Should We Run Our Country This Way ?

[modeller]

One thing I've noticed about this lot of politicians ,very few if any have had a real job outside politics.
I fear that is also true in teaching , it's a case of school -university - back to school.
Should you , can you , run a country or teach others about it ,from such a narrow backgrounds.?
For many jobs it probably doesn't matter specialising so early in life but for those two professions the wider ones experience of life the better.

[Zeuhl]

Both professions (indeed any job in the Public Sector) can be hampered by a lack of awareness of wealth creation and commercial realities.

It is a 'I have a budget to spend' mentality.

Hardly surprising that people charged only with the spending of budgets can lack appreciation of the commercial activity that generates them.

[Gromit]

I see no problem with teachers going straight into the profession from university. But our county's leaders should have a broader range of experience. Career politicians are an unwelcome development.

[Old_Jim]

It could be worse. We could have teachers running the country.

You'll find that most MPs had other jobs before they entered politics. Many of them are lawyers and accountants. You need a fair chunk of money behind you to get on the ladder.

[stewey]

Those who can, do; those who can't, either teach or politic.

[whiskeryron]

// I dont know OJ. Money and priviledge does not always spawn brains. //

How SO right you are.

[emmie]

i think you make a good point, and it's not just these lot, career politicians are nothing new mind you.

[DaisyNonna]

Thanks Stewey
I learned before I left school that I could teach. Is teaching not doing?

[modeller]

I was a teacher for 20 years and I found young teachers especially in the secondary sector almost invariably had discipline problems .
Similarly when dealing with social and work related issues either in the present or in history it can be difficult to put it over if you are only a few years older than your pupils.
There can also be problems with parents who not unnaturally resent being told adverse remarks about their children, from a young single teacher.
'' What do they know about about bringing up kids ? " Is a comment I have heard many times. And of course in that respect they are right . !

I don't know the answer to these problems . There have always been problems retaining young teachers especially in difficult areas.

One solution would be to only accept teachers over a certain age but that would result in a great shortage .

[Peter Pedant]

Lord Salisbury - prime minister 1900 - didnt have a day job did he ?

[Peter Pedant]

.
Salmond is in a similar position innit ?
He has no idea how to run an economy,

and thinks that platitudes and 'Och, game on ! " will do the job.

[modeller]

With regards to politicians and our front benches I think their lack of real world experience is evident on a daily basis. It's hardly surprising PM question time is a bit of a farce.

[whiskeryron]

I think that it is time all prospective politicians should have to spend time amongst the rank & file electors before even thinking about taking up a career in politics to at least give them some idea of how the average man & woman have to exist because believe me none of them have a clue.

[youngmafbog]

I had a private education and many of the teachers had had jobs before hand, many from the services but alos from business, for instance tach drawing teacher had worked for BAC for years. The teachers with some sort of background certainly commanded more respect, they also were trusted more by pupils for more personal matters as they had real life experience. They also got some excellent grades as they were able to teach 'tricks of the trade'

But in the real world, how can we expect all teachers or politicians to have spent 20 years at work first?

[AB Editor]

Hi Modeller. Maybe it's time for you to step up to public office?

[LazyGun]

This very much depends on what you define as a real job. To some extent I agree with your contention, Modeller, in that I feel we would all benefit were our MPs less Westminster orientated and have more experience in the real world; I have thought for instance, that we should consider a minimum age restriction on MPs so we at least get MPs who might have some life experience like raising a family and so on.

But I do not think this "very few if any" comment of yours is quite right. A recent study looked at the backgrounds of the 650 MPs and concluded that only 90 had no discernible work experience outside of politics.

And age does not automatically confer respect. As a kid, I still remember taking the mickey out of some of our older teachers far more than the younger ones. What garners respect is the ability to communicate an enthusiasm for the subject being taught, and that is a quality irrespective of age.

[jomifl]

I remember having a conversation with the ofsted inspector wife of a work colleague and having a little moan about the difficuly of managing our companies resources. Her tart reply was that it isn't difficult to manage a budget. I realized then that there is a huge disconnect between people who are given a pot of money to spend and those who have to risk their resources to earn money (if they can)before they even have a pot of money to spend.
Some time spent in the real world might sharpen up the thinking of some politicos and academics. They might understand where money comes from..

[modeller]

Hi Ed. I'm too much of a Maverick ! I've had several careers , dabbled in politics and almost invariably get asked to go on the committee of various clubs I belong to but I find the straight jacket of conformity is not to my liking . It doesn't make life easy but it's far more interesting.

[modeller]

LG It is of course difficult to define a real job and of course some MPs have
so called ' outside interests' . There is also the problem of all those inappropriate Micky Mouse degrees churned out by our Universities which are no good in industry but look good on paper when going into politics.

Could you give me the link for //only 90 had no discernible work experience outside of politics. // Looking at the ages of so many of them that doesn't seem likely.
My ( maybe biased ) impression is that many MPs are only in politics because they lack the ability to get a 'proper job '.
I would hate being a MP and having to toe the party line but for 'some /many ' as long as they get their pay cheque ( and the social connections it makes ) maybe that's enough. It was certainly the case for certain members of my family , in local politics.