tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post4124394200563373676..comments2023-12-31T13:47:05.758+00:00Comments on Fat Man on a Keyboard: Education mattersThe Plumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-35034374566518335772008-11-20T18:29:00.000+00:002008-11-20T18:29:00.000+00:00New Labour seem to regard "Culture" as something y...New Labour seem to regard "Culture" as something you pay for after you've spenf money stoking the furnaces of the economy.<BR/><BR/>But a nation's economy is a reflection of its culture. Britain's strong culture of individualism, thought and creativity makes it a magnet for international companies looking to develop new products, new designs, and find new ideas.<BR/><BR/>Fail to feed the culture, and we won't have a decent economy.<BR/><BR/>__________________________________<BR/><BR/>I was at a Yorkshire comprehensive at the time The History Boys is set. I got to Cambridge through A levels and taking a year out. I'm sure Alan Bennett's done a great job of portraying grammar school education, but somehow I can't bring myself to watch it. Silly and chippy I know, but that's how it is.DorsetDipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11612884207485991011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-80327009198823844572008-11-19T09:48:00.000+00:002008-11-19T09:48:00.000+00:00There are several themes including homosexuality a...There are several themes including homosexuality and death (which is why the macaroon with Thora Hird joke was always funny but never accurate). There is a depiction of the class bias (<I>"you can't polish a turd"</I>) and sexism that was inherent in the system too and persists today. And did you notice that the woman whilst a victim of gender stereotyping was guilty of class stereotyping?<BR/><BR/>I was drawn to the theme of success through dishonesty about history - saying something nice about Hitler - because I am an historian.<BR/><BR/>AND the heart of this post was not Alan Bennett but the splendid piece I linked to that points out that a government advisory committee is being set up whilst excluding anyone who might know what they are bloody talking about.<BR/><BR/>BTY it was a rented DVD and has gone back, so no commentary for me.The Plumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-7683905854355837952008-11-18T23:41:00.000+00:002008-11-18T23:41:00.000+00:00I don't agree that the HEART of the plot is the 'c...I don't agree that the HEART of the plot is the 'casual homosexuality' of one teacher. That's a part of it but it's certainly not what the play hinges on. Surely we are looking here at widely different approaches to teaching, including that of the Frances de la Tour character and I wish that the author had given more consideration to the role of the woman teacher in the boys' school, and the ghastly influence of the old Oxbridge entrance system on 'aspiring' schools, mostly not in the 'independent' sector which could then, 25 or more years ago, afford to run a 'seventh term' class. What struck me as an ex-teacher is not the 'casual homosexuality' but the exposure of the atrocious class bias in our education system, something I have seen at first hand.Brigada Flores Magonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832555450198713371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-79503408160792287682008-11-18T22:00:00.000+00:002008-11-18T22:00:00.000+00:00"The heart of the plot is a confrontation of two t..."The heart of the plot is a confrontation of two traditional models of education ..."<BR/><BR/>You're kidding. The heart of the plot is the casual homosexuality of the teacher, and its acceptance among the boys. The ending is also important -- when the straight boy kisses the gay boy without much thought. <BR/><BR/>If you watched it on DVD, you can hear Bennett's commentary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-42403919412397538672008-11-18T07:01:00.000+00:002008-11-18T07:01:00.000+00:00Peter, did you ever share a macaroon with Alan Ben...Peter, did you ever share a macaroon with Alan Bennett and Thora Hird?<BR/>A head master who went to Hull? There's a way you can tell if you are dealing with the snob tendency in education. If they pronounce head master with a peculiar nasal intonation on the "a" that makes it sound like headmaaaaster (this doesn't work too well on t'internet) you know you are in trouble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com