Uneducated young people!

[kayos]

Thought I would share this with you.

My youth theatre is doing Miss Saigon next and being under 21 I thought they might benefit from a bit of the history of Vietnam.

The first sentence out my mouth was "Vietnam is a country on the Indo/China peninsula.

Hand up - "What's a peninsula?"

I tried to explain......."Ah right, so like Wales then."

WTF!!

It was a long day!

[Kev1n]

It’s not just the youngsters. I worked on a project a few years ago which required someone to go to Cambodia. “Oooh great” she said, “I’ve never been to Africa.”

To be fair to the youngsters, the ones I meet have done a lot more and know a lot more than I did at their age. They also have a confidence not often found in earlier generations, perhaps as a result of being encouraged to participate in opportunities like your stage productions and school events.

[lingking]

its frightening mark,how some youngsters can leave full time education without even basic reading writing and spelling. its not all the teachers fault.parents have to take a massive part of the education process upon them selves,in promoting regular attendance,homework submissions etc.

on the other side of the coin i would hate to have been a youngster any time in the last 30 years,thats for sure.i think the lack of simple things like apprenticeships etc have to some degree punished those who are not so academic.

i could spout on and not be finished in a year.

essentially the whole country is "rolloxed" and on a poor day i think leaving it and heading for paradise bridge aint such a bad thing

[kayos]

It’s not just the youngsters. I worked on a project a few years ago which required someone to go to Cambodia. “Oooh great” she said, “I’ve never been to Africa.”

To be fair to the youngsters, the ones I meet have done a lot more and know a lot more than I did at their age. They also have a confidence not often found in earlier generations, perhaps as a result of being encouraged to participate in opportunities like your stage productions and school events.

I agree with that Kevin, but they are so bereft of the basic knowledge that we were taught at school. As Lingking says parents have a huge responsibility for this.

I am a huge fan of young people, I run a youth theatre that is cheap to join and if they can't afford it, they don't have to pay. I also tutor young people in English, Modern Studies and Drama and I am shocked by the lack of interest and understanding of the parents.

One of the major issues that young people have, who struggle with these subjects, is dyslexia. Schools don't want to know because it costs them money if a young person is diagnosed with it and parents do not seem to look at their child's homework anymore and therefore don't see the problem! I find that unbelievable to be honest! A quick look at their essays etc will tell you all you need to know.

A failed exam in 4th or 5th year and they call me in, apparently amazed that their child is struggling!!

[LiamNE]

I see the international school league table comparisons were out yesterday, I was surprised we came as high at 30-odd in the world.
No surprise Asia is well ahead, the BBC news last night said Shanghai kids had 6 YEARS education gap on ours at school leaving age.

I fear for our country's future in many ways