower of each one of them? In which case, does that mean all those teachers are in fact her personal friends?
 
 
# clootie 2012-02-25 15:04
Which ties in with the post above giving a credit of even 50 posts from like minded supporters.

What quality journalism.

More likely two tweets from from fellow party members.
 
 
# ggreig 2012-02-24 14:40
As well as creag an tuirc's suggestion, you can send a "direct message" to someone who is following you, and that will be private between the two of you. However, either way, it means that Ms MacKinnon must be following the person who sent the message.
 
 
# snowthistle 2012-02-24 15:26
exactly ggreig, so these people are people who Ms MacKinnon was already aware of to the extent that she was following them on Twitter, not just random concerned teachers.
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 11:47
Quote:
“I have to say I’m a bit concerned about the number of messages I’m getting privately on twitter and on emails from teachers who are suggesting that individual departments that want to delay are finding that they receive energetic encouragement to withdraw their request.” she said.



I think concerned is the word right enough.

Despite all the garbage that she has has been spreading about CfE she obviously has not been getting as many tweets and e-mails as she had hoped for, so I guess she will be concerned!
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-02-24 11:48
As for Seonag MacKinnon , the BBC Scotland version of a female Alan Wicker.
Everytime she pops up, she provides a slanted and skewed view on Scottish education, regularly interviewing the same secondary teachers union official that has a comment on anything other than secondary school education
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-02-24 11:58
O/T Something for the clippings file
www.newstatesman.com/.../
You probably already have it.
 
 
# takhisis1 2012-02-24 12:00
I come from a family of teachers and while there have been complaints over a lack of funds in helping to implement it. The talk I have heard at our family dinners have been positive
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 12:10
The impression I get is that this new CfE will do exactly what it says on the tin! This is the problem. The EBC can not stand the idea that the Scottish government has been doing,since day 1, what exactly they said they would.....Do the right thing for SCOTLAND!

Ever since May 2007 it has been evident to thousands that the EBC is terrified of the fact that we now have a government who will stand up and fight Scotland's corner, something we have never had before. This is a new scenario for the EBC and they have no concept of how to deal with it, consequently they fall back into their Labour roots and do what only they, and Labour, know best....spread lies and misinformation!
 
 
# Marga B 2012-02-24 13:56
Is it my memory, or didn't the Conservatives used to be continually complaining about left-wing (i.e. Labour) bias in the BBC when they were not in power? Not any more.
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 14:23
Only last month the Labour party in England were complaining about BBC bias as they produced a study that showed they had far less BBC air time than the Condems.

The BBC tend to swing with the govt of the day, especially when the charter is up for renewal. The only consistent policy they have is to attack the SNP as that could possibly lead to less funding for BBC White City (London)
 
 
# megsmaw 2012-02-24 19:51
What the EBC don't get is that the SNP are a party WHO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY and (shock! horror!) actually WANT to make it better by (gasp!) following through with their promises! ;)
 
 
# chicmac 2012-02-24 12:15
"The suggestion that teachers may be experiencing pressure from “high up the hierarchy in Scottish education” is very serious. "

Surely that is only true if the interpretation of 'pressure' is one of threat and extortion? Such methods, while common fare for Westminster based politicians and perhaps other parties in Scotland,e.g.s threats by Moore, Osborne, etc., do not seem to be evident in this case.

Indeed one might have thought enthusiastic persuasion and intimation of expectation are to be welcomed as evidence of an education department doing its job right.

However, it isn't difficult to see the reasons for disappointment in the Labourites if the SG yet again look like making another near 100% target on a policy despite their best spoiling tactics.

By the same token, I would suggest a Scottish Education department which were unenthusiastic about a new policy or were unclear in their expectations would be considered poor.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-02-24 16:37
"The suggestion that teachers may be experiencing pressure from “high up the hierarchy in Scottish education” is very serious. "

We all know what, 'high up', means in this statement. Why doesn't she come out and name the person, or is the Beeb afraid of a slander ot libel case (or both) being taken out aginst them?
 
