Disturbing Trend in Education

[abecedarian]

The urge for "more power' must be a male instinct. I have a 3.75 hp mower and believe you me, I'm always thinking of ways to tweak it for more output. I absolutely hate going over a patch that brings it to a halt. I'm not a gear head, but I'm still thinking.

Ever used a power nailer? My hubby says he'll never build another house without one.

 

[Mrs Pacino]

I knew you were going to ask that...it's an awful admission, but I can't remember! Suffice to say that the story involved a disfunctional teenager killing homeless people for 'kicks'. It may have had some deep philosophical message, but (a) we didn't think so and (b) a bunch of 13 year old boys was very unlikely to appreciate that finer point either. We have no objection to a bit of violence or gore - in a relevant context; they are studying 'Macbeth' for GCSE, but there's a point to the blood and gore there, and a point that is easily demonstrable to a group of adolescents. The alternative class reader that the teacher in question has chosen, 'Fleshmarket' is quite bloody and gory too, but again, it has a point to it. It's a great blend of history and fiction set in the Edinburgh of Burke & Hare.



I can quite believe it. I am sure there are thousands of households that do not even possess a good dictionary or encyclopedia.

Are you talking about "Stone Cold"? That's about an ex army man killing homeless kids to "clean up the streets" and a young lad who becomes homeless helping to catch him. If so, it's a fantastic novel and the kids love it. I've not heard of one about teens killing homeless people, and I wouldn't like to read that, it doesn't sound very moral. Stone Cold has lots of questions and answers and discussion points, and is a superb read.