tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post1879033526532045236..comments2023-09-29T15:14:07.424+02:00Comments on The WOLUWE INDEPENDENT: In defence of the European Schools - An open letter in response to POLITICOKeinarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15205553107276901578noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-89823427474823348392015-09-15T11:52:33.218+02:002015-09-15T11:52:33.218+02:00It gets even better ! The brand-new European Schoo...It gets even better ! The brand-new European School in Strasbourg, which opened last week and has cost the local taxpayers €34 million, will be entirely sponsored by the French state. Strasbourg-based Eurocrats will not pay a penny for the education of their little Buddha’s.Gaiusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-12503945448435708312015-09-10T21:25:08.504+02:002015-09-10T21:25:08.504+02:00The Anonymous Eurocrat sound like the type of pers...The Anonymous Eurocrat sound like the type of person who grab every opportunity to boast to his children, grandchildren even,about having passed the EPSO exams, his main and only achievement in life.<br />But "as more EU Staff Regulation reform was passed, (grand)daddy grew bitter and taciturn."taxpayernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-71406788579058584742015-08-26T14:02:07.359+02:002015-08-26T14:02:07.359+02:00Who would have thought the Eurocrats, always telli...Who would have thought the Eurocrats, always telling people to embrace diversity and to strive towards a union, send their children to an elite school where they are being taught in their own language?Marcelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-45410152782462990152015-08-01T12:29:04.736+02:002015-08-01T12:29:04.736+02:00@ non-Eurocrat Anonymous
Thanks.
On the Politico ...@ non-Eurocrat Anonymous<br /><br />Thanks.<br />On the Politico site, I drew a parallel between the education Eurocrat children receive and the pension their parents (will) get.<br />Prior to the 2014 reform, Eurocrats funded one-third of their pension scheme.<br />Fortunately COREPER used common sense. Now, Eurocrats –at least the newcomers– fund about 50% of their golden pensions.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-10191139391302742902015-07-29T09:50:03.872+02:002015-07-29T09:50:03.872+02:00Mike is right in saying that local taxpayers shoul...Mike is right in saying that local taxpayers should not carry the burden of the bespoken education Eurocrat children get -Eurocrats should.<br />And, yes, this rectification ought to be part of the next EU Staff Regulations reform.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-72198214009893383322015-07-28T21:18:21.159+02:002015-07-28T21:18:21.159+02:00What Mike fails to say is what he (and others) no ...What Mike fails to say is what he (and others) no doubt learned from his exchanges with Eurocrats: he recognises a scrounger when he sees one.Gaiusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-2201905320513090682015-07-28T20:16:53.972+02:002015-07-28T20:16:53.972+02:00@Anonymous
So, "it seems to me that..."...@Anonymous<br /><br />So, "it seems to me that..." Speculating again, aren't we? When will you add something to the discussion, as you ask others to do?<br /><br />Well, to all of us it looks like you are a genuine Eurocrat: someone who, in 5 languages, excels in saying (and doing) nothing.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-2968451076109281962015-07-28T17:15:44.933+02:002015-07-28T17:15:44.933+02:00Just a simple remark concerning the exchanges - it...Just a simple remark concerning the exchanges - it seems to me that Mike has failed and is bitter about it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-55226936030205740582015-07-24T22:22:53.762+02:002015-07-24T22:22:53.762+02:00Unfortunately, this open letter starts from the wr...Unfortunately, this open letter starts from the wrong foot: “The Euroschools rarely attract any press coverage.” Actually, the EU Schools do make the headlines regularly, both in the international (EUObserver, Euractiv) and national press.<br />The authors further add to this that the Politico article on the EU Schools remained “the 2nd most read article on the Politico website, receiving even more views than the coverage of the Greek crisis.” The most popular article on the website, however, covered Verhofstadt’s speech on Greece.<br /><br />The authors of the letter then accuse the Politico journalist of cherry-picking. Yet, the open letter itself only counters a handful of issues raised in the article!<br /><br />The letter does point out the journalist’s failure to get the names of the schools right and stresses that the article treats only the Brussels’ EU Schools.<br /><br />The open letter could do with a bit more accuracy: it swarms with vague sentences (“many students we spoke”, “it can happen that”, “this is sometimes” etc.) Even though the authors met a student Politico interviewed, instead of quoting her to give her the opportunity to correct any misquotation, they content themselves with “it surfaced”.