 
# chicmac 2012-02-24 17:27
Well I'm not sure to whom she is alluding, if she said 'All the way to the top' that would be clear, if she said 'High Up' that could of course include 'the top', but what she actually said was “And that persuasion seems to come quite high up the hierarchy in Scottish education” which, to me anyway, says 'not the top'.

But my point was rather what was meant by the word 'pressure'? i.e. no pressure at all would imply no enthusiasm or spelling out of what was expected which would be very bad government, and would undoubtedly be highlighted as such by the MSM just as vigorously, if not more so.

If the 'persuasion' involved threats and coercion then that would be wrong, but I do not see any such implication.
 
 
# oldnat 2012-02-24 17:40
There is no mechanism in Scottish Education for anyone at Scottish Government or HMIe level to "exert pressure" on individual secondary departments.

If there is such pressure (and I'm damn sure there will be on some Departments who want to delay change as long as possible) then it can only come form an individual local authority (who employ the teachers) or senior management in individual schools whose job it is to make sure that education is as good as they can make it.
 
 
# Clydebuilt 2012-02-24 12:22
Quoting cokynutjoe:
I phoned Pacific Quay to complain, a first for me. The number is, 013700 100222



Cokynutjoe

it's a waste of time and energy complaining ....all it does is give them feedback on their efforts. I'm sure you know that ...probably felt better after it though.

Spread the word on Newsnetscotland increase it's readership what about adverts in the papers
 
 
# cokynutjoe 2012-02-24 14:14
It was an Irish guy he was very civil and non-committal. I was ranting a bit aboot Dr Goebbels etc' and hadn't had the dark roast coffee yet, so was in bad cut you might say.
Just been listening to Brian's a Blether from Fettes. If Scotland has ever spawned a more self opinionated, sycophantic and patronising individual, I'm a Dutchmans Uncle. It was as bad as that.
 
 
# bigbuachaille 2012-02-24 12:50
This "criticism" comes as no surprise from Seonag Mackinnon, given her close links to Labour. What was she saying when Higher Still was being pushed forward under Labour with miserably useless teaching materials? Has she ever spoken out about the overwhelming percentage of Labour placemen in strategic places in Scottish Education or against the numerous rigged interviews that many teachers knew about under Labour?
 
 
# J Wil 2012-02-24 16:38
I am trying to picture the cosy domestic scene. Do they sit scheming over dinner?
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 12:56
O/T but still concerning the BBC.

Stirling council have passed their budget at the second attempt and council tax has been reduced by 1%. The BBC are obviously hailing this as a labour victory.

On the BBC: bbc.co.uk/.../...




Funny how last week the BBC reported the rejection of the first budget as Labour voting down their own budget as the amendments they had put forward had been accepted by the SNP:

bbc.co.uk/.../...

Stirling Council has failed to set a budget after Labour councillors voted against their own amendment, causing the motion to be defeated.


Edited - only a small amount text from the original article should be included with the link. Mod Team
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 13:03
No doubt this will be headline news all over EBC Scotland for the rest of the day.

Yet another example to the people of Scotland of just how "great" the Labour party is.......NOT!

I wonder how much play they will give to the news that Labour needed the support of the Tories to get their planned budget through!
 
 
# Robert Louis 2012-02-24 13:46
bbc.co.uk/.../...


Get you questions in now.....
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-02-24 14:20
Have done RL. My question to Lamont is to name her policies on the following:

Trident
Tuition fees
Govt public spending cuts
Free prescriptions
Free care for the elderly.

These are all issues where Scotland differs from westminster, and she has not named one single policy since winning the leadership. Does she, as a woman and a mother (seems to be her line of presenting herself) support these policies that would see vastly increased stress put onto family budgets ?


Rennie I want to know where he stands on 'home rule' ( a liberal policy for decades )and how is Ming getting on with writing the draft paper thats taken nearly a century to start.
 
 
# proudscot 2012-02-24 14:40
Quoting tartanfever:
Have done RL. My question to Lamont is to name her policies on the following:

Trident
Tuition fees
Govt public spending cuts
Free prescriptions
Free care for the elderly.

