There seems to be a lot of loose thinking tied up in this debate. The public schools are seen as providing a better standard of education compared to the state sector.
How can this be?
In order to raise the standards in state schools we have:
- Ofsted inspections with draconian powers
- We are told we have to work longer hours
- We are told we have to have shorter holidays
- We are subjected to lesson analysis with 3 part lessons, learning styles, skills, knowledge, differentiation, support, audio-visual, interactive etc. etc. all built in.
- We have extensive diagnostic marking
- We have numerous initiatives coming and going in an endless stream
Yet despite all this the state system seemingly languishes.
The public sector has none of this. They are not subject to Ofsted scrutiny, a constant stream of initiatives or the killer diagnostic marking.
The public sector has shorter days and shorter terms.
We need to get our state system functioning perfectly so I would suggest one of the following:
Either we fund state schools to the same level as public schools so that they can provide the same small class sizes, excellent staffing and facilities;
Or we abolish public schools so that all those bright middle-class kids come into the state sector and raise the standards there and their parents use all their punch to gain that extra funding;
Or we bring in the same working condition for state schools as public schools – shorter days, shorter terms, no Ofsted inspections, no stream of initiatives etc. After all if it apparently works for the public sector why shouldn’t everyone’s kids get the benefit of it?
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
If children in the State schools have to do all this crap because it is good for them why don’t they make the private schools do the same crap?
Many years ago I worked in Hurstpierpoint private college helping to run the most excellent workshops they then had. In those days it was a boys only college and they were all borders.
The rich will always be at liberty to run their own education establishments and they will be a
part of the old school tie network we see today in Eaton . It is the power of wealth to maintain itself and make sure the government maintains its privilege As well.
It was a sad place for those young lads with no girls and only a small country village nearby. Some felt abandoned by their parents who conceitedly declared they were giving their offspring the best chance in life.
The MPs will do anything to prove they are on top of education so they make teachers jump through as many hoops as they can every year to demonstrate to the public what wonderful guys they are. Mr Blair started the obsession with his mantra education, education , education as if it was a cure for all our ills. It has become a rat race to boost earnings ; get well educated and you will earn more money and if you can get into Oxford or Cambridge all the better.
The love of knowledge for its own sake is dying and the new idea is knowledge that can get me to the top.
Kersten – I think a lot of what you say is true. Privilege buys its own way. I just think that if all these initiatives are so good (which I do not believe they are) they should be imposed on everybody. The fact that they are not imposed on the private schools indicates that they are flawed.
I am all in favour of education, education, education – but I’m talking about educating the whole child in a balanced way through creativity and exploration as well as knowledge. What we now have are boring exam factories. Far from my vision.
The education of the poor was thought to be unnecessary until quite recently , such refinement would in no way prepare them for work but as skilled workers became needed it became obvious that the workers should know what was needed. There are still jobs that do not need reading ability or even speech and the idea that we should teach people useless information was regarded as senseless. Now the pendulum has swung the other way and much academic stuff is taught that will never be used except in a few specialist jobs. The school leaving age has crept up and up without any thought as to whether every child will need such training and the cost to the tax payer is enormous. Education has become big business and a soft touch on government funds in Bristol one head is earning £425,000 pounds per year. Business relies on the government to train workers and complains about standards it even goes as far as expecting government to make up the salaries of low paid workers.
Kertsen – education should be so much more than preparing for work. It should be a joyful, creative, mind expanding process that prepares people for a fulfilling life, to be a good citizen, to tolerate, empathise and take responsibility. It is the tool with which we build a better future.
That sounds very good to us old retired sensible men and women but we are dealing with youth and they are full of rebellion and life. The mind expanding they generally seek is cash in the pocket and plenty of party’s along with pop concerts. How much responsibility do you think the majority of eighteen year olds want?
There has always been contention as to how much pressure should be put upon children , left to their own devices would they learn anything at all?
That is not my experience of young people Kertsen. There were a minority who were not at all interested in education and wanted to be left and earning money. But the majority were very inquisitive, thoughtful and idealistic.
The young are headstrong and want a good time. They’ve got a head full of hormones. But their minds are buzzing too. It is all a question of turning on the stream, pressing the right buttons, respecting them and engaging them. When they get going they are a joy.