Quote:
Originally posted by Lauren
I think the problems started when Blair introduced the social exclusion policy which brought about the introduction of vocational subjects replacing core subjects.
Also, Conservatives didn't help the matter (yes I did just say that) by introducing league tables which meant that pre-value-added stage schools were competing for statistics rather than actual knowledge. This meant many schools introduced BTEC diplomas instead of GCSEs (and no offence meant here, but coursework/classwork-based grades are easier to attain than actual examination grades) - and they did this to "appear" higher in the league tables.
Teachers became lax on grammar because strict curriculum's stopped them from deviating from a strict timetable, to teach some of the more basic grammatical rules. It became "assumed" that students understood basic spelling and grammar. This, along with the catalyst of technology, I believe, was the downfall in the English Language.
|
Good post,
although the real rot started in 1980 with Thatchers Education reform where the emphasis on parental choice to take precedence over catchment area for their childs school, though a worthy goal, became victim to a nasty game of political boundary manipulation by the tories, whereby some schools changed LEA's after the boundary changes and the purpose was to increase the profile on certain schools in certain "blue" Wards / Constituencies.
Although in hindsight that pales into insignificance next to the disastrous City Academy experiment of New Labour.
Both main parties have betrayed children and parents since 1980, we are now reaping what they sowed, we are now on our second generation of children who's education falls far below an acceptable standard. Dropping the bar and lowering the standard to achieve qualifications is so disingenuos and outright stupid that it should be criminal.
A generation of school-leavers are being led to believe they have qualifications that are worth something, compared to equivalent or same qualifications taken in the 60's and 70's and our 90% pass rates would probably fall to around 20 - 25%, that is the shameful, no disgraceful, truth of the matter
This country is screaming for a trained, skilled workforce, yet the past 30 years has seen the death of the apprenticeship.
This country is raisng a couple of generations of waiters and waitresses and bankers and "consultants" - a country cannot survive with a workforce geared up to the service industries without a phenomenal increase in imports to supply us the goods and equipment we should be making ourselves to run our country succesfully , unless the rot is stopped I despair for this country in 20 years time