h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Education is the cornerstone of civilization, to quote Sid Meier's Civilization 2, a game which probably accounts for a not inconsiderable chunk of my knowledge in itsef.

anyway, I think that in the UK education can, and should, be free for all. Higher earners shouldn't have to pay more either, a little tweaking to the higher levels of income tax would be far more appropriate. Investing time and money in education is one of those things that is know to almost always pay off well.

I don't think private schools necessarily give a better education. Better schooling certainly, by which I mean academically and in terms of grades, yet I still know plenty of privately schooled people who, simply put, can't really think for themselves. An education should include more than turning people into grade monkeys.

Other things. Well, I know of at least one school, and expect there are many more schools and universities, that really squander a lot of money. My school operates by investing lots of money in irrelevant, but prestigious stuff. This attracts students from the wealthy villages surrounding the town. The school then begs their parents for more money, blaming the government for its budget hole. They're easily making a million a year out of this, probably more.

And its all a waste. Do we really need to be spending extorionate amounts on interactive electronic whiteboards? Hundreds of computers when all that people do in IT lessons is play games and chat? Spinny-rotatey, flashing, multicoloured, programmable stage lights costing upwards of £6000 each? God only knows how many rugby coaches and random sports machines? Several full-time accountants? The really ironic thing is that most of our textbooks are falling apart.

So yeah, that was all a bit random and irrelevant as rants go, I'm just trying to say that how the money is spent needs to be taken care of as well as making sure there is proper investment. Too much bureacracy just drains the system.

Whilst I am in favour of funding all education I think there is too much concern to gain rights without considering responsibilities.
e.g. If students are to be funded they must also recognise that they do not disrupt classes, talk across to fellow students whilst being instructed, showing disrespect to teachers, refusing to do as they are asked, failing to produce work requested, failing to attend classes etc etc. These are their responsibilities. If they fail on these counts they should be rejected from their courses at any age.
The parents of the youngest students similarly have a responsibility to see that their offspring are able to speak the language, behave in an orderly manner and respect their fellow students wishes to get on and learn.

The money must come from tax but it must be focussed on fundamental subjects starting with the three Rs for a children and then on subjects which have a use in the future society as far as they can be seen to be relevant. e.g.I don't consider the study of pop stars a subject worth a pinch of coon droppings.

Because of the rapid change in society I do think that students should be allowed to return to sabbatical course to make them fit for other occupations but not to the extent that some German students in Germany are reputed to make themselves permanent students.