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05-09-2006, 11:13 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Deepest Dorset
Posts: 709
| | | Ban the word Minibea**S
 I cannot even bring myself to type it!!!
Why oh Why do they/you(?) use it, as a word it doesn't exist, it has no logical meaning, look it up in the dictionary!!!!!!!!!!Mini and beast.
we dont teach children to spell incorrectly and incorrect mathematics so WHY do we teach ecology and natural history so badly to children and then expect them to relearn it all in biology/science gcse in later schooling, no wonder thay are put off!!
I am very serious about this, I discuss this with all my teachers and the more experienced (shall we say) agree. i will get flamed for this next statement, but i stand by it! part of the problem is there are a lack of science graduates in teaching and in particular teaching ages 5-11. The majority are arts/english also a shortage of male role models. I have yet to have visited or taught a group that has more than 1 male (if any) and doesnt contain a squeamish teacher. How can you hold the childrens' attention when there is a squealing member of staff in close proximity!!!!
There is a school of teaching that has come from the States   which Disneyfies(C) everything, children dont understand why insects have 6 legs when 'bugslife' or 'ants' only have 4 'ITS A MOVIE !!' and has created a whole new nomenclature for bugs, all invertes are bugs to them which has been making its way into our schooling it's called 'mothership earth' or some other such claptrap.
I have encountered this on a number of occassions and it is truely toe curling. its is all dumbed down and becomes very very cuddly, well the truth is, it's not like that out there, everything is part of a food chain and children need to understand how the planet operates. A result of this is teachers questioning why i am explaining to children the correct terminology, names etc WT*!!! Please please, get it right from the start 2+2 isn't 5 until you get to keystage3, then re-educate them to 2+2=4!! So why do it with ecology?
A heart felt plea. Don't dumb down to the children, they do understand. 'If you're gonna do it, do it right'
Thank you.  |
05-09-2006, 12:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,373
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Calm....
I've never used the term.
I get my daughter (only a toddler) to hold the worms and centipedes when she's helping me in the garden. They other kids all say "Yuk" and run away, they're so detached from nature, that makes me sick. In my opinion it's the insects and things that help make the world go round and people shouldnt be disgusted by them. Took the sprog to a farm yesterday and a chicken had escaped and was getting caught up in the wire trying to get to the other chickens. Their stupid mother was saying, "don't touch it, it might peck you" so before it injured itself I went and picked it up. I'm sure they'll happily munch on their McNuggets though. Some kids I used to look after were terrified of spiders because their mother was hysterical about them, I soon had them picking them up and we always gave the spiders names and said hello to them! |
05-09-2006, 02:57 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoples Democratic Republic of South Cheshire
Posts: 1,248
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Although outside scope of this string a term I detest is people saying "Train" Station nstead of Railway Station, I always think that this is something that a two three year old child would say. so much of the "modern" grammar to me is nothing more than baby talk.
Another term used out of context is that we have courses (even natural history courses) that are called "workshops", to me a "workshop" is something on the scale of the old railway works at Crewe or Swindon. Why can't we just call these courses them training sessions or courses?
Regarding the detachment from nature, I think mine and others comments yesterday about blackberries sums it up. |
05-09-2006, 03:29 PM
|  | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Well it seems these days teachers are often expected to cover a general area of subjects and not just specialize in one. Or if they do specialize, they are required to cover other classes and areas too. Maybe as has been said, there's not enough from the sciences coming through.
I don’t think the statement about not enough men involved is particularly controversial. It would be nice if there were an equal amount of both sexes teaching in schools, but as there isn’t, it just becomes a fact.
As far as the squeamish ones go, fair enough if they are meant to teach biology or similar. But as I said, many are required to cover other subjects.
You could always guarantee a ‘suitable’ candidate for ‘squeamish’ subjects by a simple test on the initial post interview or shortlist:
Just line all the candidates up, open the window, chuck a bucket of maggots or spiders in the air, and the one who jumps out the window last, gets the job!  |
05-09-2006, 07:23 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hounslow
Posts: 13
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Mr Mag00 There is a school of teaching that has come from the States which Disneyfies(C) everything, children dont understand why insects have 6 legs when 'bugslife' or 'ants' only have 4 'ITS A MOVIE !!' and has created a whole new nomenclature for bugs, all invertes are bugs to them which has been making its way into our schooling it's called 'mothership earth' or some other such claptrap. |
Excuse me I am off to get my axe.
Nothing gets my goat more than genericanisation of our culture, except genericanisation leading to ignorance in our people. |
05-09-2006, 07:41 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
I'm sorry but I do not understand the word 'genericanisation'. I cannot find it in my dictionary and even Google failed to recognise it. Please explain what it is supposed to mean.
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05-09-2006, 07:50 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,720
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
I think it is a conjunction of americanisation and generalisation 
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05-09-2006, 08:55 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
What word is Mr Magoo saying please? It is incomplete and therefor I cannot read it.
