Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

I should have thought about it before writing about the Physics teacher, it was rather stupid on my part. Perhaps, I ought to also think before writing down my problems, especially ones that have nothing to do with the money situation, far too much time alone.

As for independent schools closing, there was one not far from here that closed very suddenly a few years ago, an absolute nightmare for all concerned I should imagine. Now it is a "retirement village" and they are trying to sell these "luxury retirement apartments" for around £250,000. Now, if this was London I'm sure they'd find buyers but here, hmmm unlikely. :rotfl:

HBS: Yes, that is the case at the moment with regards to Mrs. K. and you make a good point regarding the Physics teacher.

The_fog_has_lifted

As you know from my previous thread I have 6 children, they go to a catholic funded school, its not a state school as such, its funded by the catholic church and has only 90 pupils in total. The rules are very strict (rigid uniform policy/ behaviour policy).
My eldest (almost 10 yrs old) is on the gifted and talented register for maths and English language and represents the school for netball, athletics and cross country, my second daughter is a school councellor and rapidly rising to top of her class, she also attends creative writing classes there as she is showing talent in this area, my son is also a high achieving boy that excels in sport and drama. My youngest 3 are not at school, but at their state nursery both my daughter (age 4) and my son (age 2.5) have handwriting that is more advance than their peers, their speech and language is above average and they are polite and respectable children.
This could be the education settings or it could be due to parenting ( I spend a lot of time with them drawing and writing and reading lots of books). My eldest daughter is preparing for her 11+ and we have recently been told from her mock paper that she will have no problems having her pick of the local grammar schools.
My point is that its not the school that makes the child, its you as your sons parent. If you spend lots of time with him guiding himand encouraging him to succeed in life he will achieve what he wants no matter what school he attends.
Though if I had the opportunity to send my children to a private school I would in a heart beat.
foggy.

cazmanian_minx

AlexLK wrote: »

All I want is for my boy to be happy, I know that is a rather cliched thing to say but as somebody who has been very miserable for most of my life, providing the very best for my son to not become like me is very important.

Then please, please, please, let him have some input in where he goes to school. I'm speaking as someone who was sent to the same private school her mother went to and was made to stay there from 7 to 18 simply because mum had had such a brilliant time there 36 years earlier that she simply couldn't believe that I could be miserable there. The school was top 10 in the country for results at the time, there was a Jordanian princess in the year above me, the competition for places was huge - and I really, really didn't like it. The only good thing was the music and I could easily have done that as an extra-curricular activity had I gone to a state school - I'd have had more time to practice as well, because I wouldn't have been in classes of some sort from 8.20am to 6.45pm plus Saturday mornings.

I'm not sure what decision you've made about pre-prep, but I knew at 7 that I was not going to be happy in that school - please listen to Little K if he voices an opinion on the subject, after all, he's the one who's going to have to go there every day.

Now, onto more important matters - I currently use my grandfather's Parker 51 every day and love it. If I want to buy myself a decent fountain pen as a Debt Free Dance present, what's going to feel similar in my hand?

RainbowBridgeReturns

Hi, there is still Physics taught in the school, but the number of teachers has been cut, and the remaining teachers are all working to the maximum number of hours that they are allowed to.

DS school has lost 13 teachers (Actually they are called 'surplus to requirements' because I believe under the McCrone agreement teacher's can't be made redundant in Scotland!) in two years, due to massive budget mismanagement from a previous administration (Headmasters words).

This is at a time when DS is half way through a new examination system which is being introduced under the 'Curriculum for Excellence', and his year's timetable can't be supported in various places, where numbers are low, one is Physics.

Fortunately, after seeing the Headmaster, it turns out he is a Physics teacher originally and is going to personally supervise DS, through independent study and linking in to assessments to ensure DS can get his National 5 and then higher Physics exam.

I have found the state system to be amazing in places, I have just had to search for them like hidden treasure, and fight my corner where necessary, and on an MSE note, I have never paid a penny!

It's been very interesting reading the various experiences. Thanks x.

