The CEO of a small chain of academies in South Gloucestershire recently wrote to parents to explain the parlous state of funding at his schools. His warning signposts the way that the governments' programme of forced austerity will dismantle the state-provided free-to-all education system. This is calamitous not only for current pupils but to all… Continue reading Private education for all: it’s happening now
NHS “fat cats”: another distraction
In the papers today, articles implying the NHS crisis is down to "fat cats": managers of quangos and suchlike. In fact the cost of these managers is tiny relative to the scale of the problem. The papers These from the Telegraph and The Sun are typical. These are disingenuous and designed to distract from the… Continue reading NHS “fat cats”: another distraction
AI teaching isn’t teaching
I read this article The largest internet company in 2030? (link via Martin King @timekord) which predicts that by 2030 the biggest internet company will be an automated teaching provider. From a business standpoint it might have some merit: one only has to look at the traffic to Wikipedia to see there's a market for… Continue reading AI teaching isn’t teaching
School funding cuts. What’s the endgame?
Along with every other public service, funding for schools is being cut. Again. With senior schools there's another factor at work. Most senior schools aren't actually public services. They're privately owned and operated companies (operating as special forms of charities) that just happen to be funded by the government. So what happens when the money… Continue reading School funding cuts. What’s the endgame?
Not the archer but the arrow
Supporters (and opponents) of Trump and Brexit alike are similar in the vigour with which they support their cause in the face of expert options to the contrary and sometimes even in the face of plain simple facts. Why? And why now? Disparity of conviction It would be untrue to say there aren't arguments in… Continue reading Not the archer but the arrow
Recasting democratic responsibility, an outline
It's possible to imagine a national electoral system which doesn't require the same binary choice to be applied to every area of government activity. At the moment each constituency returns an MP to parliament who is supposed to represent their constituents in matters of tax, healthcare, transport, social freedom - everything. How closely aligned are… Continue reading Recasting democratic responsibility, an outline
Shifting the middle ground
There's been much consternation about May's conference speech and, by association, those of front-line ministers. On the one hand there's the observation that she's suggesting there will be a bigger role for the state, and that there may be price controls for energy suppliers. This has led some skewed suggests that she's economically to the… Continue reading Shifting the middle ground
Defusing a timebombs using only promises
A recent post on the excellent Flipchart Fairytales' blog highlights the incoming bulge of would-like-to-be retirees currently aged from 45 to 55. Not only are they numerous but they have under-funded pensions.They are not heading for a comfortable dotage. We can also foresee an increasing problem with joblessness among the low- and semi-skilled. The continuing… Continue reading Defusing a timebombs using only promises
Universal income and crap jobs
It's almost a tautology to say that the worst jobs are also the worst paid. Cleaning toilets, for example, or sweatshop manufacturing, or toiling in a mail-order fulfillment warehouse. At a first naive look this seems odd. The worst jobs ought to pay more. It ought to be the case that in order to get… Continue reading Universal income and crap jobs
What to do about, shhh, libraries?
As in many parts of the UK my local council is casting about for the ways to save money that cause it least trouble. That is to say, it's undertaking an exercise in finding the people with the quietest voices and then cutting their services. A little lateral thinking soon leads the to library where… Continue reading What to do about, shhh, libraries?
Inopportune thoughts 