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05-09-2006, 08:59 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,373
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
MINIBEASTS i believe!!!
Last edited by Tinkerbell; 06-09-2006 at 04:15 PM.
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05-09-2006, 09:06 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Oh. I haven't heard of that. I wouldn't say it iether. I have heard of beasties, whith which can not find a problem
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05-09-2006, 09:48 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 409
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Mr Magoo, perhaps you can take some comfort from the fact that I have never heard of it.
By the way, you are not the first to blame Disney for creating undue emotiveness about animals. Try this:
The Hunting Gene by Robin Page
Pub by Bird's Farm Books, Barton, Cams CB3 7AG
Distributed by Merlin Unwin Books
ISBN 0 905232 16 X |
05-09-2006, 10:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,492
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
In other words a word that does not exist. Therefore how can one determine what it means? I'm fraid that I cannot understand viper's message. Perhaps s/he would like to put it into standard english.
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A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
W.H.Davies |
06-09-2006, 02:25 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
So what do you call your talks, Mr Magoo? "A look at butterflies and moths and spiders and wasps and beetles and worms and centipedes and earwigs and grasshoppers and dragonflies and waterfleas etc etc". I think 'minibeast' is an immensely convenient term to cover a huge list of creatures, and as long as you explain that that is what it is - a catchall term to describe a huge variety of creatures, I don't see any problem. And you don't need a dictionary to work out what it means. As well to castigate lepidopterists for using the term 'moth' instead of saying Geometrid or Noctuid or Endromid or Sphingid etc!
henrya
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06-09-2006, 02:29 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 4,986
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
And far better than referring to all invertebrates as "bugs"! Quote: |
Originally Posted by henrya So what do you call your talks, Mr Magoo? "A look at butterflies and moths and spiders and wasps and beetles and worms and centipedes and earwigs and grasshoppers and dragonflies and waterfleas etc etc". I think 'minibeast' is an immensely convenient term to cover a huge list of creatures, and as long as you explain that that is what it is - a catchall term to describe a huge variety of creatures, I don't see any problem. And you don't need a dictionary to work out what it means. henrya | |
06-09-2006, 02:32 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Do you think if we called then something like 'McInsects' or 'McInverts' kids would be more enthusiastic about them
MiniAl  |
06-09-2006, 02:36 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Devon
Posts: 379
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Blimey!! A lot of people taking themselves just a tad too seriously if you ask me.
Our language has always evolved and changed with time as it is doing now and will continue to do so, I don't see the problem. |
06-09-2006, 02:46 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by honeybee MINI BEASTS i believe!!! | How has this slipped un notiuced when insinuations get hammered?
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06-09-2006, 02:48 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 4,700
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Alan Do you think if we called then something like 'McInsects' or 'McInverts' kids would be more enthusiastic about them
MiniAl |
I think all small children are already fascinated by insects and other invertebrates if you catch them before an adult has shown that they are scarey or to be dismissed as unimportant or dirty. |
06-09-2006, 03:01 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: in a world of my own
Posts: 191
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Gill Catton I think all small children are already fascinated by insects and other invertebrates if you catch them before an adult has shown that they are scarey or to be dismissed as unimportant or dirty. |
Absolutely Gill, I think it’s great to see small children handling worms and other small creatures but then I cringe when the parent screams and draws back in horror. They then inadvertently pass their phobia onto the child, I’m sure we’ve all seen it happen.
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06-09-2006, 03:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,373
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Beryl How has this slipped un notiuced when insinuations get hammered? |
I wasn't being rude Beryl, just Mr Magoo seemed rather angry!
I suppose all names are made up in the first place. Latin names are usually more technically descriptive but most of us call a cranefly a daddy long-legs don't we?? |
06-09-2006, 03:53 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
Originally Posted by honeybee I wasn't being rude Beryl, just Mr Magoo seemed rather angry!
I suppose all names are made up in the first place. Latin names are usually more technically descriptive but most of us call a cranefly a daddy long-legs don't we?? | I'm sure you weren't but it does rather seam like there are two sets of rules and I don't think any swear words should really be put in print as I also think anger on a public thread makes it look hostile too
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06-09-2006, 04:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 4,986
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Well, pedants like me call them tipulids *but* many people also give the name (daddy-long-legs) to harvesters (Opiliones) so you can't win! Quote: |
Originally Posted by honeybee I suppose all names are made up in the first place. Latin names are usually more technically descriptive but most of us call a cranefly a daddy long-legs don't we?? | |
06-09-2006, 04:17 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 915
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Quote: |
I don't think any swear words should really be put in print
| Offending word now changed Beryl. I hope this is a satisfactory resolution.
Tink |
06-09-2006, 05:01 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S:mad: :mad:
Thank you.
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06-09-2006, 06:24 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,454
| | | Re: Ban the word Minibea**S
Dumbing down is a term I dislike it is however very apt to describe peoples attitudes
it has to be easy or they will watch TV or scan e-bay what they do not know is not worth money self self self is the name of the game
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