Hi Foxy,

One thing this discussion has opened my eyes to is the terrible way education was administered in my school days. English and all other subjects were tough in a bland, matter of fact way, with no scope for critical annalists or questioning by the student. Education was a one way street, with the teacher basically imparting a series of facts for the student to learn, and later to be questioned on those facts to determine a pass or fail.

I recall in about the 2nd year of high school been given the novel 'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway. It was treated by the teacher as a good yarn for boys to read. Basically to pass you had to simply relay the facts of the story and little else. Nothing much was said of the author Hemingway, who I later learned was a much more interesting character than 'Santiago' ever could be. Subjects were sanitised in such a way that there was no mention of anything controversial, such that it might influence the student in any subversive way.

We have regressive people on this forum who want education reduced to the standards of more than 50 years ago.

Paul1405,
I also studied Ernest Hemmingway, he committed suicide not wanting to get old. I would not consider his life's example to be admired by his readers.

I don’t mind Ernest falling in love said," Hemingway's second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, wrote of the literary giant, "but why does he always have to marry the girl when he does?"

That's a question that Ernest Hemingway took to his grave.

Before he ended his life with a gunshot to the head in July 1961, Hemingway had four wives who were remarkable in their own right: Hadley Richardson, Pauline 'Fife' Pfeiffer, Martha Gellhorn, and Mary Welsh. Having the unique experience of loving this talented, complicated and erratic man — fourth wife Welsh referred to each of her predecessors as graduates of "the Hemingway University" — some of the women even managed to form a bond with one another.

As I said Josephus, (Hemingway) was a much more interesting character than 'Santiago' ever could be. Four wives and suicide not what a good catholic boy should learn about in the 1960's.

"I (Josephus) would not consider his life's example to be admired by his readers." I'm not that judgemental about the mans personal life, I'll leave that to the Christians, they are full of moral virtue, and better judges of these things than I.

Paul,

Your poor English schooling is evident. However, given that my education was not as stilted as yours I'd put it to you that your education was not representative entirely of the earlier training.

Given the predilection of the left whinge Teachers union to use school time for indoctrination rather than education, this crowd of left whinge clowns want to take us back to 1984.

Shadow Minister, you actually had an education, could have fooled me. Did you study English as a school subject, your posts seem to indicate it's your second language, or you are semi literate. You pompously present yourself as a highbrow know it all, only to be exposed as a low class second rate nong, but we wont hold that against you. As a rabid member of the forums right, there would be a multitude of social justice topics you would not approve of as being suitable for the young mind. You would be a supporter of the three R's, and not much else. Not long ago people like you didn't approve of education for the lower classes.

No political position has a monopoly on vice or virtue. There is no evidence that either those on the right or those on the left lie and manipulate more. Insults and denigration of those with opposing opinions do not add to validity of an argument.