These are all issues where Scotland differs from westminster, and she has not named one single policy since winning the leadership. Does she, as a woman and a mother (seems to be her line of presenting herself) support these policies that would see vastly increased stress put onto family budgets ?


Rennie I want to know where he stands on 'home rule' ( a liberal policy for decades )and how is Ming getting on with writing the draft paper thats taken nearly a century to start.


In which case, the venerable Ming probably started it himself.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-02-24 16:41
Will what seem to be reasonable questions be treated as vexatious by Labour?
 
 
# dogcollar 2012-02-24 13:53
o/t Some Labour woman Dugdale is getting slaughtered by Brian Taylor today on BBC Radio Scotland. Miracles will never cease
 
 
# Mac 2012-02-24 14:00
The funny thing is that Peter MacMahon has argued that Scottish education needs change, the status quo is no longer acceptable, the teaching unions are a block to change, and that change cannot come fast enough.

It would appear Peter MacMahon stance on educational change is in direct contrast to how Seonag MacKinnon has been reporting it.

Who would be a fly on this household's wall?
 
 
# Wee-Scamp 2012-02-24 14:33
The Torygraph has picked up on this story as well but are not allowing comments.

telegraph.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# hafpipe 2012-02-24 14:35
Typical BBC. Their unrelenting attack on anything to do with Scottish Government or as they say the "SNP Administration".

Personally, CfE is not seen as a good thing by many teachers who can teach. What I mean by that is - the curriculum is designed to allow pupils to learn 'what they want', which means less 'traditional teaching' time. Basically, what's being seen now (in Primary Schools), is that those teachers who are running on autopilot/lazy/find teaching difficult, tend to like this curriculum as it means less work for them (that's how they see it).

The message that's being given out by those teachers who 'teach' the CfE modal, is that "you don't have to learn something if you don't want to". In all honesty, from my experiences in teaching through primary schools, and in going through part of a teacher training degree, I think the CfE is a step backwards. Especially when you see what other countries are doing through their curriculum eg. in many Asian countries.

CfE seems to be nothing but a lot of hot air and fancy wording. There's little substance. It's "do what you want", not "whether you like it or not, you'll need to learn this as that's what you'll encounter in life". The attitude seems to be wrong to me. Already pupils don't have to do homework, they can abuse their teachers everyday and get away with it, they don't have any goals to work towards, etc.

I really hope I'm wrong about this as I like Mike Russell and don't want to see him lose his job. But on the ground (in my area), those in know don't see this as progress.

I do hope it all works out in the end as our youth are our future.
 
 
# amfraeembro 2012-02-24 14:40
Your hopes have come true because you are indeed wrong.
 
 
# Triangular Ears 2012-02-24 14:52
Quoting hafpipe:
Typical BBC. Their unrelenting attack on anything to do with Scottish Government or as they say the "SNP Administration".


Everyone should start referring to the UK government as "the London Executive".
 
 
# Louperdowg 2012-02-24 14:56
What do you mean they don't have to do homework?

My son has just started the CfE and has quite a lot of homework to do, which he enjoys by the way.

He gets lots of encouragement, both at school and at home, and he is just in the process of choosing his subjects, which he has thought very carefully about.

If he excels in any of these subjects then he can spend more time on these so that he becomes very proficient.

He is in first year and already he is talking about following a career in engineering and wants to learn German, Graphic Design and Business Studies to complement the basic subjects.

The teachers are very enthusiastic and I am excited by what the future holds for my son.

I think that you are wrong with your summation about it being an easy option.

Before I went to University to study Business Studies, I had Geography, Physics and Chemistry Highers. Why I had to spend time on these subjects I will never know; it would have been far better if I had been able to spend more time on applicable subjects like they are able to do on CfE.

The system is there to be used to the childrens' advantage.
 
 
# snowthistle 2012-02-24 15:40
That's not the experience I'm having with our nine year old (though he does have a very good teacher), I've never seen a group of children quite so enthused about learning
 
 
# Hing em high 2012-02-24 16:53
Eh!

Who are you mixing with? What political officer have you been consulting with at the BBC?

