On March 19th 2014 The Times reported that half the inmates do not see jail as a punishment. We hear of drugs, alcohol, sex with warders, tobacco as a currency, and opportunities to control, bully and intimidate one another. Why are criminals allowed to mix unsupervised? Rather than measuring sentences by time, why not impose …
Last week, at an Intelligence Squared debate, I challenged a claim by Times journalist Oliver Kamm that English is still taught well in English schools. I explained that just a few years ago Heinemann invited me to submit material for an A-level text book which they then rejected as too difficult. I pointed out that …
Thanks to Libby Purves in yesterday’s Times we can identify Harriet Harman as yet another MP whose has found a place for her child in a massively oversubscribed state school. Not for her the bog standard comp that is the only “choice” for other people. The quickest way to improve state schools would be to …
Back in October, I cut out the excellent article of yours (East Anglian Daily Times) entitled, ‘A Good Command of English Makes a Difference to our Lives’, and have used this for discussion from time to time during my English lessons with young foreign students. I believe our country is not alone in suffering …
High Praise – it’s what I have been trying to tell some publishers Read More »
I once whispered the words “Apple sauce” into the ear of a young pig. At the time I was scratching him under the chin; he was ecstatic. Urban friends were appalled and accused me of taunting the pig cruelly. Like those who object to the displays of animals in butchers’ shops they failed to appreciate …
Dear Prime Minister, I would like to have my say on Europe. Would you please tell why we continue to pay vast amounts of money to the EU which does not account for its spending, supposedly made on our behalf. I have been told that we have treaty obligations that require us to do this. …
