Michael Gove axed as Education Secretary

What makes Britain different in a way that traditional methods wouldn't work?

Do you think traditional methods would work? Society in places like Singapore have a different attitude towards education. There were people I went to secondary school with who didn't even get a C at GCSE maths. How does Gove believe that by suddenly introducing traditional methods kids are going to be the best in the world?

Yes, I think they would. We don't really have the financial resources to try very experimental or high-cost methods, but traditional methods don't require much money, just strict discipline and a strong curriculum. Attitudes to education can change in this way, hell they need to change if the UK at all expects to be relevant in the long-term. Regardless, the way ofsted and academies are organised nowadays means that schools can use any methods so long as they are effective. The dogmatic component is the level of rigour in the curriculum, and regardless of whether traditional teaching methods are used at individual schools, having a challenging curriculum will force teachers to spend less time playing stupid games in lessons and more time actually teaching kids about history and how to solve problems.

I agree with the bit about less time playing games and more time spent on teaching, obviously this is going to improve kids' learning, no-one would deny that. I don't agree on Gove's 'Britain-centric' history syllabus though.

quit / axed = blackmailed with child abuse claims.

fire everyone or axe them before the child abuse enquiry begins, well done Cameron.

Teaching is an exceptionally left wing profession. They will never be happy with a Conservative teaching minister until they reduce the teaching day from mid day until 1, on days beginning with M in months beginning with D.

Education needs to advance not stagnate or go backwards. To those licking Gove's arse, his policies were backwards not progressive. They would not have lead to a better education system, or better educated individuals arriving into industry or universities.

Critical thinking, problem solving and philosophy, should be introduced alongside the Base subjects of Maths, English, Science and Computing. They should also be made compulsory.

Students need to be able to advance through the stages of the curriculum, as and when they are ready too. This will mean some students get held back, some maintain steady progress, and some get through it much quicker. Flexibility is the key, not rigidity. Holding students back, or pushing them on before they are ready and able, is absolute idiocy at its finest.

Privatising the education system will cause even more damage. Look at America, widely seen to be one of the dumbest nations on this planet. They now have to draw intellectual talent from other Countries, because of the pathetic condition of its own citizens intellectual abilities.

It's about time somebody with an ounce of common sense and specialist knowledge in the field concerned became Secretary. The same goes for all other posts in Government. Get rid of party politics, and actually manage society properly by having the most appropriately skilled and relevant person doing the job.