Tina
my own memories of reading age(s) have some similarity: they are a
pleasantly warm reminiscence. I don't know how reading ages are calculated
now, but something like being shot at seems apt for where we've regressed
to. The tv appearance of New Parks described it as one of a number of 'white
working class' areas throughout the country which were being flagged or
targetted for concern - the suggestion was that these were somewhat
subnormal people.
I couldn't help but be reminded of late Victorian/ early Modern attitudes
towards the urban poor, of Darwin and Galton and H.G.Wells and the
evolutionary undesirables downwind of the better sort, or Ezra Pound's
'filthy/unkillable children/of the poor'. I notice always how 'nature'
programmes emphasise the 'survival of the fittest' over and over again in
ways that make it impossible to ignore human, social comparisons and that
Liverpool will be much better off when it's completely depopulated apart
from the cleaners, security staff and curators of modern art galleries.
best
dave
2009/10/20 Tina Bass <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> David,
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> 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?
>
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> --------------------------------------------------------------
> [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
>
>
--
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
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