<br /><br />The authors refute that EU Schools have to mimic the education systems of all EU countries.<br />As a matter of fact, the Statute of EU Schools provides that holders of the European Baccalaureate shall:<br />- enjoy, in the member state of which they are nationals, all the benefits attaching to the possession of the diploma or certificate awarded at the end of secondary school education in that country;<br />- be entitled to seek admission to any university in the territory of any member state on the same terms as nationals of that member state with equivalent qualifications.<br />So, even though the authors and many students think otherwise, the EU Schools have to mimic –up to a certain point– the education systems of the EU countries. After all, the European Baccalaureate is not an International Baccalaureate.<br /><br />The open letter is right in correcting that the school buildings are not “old and neglected”. The Politico article reads like a plea for local taxpayers to fund the EU Schools even more than they are already doing. Perhaps the EU officials who administrate the EU Schools ordered the piece?<br /> <br />Finally, the authors accuse the Politico journalist of using “blanket statements” yet at the same time use such statements themselves. What to think about this one: “Reforming other aspects of the system […]fails to resolve the ultimate problem in Brussels.” Really? <br />EU Staff Regulations reform, for instance, would resolve the problem. Instantaneoulsy! To use the authors’ idiom: if there is a white elephant in the room, it is this reform.<br /> <br />It is a real pity that the letter finishes in a manner that reads a bit clichéd and forced. Whereas the Politico article at least arguments why the crisis in the EU Schools reflects the EU’s crisis, the open letter barely explains why their virtues would reflect the EU’s virtues.<br />Reading the last comments on this website, one could even further generalise: the EU Schools reflect the EU per se –a caste system with maharajas.<br /><br />Food for thought. What kind of school turns Eurocrat children into even more “third culture kids”: a European ghetto School or a local school where Eurocrat children study along children of natives as well as immigrants, where they have to live in mutual respect with children who have a different religion and where they witness the problems of children who come from far less privileged a background? Which of both would better produce young adults that are “raised to see beyond borders”?<br /> <br />All in all, the open letter complements well the Politico article. Its authors do a good job in pointing out that certain issues only apply to the Brussels schools. This article certainly is one of the better blogs around!Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-33913309485759847722015-07-24T08:28:32.344+02:002015-07-24T08:28:32.344+02:00Well I was aparently there long before you, had Cl...Well I was aparently there long before you, had Claude Greck as headmaster. Worst ever, he turned the school into a learning factory without any atmosphere, notorious for bad relations with Parents Association, Nbxlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265375301306953721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-12251072731474783842015-07-23T18:05:12.519+02:002015-07-23T18:05:12.519+02:00"The subtle superiority of classmates who wou..."The subtle superiority of classmates who would boast about the rank of their dada/mum at the Commission" Those always got on my nerves as well (and still do), but they're a minority. I can understand why people would choose not to send their kids there though, but the reasons aren't about the quality of the education. The teachers are the best people around. Some students are awful, some are wonderful. The administration is a bit of a nightmare even if there are very nice people around (Mr Maes, Mrs Svenson)<br />Compared to my home country, the level of maths and languages was far superior, sciences lower. A significant difference is that in my home country you can drop certain subjects after a while, whereas in the European Schools it would be unthinkable to not have maths until the very end. I honestly think we're better than average at knowing things outside of our fieldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-54043769982546139822015-07-23T17:08:21.965+02:002015-07-23T17:08:21.965+02:00@ Anonymous: me neither, it was a snobbish, preten...