Guest 699- Registered: 3 Jun 2010
- Posts: 292
see astor school arfe to link up with duke of yorks and offer the kids weapon training
crazy , about five years ago a lad near us got a gold in weight lifting he was over the moon
problem was no one taught him how to spell it
they should stick to the basics
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Ron - one of the basics for education is discipline and that is something that has been sadly undermined dramatically over many years. The Human Rights Act being one of the many developments that is doing this alongside getting rid of corporal punishment and an overall lowering of teacher's authority.
Astor has a very good record on discipline but it is a ongoing fight to maintain it and is very difficult indeed.
Astor also has a long-establish and highly successful CCF. My own second son benefited massively from the Grammar's CCF so I appreciate the value it provides. Astor wants to build further on its CCF and make use of its links with the Dukies. It is hoped and expected that many parents who are turned away from the Dukies, because they do not take day pupils, will come to Astor instead due to these links.
The Dukies have a first class academic record and part of that is a culture that includes a high level of discipline based on a military ethos. The new Military cadre at Astor is designed to bring in to Astor some of that ethos.
This is not instead of the basics, this is in addition to them and it is hoped will significantly improve the delivery of basic education needs. The fact is that this is part of a response by the school to the increasing demands of higher maths and English passes at A to C grade in GCSE.
Personally I think that this is a very exciting and imaginative development for the school.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i might agree with you barry if i ever find out what a ccf is.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Combined Cadet Force Howard.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
if barryw is correct i agree
although i share some of rons wider concerns
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
then astor has changed since my kids left school.fights and bullying with a dont care attitude from the teachers was common ,but mind you that was 10 years ago but have heard reports that it still goes on but on a smaller scale.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
trouble is brian with over 1,400 kids very difficult to keep on top of
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Your point Ron is therefore that only people who can spell g-u-n should be trained to use one?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i am still bemused, what type of weapons are the kids trained to use?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
They will be using the range at the Dukies I expect Howard - the CCF at the Grammar did so frequently and I would be surprised if the long-established Astor CCF does not do so now. They use the L98A2 rifle, find it from link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L98_Cadet_Rifle#L98_Cadet_General_Purpose_Rifles
Weapons training is only a small part of what they do the next link is regarding Army Cadets but it also covers the CCF forces as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Cadet_Force
The military cadre concept at Astor is a development and extension of the school's CCF.
Brian - I certainly do not recognise your description of Astor, you are doing an excellent school an injustice.
Keith - why on earth cant you just agree without caveats. I am right, I am on the governing body there.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for that barry interesting stuff, should appeal to the kids a lot more than some of the boring class room stuff.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
It is in additional to all the normal curriculum Howard so they cant get away without the 'boring' classroom stuff. But yes, it certainly does have a great appeal particularly to boys.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
When I was in the CCF aged 15/16 ish, we were trained to use and maintain Lee-Enfield .303 rifles and LMGs (aka Bren guns), also Sterlings. We used to shoot at the Hythe ranges and I still have my marksman badges somewhere. It taught me a healthy respect for firearms but I never wanted to go out and murder people.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
i think it teaches kids so much and is a good thing
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Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
barryw,i was and still am talking 10 years ago maybe 12,i accept that things change.but saying that i have of a couple of horrer stories coming from astor this is two local kids who are niebours all verified by there parents.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Brian you are beginning to sound like Vic with 'I know something you don't'.
Spill the beans or say nothing.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
peter,cant say to much its ongoing at the moment.
Guest 676- Registered: 1 Jul 2008
- Posts: 521
Like Peter, when I was a cadet in the CCF we were trained to use the Lee-Enfield 303 and .22 rifles and Bren guns. And yes I still remember the kick
Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
My two grandsons both went to Astor the youngest leaving two years ago, they never came home with any bullying tales.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
one of mine went there
the usual kids fall out normally make up the next day
but no bullying
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