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David, The reading age calculation has changed though. I never have known how it was worked out but, when I was at school, the only thing I felt confident about was the reading age calculation - which put me at 16 when I was 11. I used to spend all of Saturday, in the library, browsing and selecting books, from the age of about 8 (after walking for 2 and a half miles on my own - mostly). So, when someone/some adult told me that I had the reading age of 16 I felt quite pleased, and reassured. It felt right. I used to have to stand up and read to the whole class. I used to sneak into the adult section of the library and try to take books out. I even had to drag my mother to the library, every now and then, to get her permission to take adult books out. And now 'reading age' is calculated not on ability to read (and understand) but on a quick comprehension test -which is a world away from reading properly. It's like speed chess versus the ancient game. And it all comes down to the popular vote. But it is still called 'reading age' There are so many problems in this country at the moment but sometimes they all seem to boil down to chronic stupidity. There was a female economist on the radio earlier today. She was very lightly denying climate change (in a very nice and pleasantly-voiced way). My mind found it impossible to commit her details to memory so I can't give you a name. I'm sure that she will go far. She made a comment about how pandas were incompetent at eating and reproducing and (as an economist) she felt that they should be allowed to die - and then she mentioned survival of the fittest. I understand that she has three children and I would have liked to ask her if any of them had had medication. I also would have liked to ask if she would give permission for cancer treatment in the event of that disease striking one of her own. I guess she would want treatment - even though her children had shown signs of genetic weakness/signs of needing to be culled. Where was love or potential in her economic calculation I asked myself? -------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] http://www.fatmandancing.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/fat_man_dancing > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:15:01 +0100 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Violence against women is no excuse! > To: [log in to unmask] > > Ah Tina: many people know him for sure. > > > As for Leicester and its moving on - I don't know - the New Parks area was > on the national BBC news the other night - it was claimed that the average > adult reading age there was that of a seven year old child. > > all the best > > Dave > > > > 2009/10/16 Tina Bass <[log in to unmask]> > > > Dave, > > > > > > > > I worked in Leicester a long time ago and so I think I might know him. > > > > > > > > And, if I don't know him, then I know his like. > > > > > > > > I think Leicester has moved on since then. > > > > > > > > The cities of the Midlands still have a lot of problems though. > > > > > > > > Tina > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > [log in to unmask] http://www.fatmandancing.co.uk > > http://www.myspace.com/fat_man_dancing > > > > > > > > > Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:43:08 +0100 > > > From: [log in to unmask] > > > Subject: Re: Violence against women is no excuse! > > > To: [log in to unmask] > > > > > > I always remember a gay male boss who was also a passionate anti-racist > > (he > > > was fluent in Hindi & Gujerati) . He was much admired by those 'above' > > and > > > people spoke warmly of his charm. > > > And he was a complete moral fraud: he waged a war of psychological terror > > on > > > those who worked under him and caused several to have breakdowns - his > > > favourite dictum was 'divide and conquer' and exercised that to continual > > > daily effect among people whilst for all his reaping the benefits of > > > political correctness he was a hysterical right-winger in politics. This > > > admired anti-racist gay was a fanatical devotee of Margaret Thatcher, an > > > enthusiastic celebrant of the Falklands War and an enemy of employee > > rights. > > > He kind of spoiled my faith in self-righteousness. Or to put it another > > way > > > - he voided and annuled the vocabularly of rectitude. > > > > > > > > > -- > > > David Bircumshaw > > > "A window./Big enough to hold screams/ > > > You say are poems" - DMeltzer > > > Website and A Chide's Alphabet > > > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk > > > The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html > > > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk > > > Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw > > > > > > > > -- > David Bircumshaw > "A window./Big enough to hold screams/ > You say are poems" - DMeltzer > Website and A Chide's Alphabet > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk > The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk > Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw