Page 18 - link magazine

EDUCATION MATTERS
18
Prince Charles in June was re- teem and for along time did much
duced to using a rather low epi- English "bloody" English to convince me I was failure. It
thet when bemoaning the poor certainly did nothing for my
command of English acquired by As children make their wayback to school, Ken Rabone, deputy confidence as a developing stu-
his equerries at public school. It head at Greendown, reflects on a princely prouncement on the dent of language. How can
seems that he is the victim of his English language and describes how teachers are trying to give someone born and Englishman
father's fondness for the offend- children a better grasp of it not speak English? Are we all
ing expression. All kinds of ex- dards from Greendown and we whole thrust of Professor Cox's meant to talk and sound like
cuses have been made for his faux have always striven to deliver document. Prince Charles?
pas. The best seems to rely upon the best. Professor Cox's report The report recommends three English teachers throughout
the theory that he 'caught' such was therefore keenly awaited as areas of study for secondary the country will be struggling to
language in the cradle, and that it an external test of our own phi- schools. Three areas we have raise the standard of English in
just slipped out in public, to spoil losophy and direction. The pos- always put at the centre of own schools. Very often they will be
his 'standard' style. sibility existed that the direction work. 1. speaking and listening, doing this with inadequate re-
The press had great fun with the Government and 'English 5 2. reading, 3. writing. Greendown sources and oversized classes.
Prince Charles' choice of lan- to 16' wished English teachers to as a school has always placed a The section of the report that deals
guage and some 'journalists' take would be very different to great deal of emphasis upon the with Standard English is a mine-
thought they could use his out- the path Greendown had em- importance of reading. It is field. When Professor Cox writes
burst to attack English teachers barked on. something that many secondary 'many important opportunities
in comprehensive schools. Confidence in our work and schools, in a crowded curricu- in cultural activities .... educa-
However, this seemed to back- approach led us, on reading the lum, seem to have difficulty in tion .... industry, commerce and
fire on them once the nature of report, to greet it with affirma- finding time for. Professor Cox the professions' are closed to
the privileged and expensive pri- tion and a sense of confirmation. has stated quite clearly that 'heav- those without 'Standard English'
vate educational backgrounds of The report is excellent. It puts the ier weighting should be given to then one of the worst aspects of
his equerries were revealed. child and development of their reading and writing' in the sec- the British class system could be
Meanwhile at Greendown language at the centre of its brief. ondary school. A whole chapter seen to be raising its ugly head.
School teachers of English were It recognises that children are of the report is devoted to the For too long talent has been ex-
awaiting the Government's re- individuals who progress in dif- importance of literature for im- cluded and success denied to
port 'English for ages 5 to 16' by ferent ways at different times. The proving abilities in speaking, lis- those who do not quite 'fit' with
Professor Brian Cox. This docu- report calls for sophisticated tening and writing. the standard dialect, tone and
ment sets the standards required methods of assessment: 'for ex- To return to Prince Charles. stilted vocabulary of the public
for English in the new National ample the use of language exer- There are areas of controversy in schoolboys who run most of our
Curriculum. cises out of context or other ac- the report. One of which is cer- important institutions. Therefore
Establishing a new school has tivities of an and kind' are con- tainly the whole notion of 'Stan- let us welcome a Prince who
been an exciting and enjoyable demned. At Greendown students dard English'. I can remember embraces a living language of the
venture for all of the staff at Green- are encouraged to develop their being told by my Junior School people, even if it leaves the bat-
down. Obviously with such a language skills in 'vigorous, teacher in Birmingham that I tleground of language a little
start as a school the public has committed, honest and interest- couldn't speak English. This hurt bloody.
always expected the highest stan- ing' situations and this is the me greatly, dented my self-es-
Baby Lost Support Group
Unit 3 Liz Mann, right, of Freshbrook writes:
Wyndham Road A friend and I got together some 4%
Regal Hawksworth group to support women (and their
years ago with the aim of forming a
Trading Estate
Windows. Swindon partners) following the loss of their
baby through either miscarriage,
Wilts SN2 1EJ stillbrith or termination for foetal ab-
normality. We affiliated to the na-
Why spend your holidays or free time tional Miscarriage Association but
later called ourselves the 'Baby Lost'
up ladders painting windows or doors Support Group as we found that
that are draughty, ill-fitting and have people who had lost a baby other
than by miscarriage were not con-
probably seen better days? tacting us.
Most of our work is done over the
telephone with lathes ringing for a
We are a local company that manufacture windows, chat soon after losing their baby. If sonal experience, the fact that we
doors and conservatories in uPVC or Aluminium at our possible I put them in touch with a belong to the Miscarriage Associa-
group member who lives nearby so tion means that we have access to
factory on the Hawksworth Trading Estate in Swindon.
that they can perhaps meet for a cof- literature and information on spe-
fee and a chat 'face to face'. If this is cific medical issues relating to mis-
• We are members of the Glass & Glazing Federation not possible or relevant then I try to carriage and are kept informed about
• We don't take deposits. support them myself. The group as the latestnational issues, etc. We also
a whole meets occasionally on an in- receive information from the SAFTA
I
(payment is made on completion).
GGF formal basis in the home of a group (Support After Termination for Foe-
• We give a 10 year Guarantee. (Transferrable).
member and gives the chance for tal Abnormality) organisation and
• We also insure our Guarantee for 10 years. (Transferrable) people attending to express their feel- we have formed links with other
• Our fitters are trained by us and only work for us. ings and to talk to others who have relevant local support groups
(not sub-contract). been through the same experience. through the Self Help Project and the
We have a small core of 'support- Well Women Centre.
ers' who have stayed with the group; Our aims at the moment are to
Let Bob Mason, your local Representative give you a the people we support tend to come widen our circle of supporters (to
friendly, no obligation quotation and say goodbye to and go according to their needs. In this end we would be very glad to
those wasted hours. fact one of our past members has hear from anyone who has experi-
gone on to form a local SANDS (Still- enced the loss of a baby who feels
birth and Neonatal Death) group, so that they could now offer support to
Telephone: Swindon 881910 (evenings), Swindon Any stillbirth referrals we get are now others), and, of course, to go on giv-
618138 (daytime) and ask for BOB MASON passed on to SANDS. ing support to those who need us.
As well as supporting from per- My telephone number is 872081.