Koeketiene
Well-known member
Different take on this here.
It seems there not going after her, but after her father.
There's no tyranny as bad as that of machines or minor officials.
Laura Dekker...........why dont they leave her alone ?
- Thread starter Sandyman
- Start date
Different take on this here.
It seems there not going after her, but after her father.
There's no tyranny as bad as that of machines or minor officials.
Blueboatman
Well-known member
Indeed, in a sense this is but the tyranny of those bureaucrats who feel threatened- How can a teen manage without them? Whatever next. Original thought? That isn't in the books at all, is it?
They're just covering their corporeal ( fat, not corporate) rrses.
They're just covering their corporeal ( fat, not corporate) rrses.
aluijten
New member
My point exactly. Formally the Dutch state has no problem as she's no longer a Dutch resident, however a local pencil-pusher now thinks he/she can have a case against the father.
As the father carries some experience with local authorities in this respect he decided to ignore them. Can't blame him, although I'm sure they haunt them for quite some time.
Personally I'd say to the authorities; pick your battles. You've lost this one and if you are really interested in the well being of Laura, try to create a constructive scenario for her education when (if) she returns. AFAIK Laura was an excellent student and she'll catch up in no-time, if you don't scare her away.
In the meantime worry about the children that do attend school but fail to be educated.
A.
Babylon
Well-known member
Well said.
ffiill
Active member
As I recall the average age of Midshipmen when they joined the RN in Nelsons day was about 10 and there were plenty of 14 year olds who got blown to bits on HMS Hood!
For what its worth since decimilisation a good basic 3 rs type education can easily be had by the age of 11.What comes after that has little to do with basic education rather keeping unemployment figures down for the government.
For what its worth since decimilisation a good basic 3 rs type education can easily be had by the age of 11.What comes after that has little to do with basic education rather keeping unemployment figures down for the government.
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Yes, and all those midshipment had to attend to their studies whilst at sea.....
And as for keeping unemployment figures down.... well isnt that the point of getting a formal education? So that you can be a productive member of society and pay your way... not scrounge off the tax payer in blissfull stupidity?
webcraft
Well-known member
I think you have an overinflated idea of the value of a 'good education' these days. You need a PhD to get a job stacking shelves ffs. Employers are looking for personal references/pals/nepotism or someone radically different these days. Whether Laura Dekker has a handful of 'o' levels or the Dutch equivalent is as nothing compared to the contacts she has made and the experience she has gained. I somehow doubt she is going to end up on the dole.
- W
mountain
Well-known member
Kelpie
Well-known member
What strikes me is that an opportunity has been wasted.
Laura Dekker could have sailed around the world whilst spending a little of her time keeping up with her studies, and would have been an outstanding role model for kids everywhere as a result.
I'm sure things will work out fine for her, of course.
Laura Dekker could have sailed around the world whilst spending a little of her time keeping up with her studies, and would have been an outstanding role model for kids everywhere as a result.
I'm sure things will work out fine for her, of course.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Maybe they take thew view that what she is doing is a daft and pointless exercise that should not be undertaken by a child.
What would be you view if, for example, she had been 8 years old? Just as here in the UK the Dutch state takes a view of the age at which children should be allowed to do things from getting married to driving a car to finishing school to having sex - though the latter is unenforceable.
webcraft
Well-known member
From where do you get your knowledge of the real world webbie ?
From living in it, and from having children. Eldest has an honours degree and finally managed to get a poorly paid job in the Civil Service after several years shelf stacking. Youngest left school with a few 'o' grades and has an extremely well-paid job in the oil industry because I still had some useful contacts
(I note that as usual you had shown no interest in this thread until you saw a chance - no matter how pathetic - to have a pop at me. Of course, you don't even 'do' Scuttlebuitt, not being a sailor - unless it is to follow me here. Extraordinary how you just can't help yourself. Do try to be a little less obvious, there's a good chap)
- W
Nico
Member
They were. I've just finished reading his book (very, very dull, I'm afraid) and he mentions having to do school work. Of course he found it a bit of a chore but it was all arranged with the school and local education authority. Once back from the trip he went back to school.
Sandyman
Well-known member
This is a point of principle. Nothing to do with age. Why is it that you assume that the State
has the right to dictate as to what age anyone can do something. Some are for good reason agreed, as you point out, but since when have we been living in a communist state ?
Like others, you sounds to me like you are one of the sheep that follows the system and does as your told. Would that be right ?
webcraft
Well-known member
It's all part of the nonsense of this place. Most days every second thread is a whinge about imagined (read Daily Mail) HSE bull****, interspersed with rants about too much government and how dare they and how no-one needs any sail training . . . but one teenager gets out of line and they come down on her like a ton of bricks,.
If you remember, it was the same with Jessica Watson.
- W
Koeketiene
Well-known member
webcraft
Well-known member
Maybe we should ask the mods to move the thread to The Bilge
Now there's the best forum idea for a while. Threads could be moved there by popular vote and instead of being banned transgressors could simply be confined to the bilge for a week.
- W
Babylon
Well-known member
No, that would be a disaster - because folks who've been following a thread will have to go The Bilge to continue reading, and thus be exposed to all sorts of worse horrors lurking there.
chanelyacht
Well-known member
I think you'll find the socialist utopia is the one where every person meekly does whatever the state tells them to.
After all, socialism is the system with the record of having to build walls around itself to keep its people in, of having to cart them regularly off to gulags if they start getting difficult, or introducing ever more draconican punishments for stepping out of line.
On whatever level you choose, the left is the one that believes the person serves the state, rather than the other way round.
Seajet
...
" Ask not 'what can my country do for me', ask 'what can I do for my country' "
JF Kennedy, the well known communist hippy ...
chanelyacht
Well-known member
" Ask not 'what can my country do for me', ask 'what can I do for my country' "
JF Kennedy, the well known communist hippy ...
Entirely agree with that, both in thought and practice.
But the country is different from the state...
The country is the people in it - so do things for their, and society's benefit. The state is the apparatus of government - and rarely reflects what the people want.