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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Labour believes that Gove has become the Tories’ weakest link
Both Labour and Lib Dem strategists have told me in recent months that they now regard the education secretary, Michael Gove, as the Conservative party’s biggest electoral liability.
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Quiet children, please. Listen to your teacher, Mr. 'Historian' Hunt.
Gove's comments are likely to cause consternation in Germany, where politicians are keen to stress the lessons learned from two world wars and the role that European integration has played in promoting peace.
The president of the European parliament, the German Social Democrat Martin Schulz, declined to be drawn on Gove's intervention, but, in terms that are likely to anger some on the Tory right, he said that the way to ensure future peace in Europe was to promote a more closely integrated EU.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/04/labour-gove-first-world-war-comments
Gove / Daily Mail article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532923/Michael-Gove-blasts-Blackadder-myths-First-World-War-spread-television-sit-coms-left-wing-academics.html
Interpretation of the past is never apolitical for very long. Hunt should know it. There is no monopoly of thought in history, some interpretations are more flawed than others.
Britain's major trading partner pre 1914 was Germany, (and vice versa) but they still went to war. Didn't help Lenin's thesis very much either.
There is, of course, no unchallenged consensus. That is why it matters that we encourage an open debate on the war and its significance.
Open debate? Challenge the consensus?
Surely that's not in the National Curriculum.
It does sound like Gove has needlessly annoyed a large profession with remarks that are, at best, disputable. As a Cameroon he is almost certain to remain in post (as most people on both sides probably are until the election).
History is not apolitical, as has been mentioned below by Dr. Spyn. We need only seen the revisionism that's occurred by the Left's manipulation of the view of Thatcher (I recall with some amusement a Sky News paper review where a chap scarcely older than myself complained about Thatcher the Milk Snatcher. The older newsreader remarked that the milk was either horribly cold or horribly warm and he was glad to be rid of it, at which point the young chap said it was before his time...)
One of the odd things about 1918, is the sheer pace of the German collapse after Operation Michael's failure, and a relentless Allied advance, but there isn't a single decisive battle like Waterloo which ends the campaign. I am looking forward to Huw Strachan's next volume on the war.
Britain's major trading partner pre 1914 was Germany, (and vice versa) but they still went to war. Didn't help Lenin's thesis very much either.
As the rest of us in non-unionised workforces do.
This betting market may get very active within the next 18 months if Cameron loses the next general election (which I expect) and then steps down (which wouldn't surprise me).
More importantly, though, Gove has presided over a school places shortage.
Otoh, blaming the Germans might go down well.
Perhaps Hunt and Gove ought to read one of Margaret MacMillan's other books on the usages and abusage of history.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abuses-History-Professor-Margaret-MacMillan/dp/1846682045
Of course The Whig interpretation of History is apolitical. Re Gove, the social Darwinism stuff did have a appeal for some British politicians, but he probably overlooked that.
And not for the first time we have the Tories on the side of the consumer, Labour, the producer....
Since we are on WWI. - Max Hastings "Catastrophe -Europe goes to War 1914" is 99p on Amazon Kindle (vs £30 hardback list) as is Moore's Thatcher biog.
This system is also highly unpopular in Sweden where it began.
Sorry to go off topic, but I really wasn't prepared to comment on a stale thread... Isn't the most remarkable thing about the megapoll Our Genial Host reported late last night that the question "which Party is best for the country" produces a Tory lead whilst "which party is best for you and your family" produces a Labour one?
This suggests to me that the Tories' best shot is patriotism - don't have a giveaway budget, Ossie, say instead the country can't afford one. And if their leadership is feeling really Disraelian put in the manifesto a proposal for an elected Lords on a restricted franchise (service in the armed forces, higher-rate tax paying, that sort of thing) with its powers restored in respect of Money Bills.
You might just as well appoint someone to head the Health Service who has a weakness for alternative medicine.
Funny thing. I don't often hear people pointing out that one of Thatcher's biggest assets was her basic numeracy and an understanding of science and its modus operandi.
Observer article by ex BBC hack and 2nd rate Labour MP in shock attack on govt minister.
Yes that'll clearly push the voters into a love affair with Miliband:))))
The thing I saw shared a lot was this conversation:
Committee Chair: One is: if "good" requires pupil performance to exceed the national average, and if all schools must be good, how is this mathematically possible?
Michael Gove: By getting better all the time.
Committee Chair: So it is possible, is it?
Michael Gove: It is possible to get better all the time.
Committee Chair: Were you better at literacy than numeracy, Secretary of State?
Michael Gove: I cannot remember.
Gove is correct.
Improved performance will lead to a higher average performance.
Why is it assumed the average is a constant?
Are you going to use that stupid phrase whenever we disagree? I mean, it's a rather pathetic way of starting a response to an argument, one that automatically puts the responder on the back foot.
But I guess that's just your level.
