The Education Secretary’s announcement that efforts would be made to encourage Latin in schools has divided opinion. Some people have immediately welcomes this as an important part of raising standards and removing the stigma of Latin as an elitist subject. Others have argued that this is a waste of time, learning a dead language is… Continue reading More on not so obviously useful knowledge
Tag: statistics
Coronavirus and what the data is telling us
This is one of my regular appeals for us to work harder at understanding the Pandemic and to be slower to jump to tribal political responses of either panic or complacency. This week it was announced that the UK now topped the list as the worst hit country for deaths per million. This led to… Continue reading Coronavirus and what the data is telling us
Fighting a pandemic, how have we done so far?
As life begins to return to normal, it is perhaps a good opportunity to look back on the past few months and reflect on how the UK has done so far in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. I say “so far” because we are still not out of the woods yet. The virus is still… Continue reading Fighting a pandemic, how have we done so far?
It is okay to disagree
In the past, I’ve challenged a number of the assumptions that lie behind some of the (in my opinion) wilder accusations thrown at the Government’s handling of Coronavirus strategy. This could make it sound like I believe all is rosy in the garden and that there are no problems. It might also suggest that I’m… Continue reading It is okay to disagree
Compliance
What would you rather have? The choice is between 100% of people being 95% compliant or 80% of people being 100% compliant? It looks like one of those trick questions doesn’t it? I’m meant to go for the better numbers 100% and 95% but it doesn’t take me long to realise that it is better… Continue reading Compliance
Learning the wrong (right) lessons -the importance of curiosity
One of the big problems our society has is that we have suffered the death of curiosity and that stops us from asking good questions especially when presented with data and statistics. I get frustrated when people bring out the old “lies, damned lies and statistics” routine because statistics don’t lie, you do however need… Continue reading Learning the wrong (right) lessons -the importance of curiosity
Learning the Wrong Lessons: Lies damned Lies and Statistics
Every day brings more news about new coronavirus cases and a rising death toll. The figures are put under intense scrutiny. Questions being asked are Is the rate of infection increasing or slowing? Is the figure accurate, does it confuse those who die from an illness with those who die with? Does it include all… Continue reading Learning the Wrong Lessons: Lies damned Lies and Statistics
Faithroots 