PLEASE REPEAT THAT MR. GOVE.

We have had occasion in these columns to think highly of Education Secretary Michael Gove. His views on restraint, however, when tackled about increasing the number of grammar schools, is disconcerting. For readers outside the European sphere, grammar schools are what, for example, the East Germans requested following the fall of the Berlin Wall. They select the more academically minded, giving them the opportunity to progress to a more professional future. Everything that an advancing society needs. Gove, nevertheless, might well be playing a game of subterfuge, as he is allowing existing grammar schools to expand.

Our Secretary for Education did, however, commit the most basic of grammatical crimes, when implying that David Cameron, and I quote: " Is a brilliant Prime Minister". Wrong on two counts; Cameron, is the self-professed 'heir to Blair'. He is just a 'blue rinse socialist'; and most people would know that brilliant was misused completely as a lousy adjective------must do better.


THE NATION WILL SUFFER UNTIL CAMERON IS REMOVED.

ARE WE LOOKING TO HIGHER STANDARDS?

This week, English pupils received their GCSE results, which created the usual euphoria, particularly for those with grades of B and better. However, C-A* grades are down slightly from last year, in fact, this is the first time the standard has dropped since the inception of the GCSE form of examination; at least it is perceived that standards are lower, but the author doubts this. There are many employers who, when wanting school leavers to commence in employment, find that basic English and mathematics is absent from these youngsters; so how can they have passed their exams in the assumption that they are prepared for the world of business, and can business afford to have such passengers? Much of this ineptness came from the old Labour Government, who insisted that everyone has to win, irrespective of knowledge. The truth, hopefully, lies in the fact that the examination boards are tightening up with a greater degree of strictness, possibly pedantic. This is obviously not before time. One particular complaint by a headmaster in my locality was that the goalposts were moved between January and June of this year regarding English. Now how can one complain about something, although not completely static, the basic rules of the language don't change. Ones understanding is good, mediocre or bad. Most of the teenagers today use the language in a deplorable fashion, incorporating ridiculous adjectives. In a strange way, children are influencing adults. Broadcasters now speak like these immature, under-educated neophytes; many of whom proceed to University, or Uni' as they put it.

We have pointed out before in these columns, that the English, generally, are some of the worst exponents of their own language in the world. Not helped naturally, by the assumed to be progressive British Broadcasting Corporation.

WHICH WOULD STRUGGLE TO ATTAIN A 'C' GRADE.

POST OLYMPIC'S CARPING.

Should carping become an Olympic event, the BBC would represent Team GB. Ever since the closing ceremony, the Beeb has this need to include, in its so-called news broadcasts, how much money we are going to throw at Olympic type sports, with a view to future events. The perpetual topic keeps arising. How many school playing fields has the current government closed? The answer is, of course, not as many as the last Labour regime. Many of the playing facilities have gone, mainly due to old school closures.

Let us, therefore, consider the situation that seems to be overlooked in all this discussion on what should be our Olympics legacy. Naturally, the BBC, whose income will come mainly from the right of centre licence holders, but continues to operate as the propaganda arm of the political left wing, wishes to project a socialist bias on all this; probably delving into waste bins in an endeavour to collate information. This, however, cannot conform with left wing ideology, which insists that there cannot be winners and losers, only winners. One dreads to think what the instructions to the organisers of the recent games would have been, had they still been in power.

Although the topic of the day, needs to be economics, our 'blue rinse socialist' Prime Minister, David Cameron, insists that we shall throw more money at sport. Surely it is obvious, from our medal haul, that we are currently producing many excellent competitors.


THEREFORE, ANY EXTRA CASH IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE OUR BASIC EDUCATION .

WE CAN STILL MUSTER THE ODD INTELLECTUAL.

Any follower of these blogs might be familiar with our sister blog; 'BRUSSELS! GOOD FOR YOU?' (http://europeanfantasy.blogspot.com); where the most recent posting refers to MEP Daniel Hannan and his new book; 'A DOOMED MARRIAGE'. Well you may be interested to know, that we have another intellectual in our ranks, Dr. David Starkey. This good doctor is one of history. He makes excellent TV documentaries on our royal heritage. Recently, however, he presented a series, making comparisons with Winston Churchill and his ancestor, the first Duke of Marlborough. Marlborough was a genius of war strategy. Winston Churchill, needing funds, following the 'Wall Sreet Crash', wrote the series of volumes 'Marlborough', which proved to be a major success. Simultaneously, Churchill was warning of the impending threat from the increasingly popular, Adolph Hitler.

