The Exam Machine
As our schools continue down the path to achieve factory status and our children become units to be slotted in the machine I wonder how this will meet the needs of the modern world.
Each school will become a self-contained business, worshipping on the altar of flawed international PISA tables.
The religious fundamentalists and big business are keen to get in on the academy act. They do not have to employ qualified teachers. That’s fine when all you are doing is getting the poor mites to recite medieval verse or learn how to stack a shelf; it cuts running costs.
The government loves this academy business. They can farm out a lot of the costs to those people, whoever they are, who are dying to get their hands on our children. As a bonus they can zoom up the PISA tables, break the teacher’s pay and conditions, wrest control of schools away from commie county halls and parents, and appeal to nostalgia where previous generations were terrorised and fed boring drivel to regurgitate.
It’s a race back to the fifties with knowledge based exams. Because what we need now are kids who can recite facts. I know all facts and knowledge are readily available at the push of a phone key but regurgitating them is fun. We don’t really need any of those namby pamby social skills, teamwork, qualities, creativity, lateral thinking or all those useless subjects like music, art, ICT, history, drama or geography. Double doses of Maths and English are all that’s required.
We can employ ex-soldiers to control the bored lovelies as they progress through the tedium.
Besides – they are only state school kids. Anyone with anything about them pays so that they don’t have to kow-tow to Ofsted or follow all this rubbish. The Public School kids are the ones that really count.
The Exam Machine
Putting my kid through the exam machine –
A number in a box.
I’m proud she a fine statistic,
But she’d better pull up her socks.
She cannot let the side down;
She got to learn
To take the knocks.
There is no time for fun
In the shadow of the exam factory,
No skills, partnership
Or room for creativity.
They sit in lines
To learn the goods,
Raising standards
On the way.
As they tick the box
When you test them
They have all the rote
Things to say.
Opher 26.3.2016
These are a couple of other of my poetry books.
If you enjoy my poems or anecdotes why not purchase a paperback of anecdotes for £7.25 or a kindle version for free.
Or a book of poetry and comment:
Rhyme and Reason – just £3.98 for the paperback or free on Kindle
My other books are here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opher-Goodwin/e/B00MSHUX6Y/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1457515636&sr=1-2-ent
Thank you and please leave a review.
Opher, are you being serious when you say Music/Art/History and Geography (not in that order) are no longer necessary. History and Geography out of the four should be taught. I went to a Comprehensive when I was 11 – Working Class area I came from, and proud of it, that was the 1960s and I can say that I had a better Education than my two Sons had from 11yrs upwards, with all the “new” way of thinking re teaching and teachers, if the teachers with the exception of two my Sons came across, the rest of the teachers needed an education themselves and to learn some manners.
I am not the Professional, you are, but as a Parent even today if I had young Children if they were not taught History and Geography and even music and art I would teach them myself. I used to take my Son up to London and to the Galleries and they could see real art and we would discuss it.
The curriculum has narrowed to the point where it is squeezing these subjects out. Music, PE, Drama and Art are being moved to after school activities of little consequence. Humanities subjects are not included in the baccalaureate and ICT has been dropped altogether. It has narrowed the curriculum substantially – much to my chagrin.
I am in favour of a broad balanced curriculum with a good range of subjects, teaching styles and lesson strategies, a balance between skills, qualities and knowledge, and kids that are interested, highly motivated and full of self-confidence.
The world needs more creativity, lateral thinking, teamwork and skills. Knowledge is no longer as important as it was. It is there at the touch of a button. Understanding is essential.
This model of education is stifling and blinkered.
Sorry, the bloody word “teamwork” oh Opher I question why so many youngsters are leaving school can barely write, let alone read as for general knowledge they are as thick as s..t. I am not the Teacher, although I was told by the HEADMASTER of David’s school I would do better to take him out of school and teach him myself, I spoke to the necessary dept visited in my home and was told yes I could, when I spoke to my Cousin’s Son a Headmaster, he told me NO not to do it, that’s what the schools wanted. Teachers are there to teach, well that’s what I thought they are supposed to do. I am not arguing with you, just my humble opinions.
