"Introduce GCSEs in Lying"

"...Maintaining a lie in the face of contradictory evidence..."  

(the audience roars with laughter)

I do enjoy listening to the radio; household favourites include, 'Counterpoint', 'The Now Show', 'A Guide to Farmland Birds', 'A Guide to Mountain and Moorland Birds, 'From our own correspondent', 'Mark Thomas: The Manifesto', 'Money Box Live', 'More or Less', and 'The News Quiz'.  In the past I have enjoyed 'Law in Action', 'Material World', 'Thinking Allowed' and 'Mark Steel's in (Town)'.  There are lots of programmes that I've missed and need to catch up with; 'The Public Philosopher' for example.  

Well last night we were listening to 'Mark Thomas: The Manifesto' and I was stunned by a very thought provoking piece, entitled, 'Introduce GCSEs in Lying'.  Now I thought that it was only us 'oldies' who developed a more jaded view of life as we aged but it appears that what adults are perceived as doing - and perceived as getting away with doing - is having an impact the next generation.

A very literate teenager uses the power of humour to illuminate adult shortcomings; suggesting that 'Lying' be added to the National Curriculum core subjects with the purpose of, 'furnishing young people with the skills and expertise they will need in the workplace'.  The list of professions she cites as using this 'skill' is eye opening, and there was a great deal of knowing laughter around the points that were made re how the subject could be taught; particularly around the line that I have quoted above.

If you have not already listened in then I would recommend you hit the link...