Is This One Debate That Is Long Overdue?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10611050/Revealed-The-one-in-nine-schools-where-English-is-not-first-language.html

/// Douglas Carswell, a back-bench Tory MP, said that Britain's needs to have a "national debate" about the impact of immigration on social cohesion. ///

In some area's schools English children are in the minority in there own country, can this be right?

/// To help cope with the growing diversity of their pupils, schools have enlisted interpreters to help at parents evenings and bi-lingual teaching assistants for reception classes. ///

[sp1814]

AOG

When Eton renames itself to Eaton then yes, we would have lost a true British institution.

[sp1814]

Oh, and another thing AOG - do you understand the meaning of 'debate'?

Is a debate where you proffer a point of view and argue it against someone with an opposing position, or is it where everyone agrees on something?

If you believe it's the former, then what's your issue with me disagreeing with you?

Can you please explain what you want in terms of a debate on the News section.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814
Mark as Best Answer
AOG

/// It's not cowardice. It's politeness. ///

No, it would have been polite not to mention it at all.

/// Perhaps you should take a leaf out of my book, because if everyone whom you've insulted with your posts formed a queue, it would look like the the front of an Apple store on the day a new iPhone comes out. ///

In the 8 years I have been on this site I have learnt to treat like with like, if a person insults or is rude to me, then I will then of course retaliate.

So if that queue includes those who insult or are rude to me also, that is going to be one hell of a very long queue and even longer if it includes all those that I choose to ignore.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// When Eton renames itself to Eaton then yes, we would have lost a true British institution. ///

Perhaps persons in glass houses should not throw stones, 0ne small typo error, compared with the many that you make.

[sp1814]

AOG

Believe me - I've said much worse to bazwillrun. Things I would not repeat. And I'm only pointing out to him things that he already knows (he's seen reactions to his posts).

Anyway, leaving that aside - how would you like me to handle your debates? Do you want me to eventually agree with your points, or stick to my principles and argue my case? I ask because of this statement:

" I have been down this road many times with sp1814, and he will not be happy until i agree with his view on the matter."

[FredPuli43]

So, AOG, we read what you post about British and English identity, Very interesting.

Now, when you say that English children are in a minority in their own country, how do you define English? And are those who fall outside your definition foreigners? Surely, by English you must mean anglophone, having the English language as their native tongue, otherwise your OP makes no sense at all. So is a child born here, but whose parents have another language and who, therefore, is not anglophone, not in 'their own country' ,in your opinion?

[sp1814]

I'm hoping that the zero in '0ne' was deliberate.

I think it was, and I see the humour.

However, 'persons' in the context of your following sentence is wrong.

It should be 'people'.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Oh and since Eton is in England, shouldn't that be "a true English institution?

[sp1814]

Fair point FredPuli43

AOG - in a class of 30 children, if 10 are white English, and 10 are English, but have parents born abroad and finally ten are born abroad themselves - are the English children in a minority?

If so, what nationality are the children born in England to foreign parents?

Am I British? Or English?

If not, what nationality am I?

I know what I an, I'm just curious to hear what you regard black Britons as.

[sp1814]

AOG

"Oh and since Eton is in England, shouldn't that be "a true English institution?"

True actually. I wouldn't think of St Andrews as a British institution, so it's fair to call Eton English, rather than British.

Something 'British' has to be typical of the whole country, not just part of it. We think of the British army, British police force and British beef...but there are some things which are 'English', 'Scottish', 'Welsh' - so yes, you're right.

It would appear that I agree with you on this matter.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Oh, and another thing AOG - do you understand the meaning of 'debate'? ///

I know perfectly well what the meaning of debate is.

/// Is a debate where you proffer a point of view and argue it against someone with an opposing position, or is it where everyone agrees on something? ///

The former.

/// If you believe it's the former, then what's your issue with me disagreeing with you? ///

Where have I ever said that I have an issue about you disagreeing with me?

/// Can you please explain what you want in terms of a debate on the News section. ///

A fair debate where one is allowed to voice an opinion without the need for snide remarks, uncalled for labelling, criticisms against what one chooses to enter a debate upon, the wording of the headline, whether one personally considers it news or not, and the freedom also without criticism to use excerpts from any source within reason, so as to get a point over.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

I only hope that you are as articulate when you reach my great age.

[sp1814]

So, am I to understand that when you wrote:

"I have been down this road many times with sp1814, and he will not be happy until i agree with his view on the matter."

you actually meant that I stick to my guns when debating?

Would you also say that it's true that you too are not happy until others agree with you on this matter?

[sp1814]

AOG

I'm almost certain that this:

"I only hope that you are as articulate when you reach my great age."

Is you being self-congratulatory. However, I am going to read it thus:

"I only hope that you are (still) as articulate when you reach my great age."

Now...it's time to prep the Sunday joint and prove to my visiting mother that my roast potatoes are superior to hers in every possible way.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Now...it's time to prep the Sunday joint and prove to my visiting mother that my roast potatoes are superior to hers in every possible
way. ///

Am I correct in stating that since your use of the word 'Prep' is a shortening of the word 'prepare' it should be followed by a period (or full stop)?

[sp1814]

AOG

"Am I correct in stating that since your use of the word 'Prep' is a shortening of the word 'prepare' it should be followed by a period (or full stop)?"

Yes.

Think of this as an early (or possibly late) birthday gift.

[FredPuli43]

And 'prep' is being used as a verb. Therefore it does not take a full stop, the indicator that a noun is being abbreviated.