Well I know there are bad schools, and your son’s one sounds like it was one of them, but nobody ever left my school unable to read and write – even those severely disadvantaged. They all left with skills and qualifications. The same is true from all the other schools in the area.
I think there was a big improvement in schools.
Well then you were very lucky in your area that you had the backing. You have to admit Opher that does not apply to everywhere and I am not talking about inner Cities, we are far from that. There was an attitude from Teachers where the Boys went after the Catholic School they had attended, that “why should I bother I get paid anyway”, I can only think of two Teachers that really cared, they were not young but they were “real Teachers”. I had one so called Teacher who I had an interview with plant his legs across his table and thought it appropriate to speak to a Parent about the Child like that – RUDENESS I would not tolerate and I didn’t give a damn whether he regarded himself as a Teacher or not I told him to get his legs down and show some manners. My Cousin’s Son is a Headmaster of a Large Boys School so I know a little.
That is the reason I originally supported Ofsted. They sorted out that poor practice. It’s a shame the way thet Ofsted has developed.
Like everything else Opher.
Not everything surely? Some things are better.
Well right now it is very hard to think what? Look at America, there you have the President looking a right arse giving the Peace sign. Eight years of office what the hell did he ever do, his own poor black people can’t stand him, the rich blacks love him. Clinton served under him people should never forget that. As for us, we are in a mess but by God we are better off than some Countries.
Better than the vast majority but still a lot to put right.
You are not going to like me saying this, but now you have children in this Country going to school and they can’t even understand the Teacher who comes from heavens knows where, English is not the language that dominates the School and it should be. I don’t care where people come from, but you come to this Country and you learn our ways and accept them, if I went to their Country I would accept their ways. They don’t like it here then go. That applies to education and our way of life.
Well I quite agree. Schools, in my opinion, should only employ people, of whatever colour or creed, who can speak good English. Teaching is about communication. And this is England – we speak English and children, and adults, who come here should learn our language and customs. That is the ethos of the country. I don’t mind having enrichment from other cultures, but the prevailing culture should clearly be English.
Do you know I did not think you would agree all the way on that, well said.
It works both ways though. I think that Brits who live abroad should try to assimilate the culture of the country they are in and learn the language. I hate these little enclaves you find who shut themselves off. I’m useless at languages but I’d make an effort.
Yes, you are correct as I said if you go and live abroad than you should accept that way of life. Like the English who go to Spain and have to have their Fish/Chips/Eg/Chips all that and not eat the wonderful fresh food that Spain provides. I agree on the language we should learn it. I remember being in Paris in a shop. I could not make out what they were saying I just had to keep pointing to what I wanted, but when I left I did say “Merci beaucoup Madame”, and a recall the big smile on the Lady’s face and she nodded her head, so they do appreciate even if we just try a little.
I’m sure – it’s about respect.
Yes, that’s it. Do you know Opher when I was growing up there was this lovely kind very tall Gentleman who lived across the road from us, he was known as “Dusty” but I had to call him Mr Miller I never could figure it out, now it’s different of course. It was only when I got so much older did I understand he looked different, he was Black and Mrs Miller was White (tough in those days of the 50/60s). I never saw Mr Miller as Black he was just Mr Miller, what a pity we can’t see people through childrens eyes still, the World would be so much happier. Do I make sense?
You certainly do. They often see things more clearly. Though children can also be cruel.
Children can be extremely cruel and today they are not even allowed to be children.
Locked up, chained to a computer, in an artificial world all on their own.
I told you my Cousin’s Son is a Headmaster of a Boys School, and his Wife is a Teacher too, well my Cousin told me when the children were small they were put in front of the tv and of course since then it’s games and Internet, these Children of today really don’t know how to communicate.
Opher, I am signing off earlier than usual I forgot to take some of my tablets, it’s affected me making me feel tired and sluggish so I will pack up for tonight. Have a good evening, “sleep warm” Anna
Sleep well Anna. Grandchildren tomorrow!
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
I think this is relevant to the current education debate.