RE: Giving up on education

["Alan Meekings" <alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk>]

Aidan,

You say, "Modern politics is 90% spin and 10% trying to change things. When
a "target" gets adopted politically it becomes impossible to address because
the spin comes first. Once education gets into the spotlight, children learn
that their needs come second to the needs of the system. And since education
is compulsory, there is little room to challenge this worst-of-all
citizenship lessons. Measurement is a proxy for repression, and the
repressors have to state universally and consistently that this is in the
best interest of the children."

I fully agree with the gist of your argument above. However, I do think we
need to separate measurement from purpose.

I also agree with you that, at least in the UK, 'education' is being
increasingly defined as "passing exams" vs helping children realise their
full potential (whether this be academically, artistically, athletically, in
craft terms, or whatever).

Aside from criticising the current measurement regime for schools in the UK
- about which I probably fully agree with you - do you have any other ideas
around how to take forward your "debate about the nature of education and
its goals"?

Regards as ever,
 
Alan
 
Email: alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk
Mobile: 07785 258 741