A major drag? Dunno. But I find him an interesting study, psychology/schema-wise. His secrecy, response to criticism etc (his recent ed comm session was embarrassingly bad).
What he said in the interview was comparatively anodyne. Who would disagree with his claim that European Monetary Union was "a German racket designed to take over the whole of Europe"?
The man on Clapham Omnibus would read "if all schools must [aspire to] be good". Otherwise "good" as a relative judgement is meaningless in context.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)
This was a surprise attack using combined arms and led to the 100 days offensive with the Germans retreating all along the Western front, with mass surrenders and desertions. In many ways this was the invention of the Blitzkrieg, by the Brits.
The British Imperial Forces were the only major army that became operationally more effective over the course of the war and never had a major mutiny or mass desertions. The war did not end like in Blackadder, it ended as a war of manouver. Ironically this meant higher casualties as the troops on both sides had to leave their fortifications.
Arguably the Anglo-Serbian offensive in Salonika was as decisive, as it caused. the collapse of the Bulgarian and AustroHungarian forces, and the End of the war for those powers, leaving a Germany defeated in the West free of allies. Alone and defeated, Germany had to sue for peace.
Gove is right and the WW1 debate needs to be more than war poets, Warhorse and Blackadder.
He is not afraid of a scrap himself, and Hunt has met his match!
Mike: do you not have family who are teachers, so some personal interest in the educational debate?
If the weather carries on like this (and my amateur weather watcher mate - who's been so accurate in the past that I've started taking notice - says it's going to be more of the same all through, 'with maybe a cold snap at the start of February') it can only be good news for the govt.
As you imply, leaving aside the substantive argument, it does seem like rum politics, so, accepting Gove is not daft, perhaps there is a hidden agenda to attract Kippers, wind up a Cabinet rival, or promote himself as next mayor.
Come May 2015 the punters will be focused on who will be the PM to come and "pocket book issues" for the next five years and not the perceived foibles of an education minister in the previous government.
Remember who was education minister in the Major government in 1992 and the influence he had as Kinnock was flushed down the electoral toilet ??
Almost no influence .... and the name you'll be struggling for is ....
John Patten.
"An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep".
Now that would make an interesting GE 2015 thread.
His tenure has been about putting the consumer ahead the producer.
But Mike is right that Ministers are ill-advised to set up politicians vs teachers or politicians vs doctors fights, unless there is some overwhelming policy reason to do so. The majority of public opinion is in no doubt whatever which side they prefer in those choices.
My original point was that if Gove wants to marginalise teaching unions, the best way to do it is to make the important safety net they provide to members less compelling. But if you are simultaneously seeing your working conditions and pay scales changed, the way you are assessed altered, the curriculum you teach turned upside down and your pension reduced, it is quite likely that you will feel a need a level of advice and guidance to see you through - as well as a safety net should you run into difficulty for whatever reason. Teachers clearly see significant benefits in union membership.
Wales.
What could possibly go wrong???
"Good" means an assessment that a pupil's performance has exceeded the national average.
All schools should aim for their pupils to be assessed as good (and therefore above average).
It would be logical fallacy to infer a conclusion from the above premises that all pupils performances would be good.
If I was a teacher, I would almost certainly join a union, if only for the legal protection.
Battle stations! Navy scrambles destroyer to challenge Russian warship off British coast (but it takes 24 hours to make 600-mile journey from Portsmouth base - was Putin testing our response time?)
Russian vessel detected 30 miles away from Scotland last night
Only ship available to respond was on south coast of England
Tensions heightened when aerial photos showed ship full of missiles
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533846/Battle-stations-Navy-scrambles-destroyer-challenge-Russian-warship-British-coast-takes-24-hours-make-600-mile-journey-Portsmouth-base-Putin-testing-response-time.html#ixzz2pWEIkkAu
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/keep-the-flame-alive/10516870/One-school-playing-field-sold-off-every-three-weeks-since-Coalition-was-formed.html
That and the BBC will pick it us the the News team will have read it.
Before Xmas the Hon Hunt was expounding on Tory views of history too:
http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/tristram-hunt-history-made-with-a-very-ukip-vision-in-mind-9021932.html
The answer is the patient and the pupil.
The average number of legs would be 1.99, and therefore most of us are above average.
For some number distributions median or mode are more useful than the mean!
The issue really is not one of numeracy, it is whether Britains poor educational performance could be improved by competition or by centralist state intervention. In many ways Gove is the heir to Thatcher in terms of patriotism and policy, gauche at times, but with the confidence of the zealot. He is an opponent to be feared.
I have a few quid on him as next Tory leader.
Tbh when we hear what union leaders are coming out with, more often than not, we're holding our heads in our hands. I'm sure that's the same across unions. On pay, for example - as I've said many times - I've yet to hear a teacher complain about their pay. The union regularly fiddles in the flames. But nonetheless I'm pro unions. For lots of obvious (I'd hope) reasons.
