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Ebenezer Gove!

30 replies

crapteacher · 12/12/2011 09:51

Michael Gove's Christmas gift for school's across the land is a brand new bible.

You might like to find out about the crapteacher blog take on this ina seasonal tale to lift the spirits at this link:

//www.crapteacher.wordpress.com/

Merry Christmas!
@crapteacher

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 10:02

'school's'?

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crapteacher · 12/12/2011 10:18

sorry - should have read 'gift' and 'schools '

they don't call me 'crapteacher' for nothing ;)

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 10:41

You know, for some reason I can't fathom, I'm rather hoping you don't teach my kids

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crapteacher · 12/12/2011 12:01

I guess you'll never know...

it's a talk thread - it happens...

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SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 12:12

What?

bloody hell

I assumed Op was a joke. Apparently not.

For crying out loud.

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crapteacher · 12/12/2011 12:16

We're using ours to wrap up the staff secret santa presents. Any other useful ideas? Let me know ;)

www.crapteacher.wordpress.com/

@crapteacher

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 12:19

Crapteacher
I love your blog and read it regularly, but you might not be aware that MN does slightly frown on people advertising their blogs on the site.

You can become a member of MN bloggers network and they will actively promote your blog (click on BLOGS at the top of the page).

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 12:24

oh, just noticed that you are already on the MN bloggers network.

EXCELLENT blog post, btw.

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crapteacher · 12/12/2011 12:58

Thanks. It seems that my blog is quite hidden away at the moment on there though, and haven't had many hits from it since I've been on there!

Thanks for the kind words!

c

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 13:11

From Wikipedia;

"The Authorized Version (of the King Jame's Bible') has been called "the most influential version of the most influential book in the world, in what is now its most influential language", "the most important book in English religion and culture", and "the most celebrated book in the English-speaking world". It has contributed 257 idioms to English, more than any other single source, including Shakespeare".

But hey, if having a single copy in your school offends your sensibilities & you want to dismiss culture & history by using it as wrapping paper (I think you might struggle unless it's an unusually outsize copy ) & with take-offs of Dickens then go ahead. It's a free country after all.

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 13:32

Bob
I presume the objection is the fact that the Gove Vanity Bible is being sent to every school in England at a cost of £375 000

Austerity? What austerity?

Are you following MN Bloggers on Twitter, CT? And if you look for the bloggers' forum on here, and post a link on the NEW BLOG POSTS (there is a new one every week) then you will get more hits.

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 13:34

MmeLindor,

'The Department for Education estimates the cost of the scheme at £375,000, and is seeking philanthropic sponsorship "

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 13:35

oh, and if they don't find sponsorship?

And I still don't agree with it.

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SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 13:40

All the christian schools will already have a bible
So will the vast majority of the rest of the schools, given that we live in a christian country and all schools are required to have a daily act of worship that is broadly christian in nature

Schools which have agreed an opt-out of that in favour of a different religion - eg all the jewish schools around here - why is he sending them a bible? Seems a bit odd.

Of course the fact that it is a £375000 vanity project is also eyebrow raising. So he gets someone else to pay - so what? Aren't there any more useful things that each school could have than another bible - this time with Gove's name in it?

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 13:42

I'd hazard a guess that they will. Let's assume that they do and your objection isn't then on a cost-basis; what exactly would your disagreement be with?

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 13:46

SardineQueen, I think you're rather missing the point. It's not just 'a bible' that we're talking about, so it's not a religious exercise, but one based around our history, language and culture. Please, read the article you linked to again & the references to Gove's speech. The OP's post was pretty disingenuous.

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 13:50

If they want to spend that kind of money on schools, I would rather they bought text books.

Schools already have bibles.

If someone wishes to show their children the beauty of the King James Bible, then they are welcome to do this at home.

I don't actually agree with religious teaching in school at all - of any denomination.

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MmeLindor. · 12/12/2011 13:51

oh, and "not a religious exercise"? Please.

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SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 13:53

Of course it's a religious exercise

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 13:57

So do you think this is a hidden religious exercise rather than for the purpose stated?

For what it's worth, I'm fairly ambivalent about faith schools myself.

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SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 14:01

It's not a hidden religious exercise
It's an overt religious exercise

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 14:01

Cross post, you answered the question as I asked it.

Oh well. Listening to the history of the KJB on BBC iplayer now so I'm getting an interesting history lesson. Wouldn't have known the programme existed (or this news story) so thanks OP & SardineQueen. Unintended consequences and all that

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 14:24

And by the way, whether you believe in religious education or not, religion forms a part of history. I don't believe you can do children any favours by giving them an education that relies on airbrushing religion and religious works out of the picture.

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SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 14:43

What has your last post to do with Gove sending a bible to every school in the country?

Learning about religions is fine. Maybe he could have sent a pack with the texts from each of the major religions?

Just sending a bible to schools, most of which will already have a bible, is odd.

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bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 14:57

This is possibly the most circular discussion I've ever had on this site. The whole crux of the issue is the particular version of the Bible that is being sent out, its linguistic influence & its place in history and culture. It can be seen as a textbook in its own right, returning to one of your earlier posts. But if you keep coming back to the view that it's just a bible, whatever other version schools may have and at direct odds with what was actually said in the article you yourself linked to then there's absolutely no point in having any discussion with you at all.

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