Sorry but they do have to do homework! They do have goals to work towards just as teachers themselves are under scutiny.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-02-24 18:47
There is always a lot of resistance to introducing new ideas in any walk of life. The ones who are set in their ways, what you might call, 'the experienced ones', particularly, won't want to be hassled with the challenge of change (to coin a phrase).
 
 
# Robabody 2012-02-24 22:09
Quoting J Wil:
There is always a lot of resistance to introducing new ideas in any walk of life. The ones who are set in their ways, what you might call, 'the experienced ones', particularly, won't want to be hassled with the challenge of change (to coin a phrase).


Indeed JW and we are living through it with the BBC et al, resisting independence...keep up the positive mantra and we shall prevail
 
 
# Rusty Shackleford 2012-02-29 11:28
I'm surprised that there haven't been more posts similar to halfpipe's on this thread. My impression was that many pupils and teachers (including younger, more recently trained teachers), were quite averse to CfE. As I understand it, the theory is fine, but the implementation is poor, with it generally lacking substance.

I certainly don't want to come across as one the "Back in My Day" brigade as I don't consider myself to be that old (and I don't read the Daily Mail!), but knowing teachers who have worked in Scottish education relatively recently, discipline does seem to be an issue as halfpipe mentioned. And I'm not talking just about general attitude but serious incidents such as violence and teachers being sexually assaulted.

I do hope that CfE is a success, but education policy is something that I think the SG need to work hard at in order to reverse the damage done by the previous Lab/LD administration.
 
 
# Dundonian West 2012-02-24 15:04
What about a St.Paul's Cathedral type of protest at Pacific Quay? I've never been on the telly! Joke.
As someone rightly posted further up the page,Scottish Labour is so ineffectual and drifting without policies(Except NO),the BBC Scotland Politics Team are wrongly assuming the mantle of political opposition in Scotland.
Political friendships,and personal beliefs should be left at the employees' entrance.
Not to do so is dangerous,illeg al,incestuous and doomed.

Faces/voices we've come to respect and like,are now listened to with a high degree of scepticism,and may I say it----dislike?
'YES TO REF.'
 
 
# proudscot 2012-02-24 15:14
Slightly O/T, but still on the subject of "education" I was again hugely unimpressed by the performance of former teacher Lamont at yesterday's FMQs. How anyone in the entire Labour movement in Scotland, especially among her Trades Union supporters, could consider this semi-articulate, inept, policy-free person to be competent leadership material, is beyond me.

As for wee Right-Wing Ruth, Murdo Fraser was having a hard job trying not to laugh, when Eck ridiculed her recent attempts to relate Cameron's (non)commitment s to "consider" further devolved powers to Forsyth's hard line anti-devolution stance.
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 22:19
In fairness, I think Murdo, is one of the "few" M.S.P.'s who makes quite a reasonable attempt at being a "respected" politician.

Murdo is probably the "best" Scottish leader the Tories never had.
 
 
# Juteman 2012-02-24 16:05
The BBC/Labour mafia are actually becoming quite predictable.
AS or a senior SNP minister makes a speech or an announcement. The original speech or announcement gets virtually zero coverage. Three or four days later, an 'independant' stink tank rubbishes the announcement, and that is given maximum coverage.
Pavlov would have loved it.
 
 
# Jiggsbro 2012-02-24 16:28
OT, I see the BBC have finally found some uncertainty caused by the referendum. It would be a shame if self-determination for the people of Scotland inconvenienced anyone.

bbc.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# Hing em high 2012-02-24 16:05
Another day and another BBC LIE!
 
 
# doe 2012-02-24 16:43
Apologies haven't read all the comments but am I the only one that has noticed this pattern the past week or so: a SG cabinet minister is trashed through innuendo in the MSM with no real sources to back it up. Mike Russell is being attacked here. Nicola Sturgeon is getting blamed for the Arran FOI debacle during FMQ; I've heard it said that John Swinney is using fantasy numbers (ie can't be trusted); Alan Cochrane's "peer pressure" scoop tinyurl.com/729lpke

It's looking very orchestrated to me, the meme being "you can't trust those dirty Nats, they are manipulating things to get their own way! And they'll use any underhanded method including intimidation!"

