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The Radio 3 Boards > General Chat > The Coffee Bar > The Grumpy Old Rant Room
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Author Topic: The Grumpy Old Rant Room  (Read 150226 times)
perfect wagnerite
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« Reply #3240 on: 12:33:22, 04-10-2007 »
Quote from: Ian Pace on 00:37:50, 04-10-2007
Brief rant that I often think about - why can't we teach philosophy in schools in the UK? Why, more widely, does philosophy have to be seen as the haven of the pretentious, outcast, disengaged, etc., etc.? I've for a long time found exploring, reading, contemplating serious philosophy a joy, a stimulant, and much more, and I'm sure many others would if they were introduced to it properly.

(I know many might point out that there are much more pressing issues in schools today, which I realise, but still the point remains - I've come across people from many other countries (not least from Eastern Europe) who have a solid grounding in a wide range of European philosophy, which was perfectly par for the course in their education. As with many things - if they can manage it, then so can we.)

I don't think there are more pressing issues at all - an understanding of philosophy seems to me to be absolutely essential to deciphering the world around us, and getting beyond the complacent assumptions that form the surface texture of life.  It is also, as you say, one of life's real pleasures (but then I did my degree in philosophy, so I would say that, wouldn't I  Grin).

As I've said here before, I think the establishment in this country (in its widest term) is deeply hostile to the sort of education that consists in equipping people to ask awkward questions about the world around them.  Ivan Illich described real education as growth in disciplined dissidence, but in England at least here is a whole history of people in positions of power and authority pontificating about what sort of education is "suitable" for those in less privileged parts of society - from Mr Gradgrind insisting that children are taught "the facts" to New Labour's City Academies.  Education in modern Britain is, it seems to me, about sitting children in uniform behind desks as a prelude to a working life in uniform behind desks. I recently re-read an essay by Tawney written in 1908 attacking the view that academic education should be limited to the few, and reflected that nothing really has changed.

The best educators are always asking their pupils philosophical questions (I think about my daughter's physics teacher, who grabs his class's attention by asking them how they know what he teaches them is true, and indeed how they know that he's the same person who taught them yesterday - and how this seems to do wonders for their motivation.  Sadly, as GCSEs approach, it's back to the cramming ....)

For a positive example, see

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6264378.stm
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At every one of these [classical] concerts in England you will find rows of weary people who are there, not because they really like classical music, but because they think they ought to like it. (Shaw, Don Juan in Hell)
Ruth Elleson
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« Reply #3241 on: 12:38:29, 04-10-2007 »
Quote from: Mary Chambers on 12:27:06, 04-10-2007
- does Amazon use Royal Mail, though? I'm sure their Marketplace sellers do.
Remember the news features about the poor posties laden down with Amazon parcels containing whichever new Harry Potter book had just come out?
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Oft hat ein Seufzer, deiner Harf' entflossen,
Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir
Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,
Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!
Baziron
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« Reply #3242 on: 14:31:54, 04-10-2007 »
Quote from: Mary Chambers on 12:27:06, 04-10-2007
I'm fed up about the postal strike, however much it may be justified...

Never mind the Post Office striking! What about British Gas?! Today - the first day of the so-called postal strike - I actually received an item of post! The trouble was that it was from British Gas and dated 28 September 2007.

It informed me that they needed to undertake an inspection of my gas meter since they had no record of this having been done for 18 months. BUT (for God's sake!) they fail to realize that they carried out that very inspection on 24 September.

Furthermore, I had previously cancelled the inspection due on 19 September due to being away on holiday, and had moved it to 24th. Upon returning from holiday, I found a card left by the person who should NOT have come on 19th to say he had come.

Brings tears to the eyes.

Baz
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time_is_now
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« Reply #3243 on: 15:13:39, 04-10-2007 »
Quote from: Baziron on 14:31:54, 04-10-2007
Furthermore, I had previously cancelled the inspection due on 19 September due to being away on holiday
Eughhh!!! Some people have no sense of balance whatsoever!
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The city is a process which always veers away from the form envisaged and desired, ... whose revenge upon its architects and planners undoes every dream of mastery. It is [also] one of the sites where Dasein is assigned the impossible task of putting right what can never be put right. - Rob Lapsley
A
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Posts: 4808
« Reply #3244 on: 16:12:07, 04-10-2007 »
Looks pretty well balanced to me Tin...?

A
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Well, there you are.
Baziron
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« Reply #3245 on: 16:17:27, 04-10-2007 »
Quote from: A on 16:12:07, 04-10-2007
Looks pretty well balanced to me Tin...?

A

He's quite right A to signal a gross misuse of English (one that I had not noticed before posting) - indeed severe enough to put the inadequacies of both British Gas and the Post Office to shame.

My only wonder is that he did not post it on the "Pedantry" thread.

Baz
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A
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Posts: 4808
« Reply #3246 on: 18:49:22, 04-10-2007 »
I thought he was saying it wasn't balanced Baz, they looked really nice around September I thought  Roll Eyes Roll Eyes

A
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Well, there you are.
thompson1780
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« Reply #3247 on: 20:27:28, 04-10-2007 »
GRUMP:

A's Avatar.  It gives me the heebeegeebees

Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
martle
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« Reply #3248 on: 20:30:23, 04-10-2007 »
I agree, Tommo. It resembles one of my primary school teachers to the extent that every time I look at it I have to fight back the urge to hold up my hand and ask to be excused.  Wink
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Green. Always green.
Morticia
Admin/Moderator Group
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« Reply #3249 on: 20:33:32, 04-10-2007 »
Careful lads, she`ll have you in detention with a hundred lines each  Grin Grin
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thompson1780
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« Reply #3250 on: 20:34:27, 04-10-2007 »
Mort,

Don't get me excited.

Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
Morticia
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« Reply #3251 on: 20:40:00, 04-10-2007 »
Hmm, sounds as though it`s too late, Tommo  Cheesy Cheesy
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thompson1780
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« Reply #3252 on: 20:56:18, 04-10-2007 »
OK, 100 lines it is then......

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Tommo  Shocked Embarrassed
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
brassbandmaestro
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The ties that bind
« Reply #3253 on: 21:05:50, 04-10-2007 »
Lines, I did a whole load of them at Prep school. Nver got the cane though. Mustve been really good then, by comparison!!
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Morticia
Admin/Moderator Group
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« Reply #3254 on: 21:42:03, 04-10-2007 »
You great twit, Tommo !  Grin I meant it was too late because it sounded as though .....

VOICE OFF: Hole, shovel, stop digging Mort.

Anyway, good show Thompson, excellent work, fine handwriting. You are excused prep this evening. Now, Fillybream Minor, yes you boy !  Your dissected frog is an utter disgrace ......
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