We were expecting to close this blog on 6th May 2010, along with the election, but, since the election hasn't ended yet, neither will the blog. May as well add a few points!
Lucy Corrander - picturesjustpictures@googlemail.com . . . . . . . . . . Esther Montgomery - estherinthegarden@googlemail.com

Friday, April 23, 2010

21. SCHOOLS

Commercial companies should not run schools.

2 comments:

Character Education said...

How can you say that? Do you have any proof for it?

Character Education

Lucy Corrander said...

Hello Character Education.

Thank you for your comment. The trouble is, I don't understand it. Do I have proof of what?

In this country, it is now possible for wealthy individuals and companies more or less to take over a state school and to introduce their own standards and values. The idea is that this kind of enthusiastic input from people who have had success in other parts of life can help 'turn round' a school which might, in some ways, be struggling.

The trouble is, these values may be strangely idiosyncratic and, in some cases, there are parents and other members of the public who might even consider them to be wrong. In some cases, those taking power like this in schools may have a lot of educational expertise - but not necessarily so.

I have other worries too. If there is a strong personality driving the scheme, what happens when that person loses interest or moves on?

That some schools are run this way and others not can distort the balance between schools in an area. The funding is certainly different.

I'm also concerned that there should be equality in education between children - that it should all be to the highest possible standards. It's good that schools have distinct atmospheres and traditions but only to a degree.

We are always having troubles because some schools are more popular than others and, although the intention behind the 'Academy' system is not to accentuate this - that can be a result.

Finally, we have odd ways of deciding who is eligible to go to what school. There is always a drive towards choice. There are always problems when it comes to offering it. In the general scheme of things, children and parents want 'the best' but 'best' doesn't have to mean specially 'different'. Wouldn't it be brilliant if all schools were 'the best'?

Does that make sense?

Does it in any way go to answering your query?