@ Anonymous: me neither, it was a snobbish, pretentious place in Brussels. No school magazine, student body that did not perform, atmosphere of a factory with teachers who had all power. I know of low-ranking EU-officials (secretaries, couriers) who would not even think of sending their children to this elitist apartheid place. The subtle superiority of classmates who would boast about the rank of their dada/mum at the Commission. Languages are ok, but level of maths and sciences was below level compared to my home country. Had to work hard at university to catch up.Nbxlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265375301306953721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-10004635136675506422015-07-23T17:03:50.329+02:002015-07-23T17:03:50.329+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nbxlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265375301306953721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-80155159691296061552015-07-23T14:47:37.725+02:002015-07-23T14:47:37.725+02:00I didn't enjoy my high school years in a Europ...I didn't enjoy my high school years in a European School at all, but the education was great. I only had two subjects in my native language, which did not constitute a problem either. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-52413791203608659972015-07-21T11:18:42.191+02:002015-07-21T11:18:42.191+02:003d Person isn't half as odd as 1st Plural (i.e...3d Person isn't half as odd as 1st Plural (i.e. anonymi) Perhaps this is Eurocrat-style majestic plural. By the way, tell me: does it take false noses, moustaches and glasses to be anonymous?<br /><br />Anyway, not a single comment of yours adds anything to above article. Now, that takes some doing!Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-65329397222398596092015-07-21T00:01:36.024+02:002015-07-21T00:01:36.024+02:00Mike/mike/Magic Mike/magical thinking mike? I'...Mike/mike/Magic Mike/magical thinking mike? I'm all confused now! Not even an imaginative trolling endeavour. Varying the capitalisation and referring to yourself in the 3rd person is more than rather odd. It's a bit like wearing a false nose, moustache and glasses and hoping that no one will recognise you. The evidence you demand is provided above by the alumni in their open letter, if you could be bothered to read it. Refute the counter-arguments outlined above with some facts if you can. Otherwise, all I can hear is the distant drumming of tantrum-engaged feet stomping their frustrations across an uncaring internet. Comment is free but facts should be sacred, even for the likes of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-39076967388764330482015-07-20T22:59:18.420+02:002015-07-20T22:59:18.420+02:00@Anonymi, since there seem to be more than one
Isn...@Anonymi, since there seem to be more than one<br />Isn't it rather odd to criticise someone's lack of evidence and then fail to provide any himself?<br />Instead, Anonymous elaborates a paragraph on someone's (presumed) nature, fortune and experience. How low can you go?<br />Actually, apart from ranting Eurocrats (incl. Anonymous, by the way), the commentators of the Politico article provide plenty of evidence, sequuntur and insight, including Mike.<br />And, yes, if Mike would have studied at the European School, he sure would not have the academic career he now has. He would be an European School graduate with a poor academic record, one of many.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-42680222830766869342015-07-20T21:20:23.208+02:002015-07-20T21:20:23.208+02:00It's a real pity that Mike's arguments are...It's a real pity that Mike's arguments are non-sequitur and lack any supporting evidence, unlike the well written rational response above. When reading such comments, both on this thread and the other, one can sense a certain bitterness which permeates his bones and soul. He's not a happy fellow. One may surmise that he's been knocked back at some point by the institutions and perhaps even flunked the concours; alternatively, he may very well be a member of UKIP such is his bitter tone. The persistent and repetitious nature of his 'critique' may even indicate that he's a shill paid by the comment. There's intellectual cowardice a go-go when the substance of his points are baseless ad hominem attacks on 'tax dodgers'. He'd receive no more than 1.2 if he were graded on the marking criteria of the European Schools. Indeed, the majority of this mark would come from the fact that he's written his name by the comments; however, we only have half of it so perhaps 0.6 would be more appropriate. His last comment has the tone of a playground boast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-7965983472403062092015-07-20T19:35:22.471+02:002015-07-20T19:35:22.471+02:00@Anonymous
Because I, and other readers, did at fu...@Anonymous<br />Because I, and other readers, did at full length -far more comprehensive than above article and the Politico article (combined).mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-84851990631734113792015-07-20T16:24:24.922+02:002015-07-20T16:24:24.922+02:00Dear Mike, if you are not able to present a well s...Dear Mike, if you are not able to present a well structured and informed comment, why bother?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457698585523817721.post-10678176159305494112015-07-20T11:58:30.762+02:002015-07-20T11:58:30.762+02:00Bottom-line, the Politico article is a plea for lo...Bottom-line, the Politico article is a plea for local taxpayers to fund a bit more the offspring of tax-dodging Eurocrats.<br />Typical: those who receive most (tax money), contribute the least.mikenoreply@blogger.com