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August 3, 2006
Hey Britain, Homeschooling Looks Better All the Time, Doesn't It?
Jeff forwarded me an article about upcoming changes to England's teaching policies. From now on, English schools will officially not teach the difference between right and wrong. But you know, I'm okay with that. Schools should teach information and educate children. Parents and religious organizations should teach right from wrong.
I'm more bothered by the decision to no longer teach Britain's cultural heritage. Instead, "the school curriculum should contribute to the development of pupils’ sense of identity through knowledge and understanding of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural heritages of Britain’s diverse society.” Diverse, of course, meaning anything but British.
"The proposals say that individuals should be helped to 'understand different cultures and traditions and have a strong sense of their own place in the world'"
How can you have a strong sense of your place in the world if you know nothing about your place in the world? Britain's history is so remarkably important to the western world that this makes me want to cry. And if Britain isn't teaching about it's history, who will? The countries the immigrants come from? No, I know what they're teaching, and it has nothing to do with the Magna Carta or the evolution of traditional common law.
And more:
References to developing leadership in pupils have also been removed. One of the present aims is to give pupils “the opportunity to become creative, innovative, enterprising and capable of leadership”. This is due to be replaced by the aim of ensuring that pupils “are enterprising”.
Was this change made because we don't want any more pesky British leader-types, with their heads full of that pesky British cultural heritage and ideas? Or do they just think that creativity, innovation and leadership are beyond the reach of their present students and are giving up?
All right, British parents. The ball is in your court. Take it and run. Far away.
Posted by lynx at August 3, 2006 9:17 AM
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Comments
The state schools only teach American History from 1879 on. I'm working on a post about some lunatic changes in the history curriculum that have history teachers frothing at the mouth. Look for "2006 Teacher Prep" on my blog in a day or so.
Posted by: Lioness at August 3, 2006 1:15 PM
Or do they just think that creativity, innovation and leadership are beyond the reach of their present students and are giving up?
This reminds me of an Eddie Izzard bit:
“When I was a kid in school, the career advisor came to see us and said, "Look, I advise you to get a career, what can I say?" And he took me aside and he said, "What d'ya wanna do, kid? What do you wanna do with your life?" So I said, "I wanna be an astronaut! And go into outer space and discover things that no-one's ever discovered before!" He said, "Look, you're British, so scale it down a bit." "Alright, then I wanna work in a shoestore! And discover shoes that no-one's ever discovered! Right at the back of the shop on the left..." He said, "Look, you're British, so scale it down a bit!" "Alright, then I wanna work in a sewer. And discover sewage that no-one's ever discovered before. I'll pile it on my head, then come to the surface and sell myself to an art gallery." He said, "What the fuck have you been smoking, eh?..."
Posted by: Brian Medcalf at August 4, 2006 2:43 AM
Honestly, the policies these people come up with look so muddle-headed that it would be irresponsible to send one's kids to school. I don't think any one of them has any real idea WHAT they are talking about! They certainly haven't read ANY books on ethics or the nature of the growth of knowledge. Otherwise they would realise that they are spouting nonsense.
Posted by: Carlotta at August 4, 2006 12:18 PM
I think Eddie Izzard should write history books.
Posted by: Shawna at August 6, 2006 2:02 AM
And if Britain isn't teaching about it's history, who will? The countries the immigrants come from? No, I know what they're teaching, and it has nothing to do with the Magna Carta or the evolution of traditional common law.
And today we see the result of Britain's current educational system...
Posted by: The Mommy Blawger at August 11, 2006 2:10 AM