I have a child who is five and in state school. My partner and I are continually dismayed by the lack of education, not of the pupils, but the teachers. Last year, on the eve of a school trip, a note was posted on the classroom door reminding parents that the children should bring a 'pact lunch'. Every communication from the class has equally appalling standards of spelling and grammar. We live in despair.
The estimable His Grace has the story of a remarkable woman who has stepped forward to speak out about the state of modern education here and here and here. The Telegraph has more.
This is Katharine Birbalsingh,and I want my child educated by someone who thinks like her...what a fantastic woman:
1 comment:
I would not worry too much about the pact lunch. Unless the teacher’s name is Mephistopheles, that is.
As for the state of (state) education. It is fucked because 1) education is one of the few things that do not function according to the market principles of supply and demand. Education must not be viewed as a business. But it is, which leads us to 2) state education must be able to impart the same levels of ‘knowledge’ as private education. It is a caricature of the system when politicians openly voice that those who could afford, but refrain from sending their children to public school, do not have their offspring’s best interest in mind; 3) I don’t give a wanking titbasket on the IQ of a Kindergarten teacher. I’d rather they know how to make animals out of loo rolls. However, I demand of every person who actually ‘teaches’ to be in possession of a clear understanding of the language they teach (in), an ability to express themselves coherently, and an interest in the intellectual progress of those entrusted in their educational care; 4) it is easier and much less effort for busy parents to dump their children onto teachers rather than raising them themselves, and subsequently, teachers who will have to make sure those children ‘behave’ before they can start to ‘educate’ find it easier and much less of an effort to follow a curriculum like a colourblind painter would engage in a ‘painting by numbers’ exercise; 5) post ’68 anti authoritarian ideas have been perverted into a system that does not expect enough from children. Small they might be, but also inquisitive and full of energy. Curricular structures that enforce rigid constructs onto those minds are being disguised as essential methodology; 6) making sure that ‘no child is left behind’ will eventually have all children move in the same direction – at a very slow pace. Levelling is always down; 7) the current system trains children. It does not educate. It makes them function. It does not encourage them to think.
I overheard a pupil of about 15 remark to his teacher. “Actually, I think, Britain really should abolish monarchy and become a democracy”. The teacher grunted disinterestedly and left it at that.
The state of education is so very fucked indeed.
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