AlexLK

The_fog_has_lifted wrote: »

As you know from my previous thread I have 6 children, they go to a catholic funded school, its not a state school as such, its funded by the catholic church and has only 90 pupils in total. The rules are very strict (rigid uniform policy/ behaviour policy).
My eldest (almost 10 yrs old) is on the gifted and talented register for maths and English language and represents the school for netball, athletics and cross country, my second daughter is a school councellor and rapidly rising to top of her class, she also attends creative writing classes there as she is showing talent in this area, my son is also a high achieving boy that excels in sport and drama. My youngest 3 are not at school, but at their state nursery both my daughter (age 4) and my son (age 2.5) have handwriting that is more advance than their peers, their speech and language is above average and they are polite and respectable children.
This could be the education settings or it could be due to parenting ( I spend a lot of time with them drawing and writing and reading lots of books). My eldest daughter is preparing for her 11+ and we have recently been told from her mock paper that she will have no problems having her pick of the local grammar schools.
My point is that its not the school that makes the child, its you as your sons parent. If you spend lots of time with him guiding himand encouraging him to succeed in life he will achieve what he wants no matter what school he attends.
Though if I had the opportunity to send my children to a private school I would in a heart beat.
foggy.

Hi Foggy,

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for my churlish behaviour when I responded to your thread, certain things I said were uncalled for and out of order. Secondly, thank you for your response and insight.

I spend a lot of time with my son doing activities that could be called educational. Unfortunately, I cannot see how that could be enough, besides I very much doubt he'll wish to listen to me when he begins to get older.

cazmanian_minx wrote: »

Then please, please, please, let him have some input in where he goes to school. I'm speaking as someone who was sent to the same private school her mother went to and was made to stay there from 7 to 18 simply because mum had had such a brilliant time there 36 years earlier that she simply couldn't believe that I could be miserable there. The school was top 10 in the country for results at the time, there was a Jordanian princess in the year above me, the competition for places was huge - and I really, really didn't like it. The only good thing was the music and I could easily have done that as an extra-curricular activity had I gone to a state school - I'd have had more time to practice as well, because I wouldn't have been in classes of some sort from 8.20am to 6.45pm plus Saturday mornings.

I'm not sure what decision you've made about pre-prep, but I knew at 7 that I was not going to be happy in that school - please listen to Little K if he voices an opinion on the subject, after all, he's the one who's going to have to go there every day.

Now, onto more important matters - I currently use my grandfather's Parker 51 every day and love it. If I want to buy myself a decent fountain pen as a Debt Free Dance present, what's going to feel similar in my hand?

I would not force him to be anywhere if he did not like it (and had a valid reason for not liking the school we chose). I worry he won't fit in anywhere, though I had the same concerns about nursery only for him to fit in very well and be popular.

My school had a similar timetable, these days I'd be exhausted but back then I thrived on it. Sad really to think how much of my parents' money was wasted on an education I seldom use.

Now, onto more pressing matters, I'm not convinced anything is going to feel quite the same as a Parker 51, especially one with such a connection. Mind, I'm a bit of an old romantic when it comes to quite a few of the things I collect (pens no exception). However, depending on your budget there are some fantastic modern pens out there. The Lamy 2000 is widely recognised as the Parker 51's closest successor, so perhaps that would be a good starting point? Alternatively, I rather like Pelikan's offerings though they are of more a traditional design. Perhaps, something like this http://www.pelikanpens.co.uk/acatalog/Pelikan_Souveran_M400.html may be worth considering. Please be aware some of the "special" and "limited" designs are truly garish though.

RainbowBridgeReturns wrote: »

Hi, there is still Physics taught in the school, but the number of teachers has been cut, and the remaining teachers are all working to the maximum number of hours that they are allowed to.

DS school has lost 13 teachers (Actually they are called 'surplus to requirements' because I believe under the McCrone agreement teacher's can't be made redundant in Scotland!) in two years, due to massive budget mismanagement from a previous administration (Headmasters words).

This is at a time when DS is half way through a new examination system which is being introduced under the 'Curriculum for Excellence', and his year's timetable can't be supported in various places, where numbers are low, one is Physics.

Fortunately, after seeing the Headmaster, it turns out he is a Physics teacher originally and is going to personally supervise DS, through independent study and linking in to assessments to ensure DS can get his National 5 and then higher Physics exam.

I have found the state system to be amazing in places, I have just had to search for them like hidden treasure, and fight my corner where necessary, and on an MSE note, I have never paid a penny!