Dr. Starkey, in an article in the press, points out that Prime Minister Cameron could well learn something from Churchill's approach, although he has missed the boat, in the authors opinion. The article didn't refer to specifics; nevertheless, David Cameron should have pointed out, we have touched on this in the past. What the national debt stood at, following the thirteen economically disastrous years of socialist mismanagement. Asking the nation to pull together to clear the £4.8 trillion. Unfortunately, as with any weak leader, he can't bring himself to face reality.


"AND WHAT DO YOU GET? ANOTHER DAY OLDER AND DEEPER IN DEBT."

I THINK THEY'VE GONE.

Following two weeks of hyper activity, Great Britain returns to normal. Normality means increased inflation, along with all the woes that beset the economies of the world, none more so than the Eurozone.

Nevertheless, with a certain amount of pride, the average 'Brit' can feel a glow, following an event that was extremely well organised. The London 2012 Olympics were a resounding success. In addition, we performed above our weight.

The politicians are all now jockeying for position regarding, what is known as, the legacy. This means throwing more of our taxes at sport, in preparation for Rio 2016. Unfortunately, few voices are being raised enquiring where the money will come from; which part of our £5 trillion national debt won't be cleared, due to an obsession with a sporting spectacle. It could be, that the next Games will be affected by the worsening financial situation. It won't go away, because we keep adding to it by borrowing more and more cash.

Readers would have noted my disapproval of the music chosen for the opening ceremony; well, it didn't improve. The dirges to take drugs by, continued at the closing event. What would have been wrong with the London Welsh Male Voice Choir, singing; 'A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square?'.


THIS LEGACY WON'T BE A BENEFIT, JUST ANOTHER COST.

EQUINE 'STRICTLY COME DANCING.'

The two Olympic medals won by the dressage specialists, Charlotte Dugardin and Laura Bechtolsheimer, for their performances in the horse dancing routine, must go down as the most difficult discipline of the whole games. To do whatever is needed from the rider throughout the procedure must require sublime timing. I am assuming that the rider is directing her mount. Well done to these two supreme riders and competitors!

There are, of course, a number of athletes to be congratulated, many of them women. Although the author is saddened by the fact that, following our early promise in 'track and field', we have rarely been at the party. After all, track and field are the very essence of the proceedings. Perhaps we might highlight, that the performances of the Brownlee Brothers in the Triathlon was most impressive. Heaven only knows what it must feel like to serve a fifteen second penalty just before the final lap of the 10 km run, when all that Jonny, the younger brother would have wanted to do, was to lie down; following a 1.5 km swim, immediately mounting a cycle, for the 43 km race, without losing a place, securing the bronze medal. This was monumental. Probably, to his contemporaries, this was the performance of the two week's exertions.


SIR BRUCE FORSYTH IS SEEKING LESSONS IN HORSE RIDING.

SPORTS: V. GOOD, ENGLISH LANGUAGE: ATROCIOUS.

Presumably most of the world is immersed in the current Olympic Games. As with any competition, someone is going to win. Why, then, do we have to suffer ongoing comments such as 'amazing' and 'unbelievable', particularly from the British competitors? In addition, we are informed that they are focusing, or going to 'medal', alternatively, 'podium'. We have become used to the childlike text speak, not forgetting 'given' and 'big ask'.

The reason for these comments is to point out that, apart from the incorrect use of all the foregoing, they are being practised by the host nation, with the BBC being the main protagonist. We, GB, happen to be enjoying considerable success in the competition; we should, however, consider that we need the most international of languages to be used correctly. The embarrassing aspect of all this is, that foreigners are better at our language than most of our inhabitants.


MUST DO BETTER.

END OF WEEK ONE.

With the Olympics now moving into the second week, 'our lot', the Brits, are performing very well. The extraordinary thing is that we have already collected a crop of medals across the board, not least in the rowing events. These admirable athletes are staying afloat while much of the western world is drowning in debt. How strange it is when the winners of such events are so much fresher than those trailing in silver and bronze positions. Presumably adrenalin and psychology are playing a big part here.

It is impressive to see the female of the species excelling in so many sports, including rowing. Jessica Ennis, although one of the favourites for the Heptathlon, she still had to do it. Although not having been sitting in front of television for all these events; perchance, the author watched the women's cycling Team Pursuit, they were not only outstanding in their relentless pursuit for gold, they have broken their own world record in their last six consecutive outings.

As a fan of one of the most English of games, cricket, whilst all the admiration was centred on the London area; at the second test match taking place at Headingley, Leeds, Kevin Pietersen was imperious, as though batting in a twenty over game. He absolutely mauled one of the best pace attacks in international cricket, the South Africans. Believe me, this was up there with anything else that happened in sport over the weekend.

BRING ON WEEK TWO.