A recent article in The Telegraph reported on some rather scathing criticism by Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) of sixth form teachers and of other problems in education that are not being resolved. Sir Michael was speaking before the Social Mobility Committee of the House of Lords, as he placed blame squarely on the shoulders of teachers, the government and businesses.

Every state in this country has a system of measuring student mastery of basic skills. This system is the adoption of state-wide achievement tests which all students must take at various intervals during their academic careers. In some states, students may not pass onto the next grade unless they reach a specific level of proficiency.

A great writer knows how to grab the reader's attention, and then keeps their attention with writing that flows naturally. For some, this seems to be a natural talent. For others, writing in a way that keeps readers engaged is a challenge, and it is something that they must work hard to achieve.

Authors spend a lot of time alone with themselves, their ideas, and their words. They really don’t want others around during these times and usually have a space in their homes that are “closed” to friends and relatives during times of creative production. This banishment never seems to apply to pets, however, and lots of authors claim a spiritual bond with their pets that actually soothes them and allows their creativity to be fueled.