Has the Leaving cert been 'dumbed down'?

[Seos]

You're right Seos.

Huh, what am I right about? You must be in error.
I demand you prove that statement or retract it!

Well done, you retracted it before I posted, that's the kind of speed we need these days!

[Prester Jim]

oops, no your totally wrong about everything of course. have changed my post. sorry

[Seos]

oops, no your totally wrong about everything of course.

I would agree but I want to avoid getting stuck in a paradox again, so I disagree.

[Prester Jim]

Unfortunately, you're wrong to disagree

[mmrebel]

If things are be dumbed down points are on their way up

CAO points for science courses rise after surge in demand

CAO POINTS for places in most third-level science courses have surged after much stronger demand from students.

However, the class of 2009 have deserted property-related courses in their droves, resulting in a massive slump in points.

In a trend which will be welcomed by Government and industry, first-preference applications for a higher degree courses in science are up 28 per cent. As a result, the points requirement for many science courses have increased dramatically.

At UCD, the points for science have increased to 385, up 85 points on last year. This is the first time in over a decade that points for UCD science have exceeded those for UCD arts, which now requires 360 points.

In all, a higher degree course was the first choice for more than 7,000 students this year. Many appear to have deserted property-related courses, where first preferences are down by 26 per cent.

Points for virtually any degree course linked to construction have slumped. These include courses in quantity surveying, property management, architecture and civil engineering.

At the University of Limerick, architecture is down by 30 points to 460. Civil engineering is down 60 points at UCD to 410 points.

At Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – the college most associated with the property boom – construction management is down by 55 points to 305. A whole range of courses linked to property at DIT all see a significant drop in points.

Degree courses in law – once thought immune from annual CAO trends – also see a fall-off in points. At UCD, law is down 30 points to 470. Overall, first-preference applications for law are down more than 10 per cent, reflecting concerns about the decline in conveyancing work. Points have increased for about two-thirds of all higher-level degree courses this year.
read more

CAO points for science courses rise after surge in demand - The Irish Times - Mon, Aug 17, 2009

[Seos]

Unfortunately, you're wrong to disagree

It's the better option, trust me.

[orbit]

You're in la la land my friend.

The answer is not in the points system. Thats actually a big part of the problem. LC students are forced to become obsessed with points and rote learning - cramming everything they can into their heads for the exams; with little in the way of greater understanding, development is sacrificed. The proof is in the pudding, most students forget almost everything they supposedly learned for their LC ni a short time after their exams. Education for life, me thinks not!!!

The predictability of the papers & marking is a victim of the education system itself, which fostered the INABILITY to think outside the box.

Education needs to be predominantly about development, not about points and scores and exam results. Exams merely indicate what you don't know, they are not very good at testing knowledge, and much less intelligence.
Here, there is an absolute fascination with results in the education system. So people can say, "you are smart, you're a good boy.." or "you did badly, you're lazy, stupid..". Its a way to segregate people. There is very little value in it for society, but a lot of merit for those who would like to control the masses(divide and conquer!).

Simply put, its SOCIAL MOULDING.

Maybe I am in la-la land. But I stick by what I said. The system is not all bad, and tinkering with it could easily make it worse, not better.

I agree that education should be predominantly about development, but putting kids under a bit of stress and testing them, does them no harm at all in my book. Also, when there is competition for college places, you have to find some way to differentiate.

[Vega1447]

They didnt give B1s in 1989. So I dont know how you make the comparison.

Your A1 in Nit-Picking (H) is on its way....

[NeilW]

Your A1 in Nit-Picking (H) is on its way....

I was just trying to point out how baseless your assertion was...

[Trampas]

Simply put, its SOCIAL MOULDING.

I thought that was where we were going all right.