It's been very interesting reading the various experiences. Thanks x.

Rainbow: Sorry for my previous outburst.

The situation at your son's school sounds rather difficult. I was not aware that this kind of thing went on in state schools as I presumed they all had a similar budget and if all went wrong would be bailed out by the government. Still, the Headmaster sounds like he's committed to doing the right thing.

AlexLK

Saturday 12th April, 2014.

Dear Diary,

These past few weeks have not been easy for me and I have to admit there are times I use writing on here as somewhat of a sounding board. From here on in I will endeavour to think before posting things that only make me end up looking like a prize ****. Yes, some things I have put on here as a kind of knee-jerk reaction make me cringe too, others make me wonder if I am my own biggest problem.

Money wise, Mrs. K. and I have manged a no spend day. Following the advice of someone on here quite a few weeks ago, we went to a few places in the local area that neither of us had visited. Just to take this whole MSE idea a bit further, we even took a picnic along so not even had lunch at a cafe. Anyhow, all three of us had a great time and thank you for the suggestion.

Summary:
Friday:
-£50.00 Diesel.
-£15.00 Groceries.
Saturday:
-£0.00 No Spend Day (for both of us).

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

The_fog_has_lifted

AlexLK wrote: »

Hi Foggy,

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for my churlish behaviour when I responded to your thread, certain things I said were uncalled for and out of order. Secondly, thank you for your response and insight.

I spend a lot of time with my son doing activities that could be called educational. Unfortunately, I cannot see how that could be enough, besides I very much doubt he'll wish to listen to me when he begins to get older.



I would not force him to be anywhere if he did not like it (and had a valid reason for not liking the school we chose). I worry he won't fit in anywhere, though I had the same concerns about nursery only for him to fit in very well and be popular.

.

no probs, we all have down days. If we were all perfect we would be Jesus ;)
You have to do what u feel is right for your son, ultimately we can only give them the best we can and guide them to do with that the best that they can.
You will know what to do when the time comes, its very easy for people to blindly give you advice on the internet, but its your life and your family. without knowing you personally none of us know what its like for you in the situation with your wife/ inlaws/ your own parents and how these factors influence what you want for your son.
Im sure your wife will come around to the idea once she sees how happy your son is there.
foggy

cazmanian_minx

Well done on the NSD and thank you for the pen advice - I'll try both when I'm next in civilisation I may just stick with what I know and look for another vintage Parker though.

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

I have to admit there are times I use writing on here as somewhat of a sounding board. From here on in I will endeavour to think before posting things that only make me end up looking like a prize ****. Yes, some things I have put on here as a kind of knee-jerk reaction make me cringe too, others make me wonder if I am my own biggest problem.

When I read things like this Alex, I realise just how much you've changed. Don't worry about using the thread as a sounding board I think that's commonplace and it's so much easier to sound off to virtual friends than RL. Plus you get to 'meet' people from all different backgrounds that you'd never come up against in RL so you have many perspectives. For example, I found your comment about school budgets and teacher redundancies amazingly naïve but then I realised that it's because I'm steeped in that world and you're not. It's the same with all the state/private discussions. I think what people feel strongly about is your stubbornly blinkered view of state schools based on little or no experience. That and the fact you can't afford it (yet;)).


My main reason for posting today is to tell you off for the comment about not 'using' your education. I take that to mean that you don't have a job that demands the qualifications you gained. I could argue with you for months about whether the purpose of education is simply utilitarian or to turn out rounded people we are with a thirst for learning. But I won't, well not today.:)

AlexLK

Foggy: Thank you. Yes, we need to work out what is "right" and perhaps go and see a few places at some point.

cazmanian_minx: Thank you. Do try a few and see what suits you, I presume this is a pen to use everyday? Just seen where you live, after the "civilisation" comment and must say I am somewhat envious.

maman: Thanks.

Try telling my parents that :rotfl:, if I had a pound for each time one of them has mentioned the amount of money they wasted on my schooling I'd be a very rich man. Fortunately, I was not pushed down the route of having to study for a vocational degree as they didn't agree with university being all about gaining a job but I am an awful disappointment. Now, they see their grandson as somewhat a second chance.