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Why I Can't Vote Alliance: Reason 1
by beano 
on 11 May 2006 at 17:36. Categories: Northern Ireland, Direct Rule, Local Government, Education It's one thing to suggest that the 11+ needs to be replaced, but it's quite another to say that, despite evidence to the contrary, getting shot of academic selection completely will lead to anything other than a second-rate, comprehensive, education system like the one rejected by teachers and by parents in England and Wales.
As someone who benefited from a grammar school education, it saddens me to think that future children from backgrounds like mine will be placed in schools based on ability to pay rather than ability to keep up with the work, because liberal do-gooders decide that everyone (and therefore no-one) has the right to be a winner.
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7 comments
Comment from: Con [Visitor]
Living in England as I do, I can say that the education system here sucks
I remember the day of my 11+ results, when most of our class met up at AndyTown Leisure centre. The one thing that sticks in my mind to this day, so much so that I will pass it on to my children, was my Mother (God Rest Her) telling me "Don't boast about your result to the other boys in your class, some of them did not do as well as you, and are upset about it" A lesson in humility I think you will agree. My point is that the selection process is harrowing for those who go through it, and I do not think that it is at all fair on kids to have their entire future mapped out for them on the basis of the 11+. Not every child is lucky enough to get a place at a Comprehensive such as St. Louises if they get a Grade G, where they stream the kids according to ability, eg Grammar level, or Vocational.
There must be a better way to decide who goes where. God forbid it comes at the price of a postcode lottery. Estate Agents here in London actually list properties according to the catchement areas of local schools. If they are good schools obviously. A travesty for education for all, No?
I remember the day of my 11+ results, when most of our class met up at AndyTown Leisure centre. The one thing that sticks in my mind to this day, so much so that I will pass it on to my children, was my Mother (God Rest Her) telling me "Don't boast about your result to the other boys in your class, some of them did not do as well as you, and are upset about it" A lesson in humility I think you will agree. My point is that the selection process is harrowing for those who go through it, and I do not think that it is at all fair on kids to have their entire future mapped out for them on the basis of the 11+. Not every child is lucky enough to get a place at a Comprehensive such as St. Louises if they get a Grade G, where they stream the kids according to ability, eg Grammar level, or Vocational.
There must be a better way to decide who goes where. God forbid it comes at the price of a postcode lottery. Estate Agents here in London actually list properties according to the catchement areas of local schools. If they are good schools obviously. A travesty for education for all, No?
12 May 2006 @ 04:21
"I do not think that it is at all fair on kids to have their entire future mapped out for them on the basis of the 11+. "
Nor do I - I think there should be more freedom to move between schools after the 11+ (I've known a few people to transfer to grammars post-GCSE, but that still leaves 5 years in between).
Nor do I - I think there should be more freedom to move between schools after the 11+ (I've known a few people to transfer to grammars post-GCSE, but that still leaves 5 years in between).
12 May 2006 @ 14:01
Comment from: graeme [Visitor]
hi beano - what happened to all the comments about grammar schools that were on the site yesterday?
12 May 2006 @ 23:04
Were they on this thread? I got a s**tload of spam this morning and deleted some comments direct from the database, though I didn't think I'd lost any real comments.
Feck.
Feck.
12 May 2006 @ 23:30
Feck that's right, you had a couple of comments on this thread didn't you? I got a s**tload of spam this morning and due to their volume and strange nature (no URLs in any of them) deleted them direct from the database, though I didn't think I'd lost any real comments.
Sorry. I'll have to check more carefully what I'm deleting next time.
Sorry. I'll have to check more carefully what I'm deleting next time.
12 May 2006 @ 23:31
Comment from: Con [Visitor]
Have you tried this?
lol I got a grade D !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/11plus/
Good luck!!
lol I got a grade D !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/11plus/
Good luck!!
17 May 2006 @ 10:58
Grade A - I still got it 
17 May 2006 @ 11:19
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