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------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN THIS SHORT BULLETIN: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMS: Are they getting easier? EVENTS: Next Generation and Power Lunch dates ------------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARDS OF TODAY ------------------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT: Do this year's (once again) record pass levels in the UK's national school examinations indicate that teachers and kids are working harder? No, according to former Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, whose ASI report, The Standards of Today, shows that it is just that exams have becom= e easier. Read it at http://www.adamsmith.org/pdf/the-standards-of-today.pdf = . OPINION: Girls are doing better than boys in examinations. Is today's 'laddish, anti-learning culture' to blame? Hardly. In fact, more and more boys are getting the top grades. In 1989, some 29.8% of boys aged 15-16 achieved passes at A*-C grades. By 2001, that figure had risen to 44.8%. If boys have become more 'laddish', it seems to be doing them enormous good! But the real explanation, says ASI's Dr Madsen Pirie, is that examinations, with greater reliance on coursework and other changes, have simply become more girl-friendly. Read his controversial comments on the Adam Smith website at http://www.adamsmith.org/cissues/how-exams-are-fixed.htm . STANDARD ISSUE: A teacher sent us this parable on changing examination standards: 1950s: A lumberjack sells a lorry-load of wood for =A3100. His production costs are 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? 1960s: A lumberjack sells a lorry-load of wood for =A3100. His production costs are =A380. What is his profit? 1970s: A lumberjack exchanges a set W of wood for a set M of money. Show his production costs and profit as subsets C and P of set M. 1980s: A lumberjack sells a lorry-load of wood for =A3100. Her production costs are =A380. Is her profit (a) =A320 (b) =A3120 or (c) =A3220? 1990s: A lumberjack makes =A320 by cutting down beautiful forest trees. Imagine yourself as a squirrel and explain how you feel about this. 2000s: A lumberjack sells a lorry-load of wood for =A3100. His production costs are 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? [This question is, of course, the same as the 1950s question. The differenc= e is that all attempts at an answer receive a pass mark.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS:=20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN BUSINESS AND POLITICS: At a Westminster lunch on FRIDAY 30 AUGUST we will welcome Thomas DeLoach, President of the Business & Industry Political Education Committee of South Carolina. He is instrumental in getting US business involved in the electoral and legislative process and has firm views on its importance. For information and invitations to this important event, contact events@adamsmith.org . NEXT GENERATION MEETINGS: The collective noun for Members of Parliament may well be a 'crock', but our regular mini-lecture and reception series for under-30s movers and shakers features some prominent Tories this season. Fo= r information and invitations, contact tng@adamsmith.org . The dates are: November 5: Charles Hendry MP January 14: Boris Johnson MP December 3: Tim Collins MP March 4: Cheryl Gillan MP POWER LUNCH DATES: More dates have been set for ASI Power Lunches here in Westminster. Among those signed up for the coming season are: September 5: David Arculus, Better Regulation Task Force September 17: Anthony Hilton, City Editor, London Evening Standard September 19: Bill Emmott, Editor, The Economist September 24: David Edmonds, Director-General, OFTEL October 1: Max Clifford, Publicist October 16: John Redwood MP, Former Industry Secretary October 29: Lord Lawson, Former Chancellor of the Exchequer October 31: Dr Ian Gibson MP, Chair, Science & Tech Select Committee November 6: Dr Liam Fox MP, Conservative Health Spokesman Npvember 12: Matt Ridley, Science author November 19: Tony Baldry MP, Tory International Development Spokesman November 21: Barry Sheerman MP, Chair, Commons Education Select Committe= e November 26: John McFall MP, Chair, Commons Treasury Select Committee December 4: Derek Scott, Economic Adviser, 10 Downing Street January 14: Sir Nigel Wicks, Committee on Standards in Public Life January 22: Tom Winsor, Director-General of Rail Regulation Places are limited. For information and invitations, contact the Adam Smith Institute at events@adamsmith.org . ------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEEP A FRIEND INFORMED ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help your friends keep in touch with Adam Smith Institute events and activities. Simply send this as an email, or attach it as a signature: PS: If you don't already get the Adam Smith Institute's e-mail bulletin, yo= u should. Every few weeks, it updates you on the Institute's coming events, publications, and activities. Just click the box on the front page of www.adamsmith.org -- you can unsubscribe at any time. --=20 Dr Eamonn Butler Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BL, UK E-mail info@adamsmith.org - Visit us online at www.adamsmith.org Tel +44 (0)20 7222 4995 - Fax +44 (0)20 7222 7544 To unsubscribe, visit www.adamsmith.org/lists.htm
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