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#91

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Josquius - Today at 05:12:03 AM

Sure. But I'm not sure why that would be relevant in relation to PISA or educational attainment measures and need controlling for? It seems to me more like an explanation than something that needs controlling for, no?

For what it's worth the same broadly shows up in London, white British kids have a lower attainment than kids Chinese, Asian and other minority ethnic heritage and about the same as mixed race kids - but better than black British kids (although again I think there's a split between Caribbean and African heritage). Although that is ethnicity which isn't necessarily first or second generation immigrant - especially I imagine for black Caribbean kids.

An indicator that is also relevant on immigration the same in London as elsewhere is that kids who have a language other than English as their first language tend to better than kids who have English as their first language (which makes sense to me).

Separately and specifically on Scotland - worth noting that Scotland also has lower numbers of working class kids going to university. In part because they decided not to do tuition fees, which are too high in England, but also fund grants for poorer kids - and means the sector gets less money and has expanded less so there's a stricter cap on places. It's basically turned into a bung for the middle class (like a lot of signature SNP policies). Again if I was living in Scotland and looking at how important education was in the 90s/00s when I lived there and there was real pride in having the best education system in the UK, I would be furious at the SNP's record in the last 15 years. Also worth noting it's not clearly something to do with spending:


Interesting piece from an education academic who has been a long-standing critic of the SNP's new curriculum - and more broadly on the knowledge v skills debate (where England went in very strongly on knkowledge and Scotland very strongly on skills). My understanding is that there is a lot of research which backs this academic's view but it is counter-intuitive for a lot of the public:

Surely the problem here is they're measuring a decline in test scores for a curriculum which doesn't see test scores as the most important thing?
This piece is missing the point of the different curriculum?

I have very little knowledge or specific interest in the Scottish education system so maybe it is bad anyway. But this is a pretty terrible way to try and show it.

Separately, I will say its nice that there seem to be signs of there being extra support for the talented kids in the national results.  This was always my problem at school. So much help and support for those really struggling to try and scrape them up to getting a GCSE or two (grade D most likely) whilst for anyone better than that...quite ignored. You'd be fine. No help to try and be better than fine.

#92

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 04:59:32 AM

I mean it won't happen for multiple reasons - but the whole thing is also just another example of why I think Sunak isn't actually very good at politics.

Yes but what I meant is them being shill cruel panickmonger pricks, except that they are luckily less efficient with it than the GOP. Then again I guess they have full control over the British state which the GOP lacks over the US one.

#93

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 04:19:12 AM

I was out at a Christmas dinner last night so missed it - but beat Newcastle 3-0 so out of the relegation zone. All without committing any abuses of human rights

#94

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by celedhring - Today at 03:55:19 AM

I loved it. But I'm very easily swayed by a vibes movie

I did enjoy watching it. It's just that it's a bit thin imho, and it's made many "best of the 2010s" lists so I was expecting a bit more meat to it.

I feel like Glazer is going for a sci-fi Pasolini schtick, with a predatorial-yet-naive being that ultimately is destroyed by the world she's trying to comprehend, but it never gets past being a vibes movie.

#95

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 03:46:32 AM

I loved it. But I'm very easily swayed by a vibes movie

#96

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by celedhring - Today at 03:44:19 AM

Under the Skin - This is a quite famous movie among film buffs that I never quite got around to watch. ScarJo drives a van abducting Scots to drain their lifeforce (and yes, it did remind me of a pretentious version of LifeForce ) It's a good movie, the visuals, sound design and overall vibe are pretty mesmerizing. But - and pardon me the pun - I don't think there's that much under the skin. It's one of those movies that's cryptic for it's own sake. Also, ScarJo gets nekkid.

#97

Gaming HQ / Re: Valve/Steam do a handheld ...

Last post by Josquius - Today at 03:16:28 AM

I've not been able to get anything non steam working yet. Been wanting to get a ps2 emulator going to play the newish racing lagoon translation.
It is a bit of a faff with the secondary os. But mostly lack of time on my part.
The pick up and play 30 mins stolen where I can factor is grand for certain types of game.

#98

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Josquius - Today at 02:49:30 AM

Elf pets Santa's reindeer rescue - kill me now. This is the third time. Why does he like this. Why. It's absolute trash even as stuff for kids goes. Such an awful advert for elf on the shelf and some "now you can spend more money" addon pack that apparently exists.
Such a shame the boy is currently at an animation only stage and won't appreciate live action. I want Elf.

#99

Off the Record / Re: Working From Home

Last post by Josquius - Today at 02:46:56 AM

Certainly I basically don't exercise these days vs the mile or two of walking when commuting.
I bought an under desk bike.... Didn't consider my knees would smack the underside of the desk.

#100

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 02:38:40 AM

I mean it won't happen for multiple reasons - but the whole thing is also just another example of why I think Sunak isn't actually very good at politics.