This morning I heard an interview on "Today" with Alison Wolf. I haven't quite worked out who Alison Wolf is (possibly a Professor of the Public Sector Management but that doesn't sound like a real job), but they were talking about education and leaving ages. In defence of NOT having leaving ages she said that she believed that "people know when they can get the most out of education". Well she is a expert so I don't want to be controversial but WHAT RUBBISH! Some children are lucky and know what they will want to do, they have a vocation. But for many they have no idea. And if you don't have something to aim for then it is hard to see the value of school, after all it is simply stopping you getting out and experiencing the world. I don't agree with trying to make everyone go to university but we do have to make sure that our children are able to give their best and are educated to their potential. Sadly to reach our potential we do have to be forced to do things we don't want to.
3 comments:
sorry, i think i disagree, what we need to do is ensure that educational opportunity doesn't end when a child/ young person chooses (or in some cases is financially or cirucmstantially forced) to opt out. mature students, students on access to FE/ HE courses and others who make a deliberate attempt to return to education gain a lot more from it and offer a lot more through adn following it than anyone who is forced to stay on.
I think that there may be two seperate issues here and we may not be that far apart. I agree that we should help those wanting to return to education, but if we improved the initial education then they wouldn't need to go back.
well, up to a point, I think, but i believe that there will always be children who don't fit in to a 4 - 16/18 school and education regime, and need to be allowed to live and learn in their own good time and without the tyranny of SATs, GCSEs, NVQs and imminent failure snapping at their heels. If by education you are including attractive real proper apprenticeship packages, non soul destroying junior employment and life skills then there is a massive need for improvement. I still think tho that there are a huge number of young people who simply aren't at their educational best in their teenage years and that helping them to take a break with a very real possiblity of returning at their own volition is going to get better results than forcing them to do anything. 9and don't get me started on teh system currently in place to deny 16 - 18 year olds the least bit of dignity)
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