Projection much? This is what the unionists offer instead of making a positive case for the union. Simply pathetic...
 
 
# Begbie 2012-02-24 17:40
Hi all
Was wondering if we could find all the links between labour and the ebc in relation to who is married/related to who.If we could get this imformation together we could then have a whip round to pay to advertise it on the billboard nearest to the EBC headquarters or we could all vote where it would be best placed
it could also be used for leaflets
I think it could make the ebc very uncomfortable indeed
the wording could be something like
BBC impartiality? then the list or something like that im sorry if im havering but that lot need seeing to in a nice way. We cant rely on the scottish goverment to expose it as they would get roasted by the impartial media we enjoy in scotland just a thought feel free to tell me if im being a tube lol
 
 
# Seagetagrip 2012-02-24 18:15
O/T
Derek Bateman Blog is open re Newsweek Scotland programme on Saturday. Sounds good and will be worth a listen as always!
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 18:45
Sorry for being O/T here but I've found three itsy witsy bitst pices that might cheer every one up.

1) You talking to me!
www.facebook.com/.../

2) Scotland is growing larger by the day!
uk.news.yahoo.com/.../

3) Who would have thunk it.
goldsilver.com/.../...

enjoy!
 
 
# Edna Caine 2012-02-24 22:06
AB1320 - re link 3

Somebody's been working hard. Only 165k tonnes of gold have been mined in the whole of human history (according to WickyPee).

Or are these 750k Tonnes the first few months' output of the Cononish mine at Tyndrum?
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 22:11
Ah! it is "wishful" thinking by the journalist! That explains a lot,750,000 metric tonnes in fact. :D
 
 
# Florajo 2012-02-24 19:36
Gossip and tittle tattle masquerading as news to be found here also

telegraph.co.uk/.../...

Cochrane spouting Lord Tankerness friends and colleagues said so, so it must be right!
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 19:53
Ah, Alan Cochrane that stalwart of Scottish Independence.......NOT!
 
 
# Jester 2012-02-24 20:42
Yesterday on Call Kaye they were making much of the point that teachers 'cannot comment publicly' and that teachers could comment anonymously. Cue critical texts, emails....
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 20:50
Quote:
Cue critical texts, emails....



Real or manufactured?
 
 
# Jester 2012-02-24 21:00
Quoting Arbroath1320:
Quote:
Cue critical texts, emails....



Real or manufactured?

You decide. That's the great thing about anonymity.
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 21:04
Well let me see now.

EBC claim to have texts and e-mails but fail to produce the evidence. Hmm!

Real....Manufactured....Real.....Manufactured.....

Gosh it's so hard to make this decision!
 
 
# Jake62 2012-02-24 20:50
Well, I have to say that I'm really shocked at this. That a prominent BBC reporter would say " . . teachers may be being pressurised . . "
as though teachers are gaseous, is astonishing. I thought the BBC employed better educated people.

Jake
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 20:59
Jake, I think after you have watched (suffered) EBC reporters for some time you begin to realise that your "I thought the BBC employed better educated people." is, evidently not the case!
 
 
# peter,aberdeenshire 2012-02-24 23:25
I hear some of call Kaye with Mike Russell who always kicks the Beeb's erse, and Kaye mentioned lots of texts from teachers, I thought then how do teachers have time to listen and text a radio show during school hours?
BBC Scotland is a fekin disgrace full of Labour supporters or partners thereof.
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 23:34
Surely this fact alone must raise serious questions about the EBC and their ethics policy when it comes to their "we have texts and e-mails" propaganda garbage.

As you say Peter, surely, as all teachers will/should be holding classes at the time "Call Kay with an e" is on, how on earth do they, the teachers find the time to send texts and e-mails?

As all of us on this site accept without question the integrity of teachers I think serious questions must be raised concerning the validity of the claimed "texts and e-mails."
 