Unions are fair game for politicians in many ways. But confusing unions with members is idiotic.
That's a very important point that the tories should be making. A Miliband win keeps Farage in a job.
Quite right: just as all Championship teams should aspire to promotion, all schools should aspire to be good. Not all will be successful, but lack of ambition for their pupils is a factor in our poor educational performance. It was notable even at my sons Comprehensive school (generally rated as the best state school in the county).
I should take this opportunity to point out that Leicester City are top of the league!
Most butchers don't offer mutton let alone hoggart and the last time I enjoyed either in a restaurant was many a long year ago.
Serriously, what is all this COBRA nonsense about. It seems this thing is convened whenever someone breaks wind these days.
As I've said passim (although some will doubtless laugh): unions play an important and valuable role in the workplace. Striking is also a legitimate means to try to improve matters for their members, but it is a nuclear option.
You are right in differentiating between the union and its members. After all, it seems rather likely that most union leadership is well to the left politically of their membership.
ANYTHING is going to be better than that - including the sensible enough SNP proposals, which are at least a basis.
This is of course true for the UK as a whole - but Scotland is disproportionately dependent on maritime defence and area support for its large coastline and economic area, and the resources therein. Remember Piper Alpha and the Nimrod that acted as the on-site control post.
What price the incessant Unionist sneers at SNP NATO policy, which is no different from that of some other existing members, or an indy Scotland not being able to bomb people with funny names on the other side of the globe, if the UK is already failing to defend itself - surely one of the key roles of any competent government?
This is a classic example of what is so wrong with the indy debates in the media: it is all about what is deemed wrong with the Yes proposals, but the debate never compares them with the No proposals - or, for want of such, the current status quo.
From my experience, and that of family and friends, once you've got through past that hurdle treatment has been swift and good. Getting past the GP has proved another matter.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/navy-shadows-russian-warship-off-moray-coast-1-3242089
Discussed here, with reference to the SNP.
http://www.navy-net.co.uk/current-affairs/73322-russians-coming-russians-coming.html
And here -
http://www.arrse.co.uk/intelligence-cell/208630-russians-invading-scotland-according-mail-2.html
I think this emphasis is in part that most primary and history teachers are women, and few if any have any sympathy or experience of military matters. The emphasis on domestic social history is a reason for the underperformance of boys re girls at school. Boys quite like facts, usually more than roleplaying child refugees.
Most of my secondary school teachers, whether science or english or history had served in the forces in the war. They had different perspectives. Often quite anti war, but speaking from experience.
The armed forces remain one of the few, largely untarnished groups, although recent courts martial are a warning that even the mighty may be laid low , if only temporarily.
First, history (like many other subjects in what I think of as the Americanisation of education) has been split up into self-contained modules; secondly, there has been an attempt to add the skills and techniques of the professional historian to the GCSE curriculum, but since the average 14-year-old cannot discover and translate original documents buried in German or Russian archives, this tends to reduce to "imagine what it is like to be a mediaeval peasant/WW1 soldier/holocaust victim".
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Territorial-waters are twelve nautical-miles from the mean shore-line: Any warship is allowed passage outwith such area (regardless of what Wee-Fr'Eck might tell you otherwise).
NImord failed Haddon-Cave. This was mentioned at PPRuNe in February 2010.
If SNats wish to troll then they should - at least - learn some facts first. Their argument is as ridiculous as their party-leader....
Anyone who is a member of anything knows that when it comes to electing officers, representatives etc there's a stampede for the door, leaving those who "really care" or have some devious motive!
PM's right-to-buy poster girl revealed to be estate agent - who sold the flat to herself
PM visited Sharon Ray at her home, bought with Help To Buy, on Thursday
Last night it emerged she is sales director at the firm which sold the flat
Anonymous blogger also revealed she drives £33,000 BMW convertible
Ms Ray defends herself on Twitter saying she's 'done nothing wrong'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533994/PMs-right-buy-poster-girl-revealed-estate-agent-sold-flat-herself.html#ixzz2pWPxgpd5
At our kids' school they jumped from pillar to post. The Tudors to the Holocaust to a really detailed (and excellent) local history module. The teachers were mostly male.
Teachers teach what they are told to teach. As I said, a mix of what I got and what my kids had would be ideal in terms of approach; but from a content perspective it strikes me as plain wrong that for decades now no child in a state school has had to have been given an overall timeline of how we got to where we are today.
Wait a minute, journalists and politicians below *ankers !
It would be nice if Gideon cut the HR tax rate.
Haddon-Cave's comment on the MR2 fiasco are well worth a read. Wiki's got a summary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Nimrod_XV230#Nimrod_review
That's the sort of military we had at the time: we lose an aircraft and 14 men, and the bureaucracy starts shredding files ...