Archive for August, 2009
Why the NHS should look to France
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 20/08/2009
It is of great sadness that political dogma manages to blank out any consideration that methods and experience from elsewhere could ever be applicable in the UK, writes Ed Hoskins.
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The Never-Ending Saga of the Lisbon Treaty’s Ratification
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 19/08/2009
Yesterday, the latest development – or should I say hitch – on the rocky road to the Lisbon Treaty’s ratification occurred in Germany, one of four EU member states that have yet to ratify the treaty, writes Ariane Poulain. The Treaty aims to ‘streamline’ the EU by changing its decision-making processes, eradicating EU symbolisms, and creating new posts such as a High Representative of Foreign Affairs and a new president of the European Council. The Lisbon Treaty is the result of nearly a decade of difficult negotiations and it continues to be a logistical nightmare.
Nil Points for Thinking Skills of Former Labour Political Strategist
Posted by David Conway in Education on 18/08/2009
Peter Hyman was a political strategist to Tony Blair between 1994 and 2003. He is now the deputy head of a London comprehensive. In last Sunday’s Observer, he correctly identifies what’s fundamentally wrong with state schooling, but then proposes a remedy that will only make matters worse. What is that prevents Labour Party supporters like him being able to think straight thinking about education? I wish I knew.
Twittering about the NHS
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 17/08/2009
Laura’s blog lays bare the issues, so let’s try to encourage a bit of reasonable, rationale and sensible discussion on the whole USA vs. NHS question. Is it, in fact, the case that many insurance-based health systems in Europe, equally committed to universal coverage as the NHS, do better than both? Are there lessons all systems can learn? Join the debate on Twitter.
President Obama should look to Europe, not the NHS
Posted by Laura Brereton in Health on 17/08/2009
Claims by both sides of the fiery debate on US health system reform are clouded in ideology and misrepresentation. Democrats are demanding free health care for all as quickly as possible, providing only vague solutions for addressing the inevitably enormous costs of such a system change, while republicans are crying that reform will spark transformation of the country into a bastion of socialism. This past week, republicans have jumped back to their earlier attack on the reforms, highlighting the failings of government-run systems like the NHS. Read the rest of this entry »
Wrestling with SUMO
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 14/08/2009
This week the Times Educational Supplement has produced a baffling report on the nascent changes to emotional skills programmes at primary level. Modelled on ‘the straight-talking business world’ this incentive is dubbed SUMO – ‘Shut Up and Move On’ – and is fast becoming a permutation of the government’s ‘Personal, Social and Emotional Education’ directive. Currently at its inception stage at primary level, SUMO is set to reach secondary schools before long.
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