 
# mato21 2012-02-24 23:39
I heard the programme He made his points well and is forceful enough to withstand the usual interuptions that are classic beeb.He also made the point anyone with concerns had to contact him as there was help available for those who felt they needed it It would be interesting to know how many take up his offer
 
 
# mato21 2012-02-24 23:50
I don't think Rupert will look kindly on labour


guardian.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# topherdawson 2012-02-24 23:53
I teach maths in a small Highland school. I'm a member of the SNP and no Labourite, but I fear this issue may lose us a lot of support. I support the ideas of active learning and so on but I don't think the change has been well thought through.

After sober reflection and discussion, some of the departments in the school including ours, concluded that our children would be better off sitting the present exams, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2, than the new exams which have only been outlined. No specimen papers or sample questions have been published, which leaves us wondering what level of difficulty the new exams will be pitched at. The last two training days I have attended were depressing in that the people who were there to tell us how the new system will work, could not answer the questions which teachers were asking. Basically the new exams are till on the drawing board and we need them now.

Also there are 4 courses, National 4 Lifeskills, National 4 Mathematics, National 5 Lifeskills and National 5 Mathematics. Our school only has two maths teachers and the courses are entirely different so I'n not sure how we are going to teach all 4.

Our head teacher wrote to Highland Council saying we planned to do this and they told us we were not to do so. I don't know and have no way of knowing whether they were leaned on from higher up. This means that the council has over-ruled what we judge to be in the best interests of this cohort of pupils.

I think it's a serious situation when councils over-rule the professionals they employ, not on a pay and conditions issue, but on a matter of professional judgement. I predict this issue will come up again, and not just from Labour supporters keen to score points off the SNP. By the way the CfE started under Labour.
 
 
# GerrySNP 2012-02-25 04:02
Topherdawson:

I read your comments - but you should/must send them to Mike Russell. He doesnt believe that its all going to be easy and perfect from the word go - but needs to know the actual problems before he can take the steps to ameliorate them. Only the opposition to the plans and the opposition to the government can gain from keeping problems hidden - including the problems in the Council Education departments which are still (many of them) staffed by Labour hacks planted to keep the power in Labours hands.
 
 
# 357ms 2012-02-25 17:41
If the SNP is going to define itself as a champion of CfE, this is excellent news for the Union.

It is going to be a disaster of the first magnitude.

The problem is not the "curriculum" as such, but the exams and qualifications.

Try this for size:

- at 16, kids have usually done up to 8 subjects to certificate level. Under CfE the preferred official model is that they will only be doing 5, maybe 6. Oh, schools are supposedly free to be able to continue doing 8, but the pressure from above - threats of poor inspection reports - for schools who do not follow the party line have already started.

- the official model has kids not choosing certificate subjects until S4 - a year later than now. This means another year of kids doing stuff they know they are going to drop, with no significant goal at the end of S3. Can anyone spell "demotivation"?

- there will be two quals at 16: National 4 and 5. Nat 5 is actually OK - the breadth of the current Standard Grade with the slightly higher standard of the Intermediate 2. But only around 30% of kids will get it. The rest will get the Nat 4, which is going to be marked only "Pass" or "Fail" INTERNALLY in schools. In other words, a worthless "swimming certificate" with no value to the outside world.

So I would be delighted for the SNP to nail its trousers to the CfE mast. Be my guest.
 
 
# clootie 2012-02-25 18:28
357ms

The topic is not "Do we have flaws in CfE" - The article relates to the suggestion that employees are being pressurised.
A debate on CfE is not the same as BBC implication of threats.
 
 
# Early Ball 2012-03-01 07:54
Just heard Mrs McMahon have an awkward slip of the tongue on GMS shortly after 6.30. She quickly corrected herself after saying Labour when she meant EIS when discussing "floods of complaints" about curriculum for excellence.

GMS obviously do not do irony because they shamelessly said that we would hear the Labour point of view after seven!
 
 
# spagan 2012-03-01 08:20
Yeh - effectively 2 comments from Labour.
Same yesterday with Mr Wendy Alexander.
 

You must be logged-in in order to post a comment.

Donate to Newsnet Scotland

Banner

Latest Comments