We need a rethink on education’s purpose
4:15pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Your Say
Your article “Teachers at odds on school reforms” on February 1, relating to the downgrading of vocational subjects that count towards a school’s GCSE performance in league tables poses several questions.
First, what are qualifications for? They are supposed to tell the public (and prospective employers) that a person has achieved a nationally recognised standard in a particular subject.
Second, what is the purpose of education? It should be to give all children the opportunity to develop their natural talents to the best of their abilities. But it must be recognised that children are different; they have different talents and abilities. Some have a bent for academic subjects (the “brainy” ones); some are more skilled with their hands (the “practical” ones).
Society needs people with both of these skills but, sadly, largely due to the history of our class structure, those with manual skills were regarded as inferior to those who sat behind a desk. However, times have changed. In future, all workers will need the basic “3 Rs”, reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic – and probably basic computer skills; but, in spite of modern mechanisation, we will still need practical plumbers, electricians and engineers.
So, there is no logical reason why a “vocational” qualification should be regarded as having less value than one in a so-called “academic” subject. One of the problems of modern life is that everyone seems to be besotted by statistics; all too often, they are quoted by people who do not understand what they may, or may not, mean!
Which brings us to the next two questions. What are schools for? And how does one judge a good school? Schools are not (or should not be) factories for turning out pupils with a specific number of GCSEs at specific grades; their aim should be to develop each child’s potential – which is not so easy to measure.
So, schools should not be judged – and put in a league table – purely on exam results. A good school should develop and educate (in the widest sense of the word) the whole child. It should encourage independence and self-reliance, yet encourage a sense of belonging within a community and a sense of responsibility towards others within that community. And it should encourage a sense of pride, both in individual performance, and also in the corporate values for which the school stands. These are qualities that are impossible to measure by numbers – but one can feel in the atmosphere when one enters such a school and meets staff and pupils. Malcolm Morrison Prospect Hill, Swindon
Monarchy lasts
Your correspondent J Adams (SA 4th February) did make me laugh. He asks so many questions, it is difficult to know quite where to start in answering them.
I am amazed at the lack of kindness in the ramblings of what is clearly a fevered mind, scarred as it appears to be, with a feral dislike of our country, its history and its constitutional sovereign; a point confirmed by the comments made just over a year ago, in which Mr Adams said “the British monarchy is the font of all snobbery, an orgy of deference, snobbery and worship for the hereditary principle.”
I do not perceive the Queen as a “fairy goddess” neither do I believe her to be sponging off the very State she heads.
J Adams, in his polemic, may well believe the diamond jubilee to be nothing more than an opportunity for those of us who admire and respect the Queen to engage in feudalism; such a view is totally at variance with the reality.
Many people of all ages, from every social and economic position will celebrate the Queen’s accession. Some, like J Adams, will not.
However, one thing I can assure your correspondent is that there will be no collective yawn and the monarchy will not collapse overnight.
Des Morgan Caraway Drive, Swindon
Use empty space
On January 28 it was announced that Forward Swindon will receive £100,000 a year to improve Swindon’s image.
From this they will open a new website from which potential companies would be able to search for land available for new factories and offices.
I think Forward Swindon should take note of page 8 of the Swindon Advertiser on January 31 and have a rethink.
Let us focus on the real issue of refilling the abundance of empty warehouses, factories and offices currently available.
These are a blight and we should set incentives to come to Swindon, reuse one of these and stay, not build over yet more green belt!
D Ford Burbage Road Swindon
Driver’s dilemma
I was recently cut up by a driver trying to cross into my lane at the top of Farnsby Street.
We exchanged the usual mouthed pleasantries and went on our way.
Thinking about this, I realised that the car in front had also cut across from the middle lane into the right hand lane.
I decided to check the road markings as the road has recently been altered.
May I now take this opportunity to apologise to the gentleman and his wife for assuming they were in the wrong (I was the irate, harassed looking woman with the two teenagers).
It appears the right hand lane at the top of Farnsby Street is now only to turn right into Milton Road.
This is indicated by the right hand arrow painted on the road immediately before this turn.
I am usually in this lane, as the lanes on Faringdon Road to turn right into Farnsby Street are marked for car parks (left hand lane) and right turn (right hand lane).
When you are then on Farnsby Street, you presumably need to move into the left hand lane between the traffic that is already in that lane that hasn’t turned off to park.
When you get to the top of Farnsby Street, you then have to move over right (avoiding idiots like me who thought they could come straight over from Farnsby to Commercial road).
Alternatively, I could move left again but then want to turn right off Commercial Road.
I actually have no idea how to safely negotiate this part of my daily journey now.
Does anyone else have these problems?
I have seen quite a few cars travel up Farnsby Street in the right hand lane and go straight over into Commercial Road.
Has anyone had an accident there yet?
Kate Linnegar Guppy Street Swindon
Traders wanted
The sad situation Mr Mazzotta has been put in by our council (SA February 3) is the classic case of the sledgehammer used to crush a walnut, nearly.
I say nearly, because I wonder if the council should ever have crushed this particular walnut.
When out shopping I used to buy doughnuts and coffee from his stall by Brunel’s statue.
I signed a petition at the ice cream stall in Regent Street some months ago, complaining of the council’s determination to rid their (not our) streets of these “nuisance” traders.
When we consider the mess this council is making of the redevelopment of the town, one cannot help being amused at their inconsistency in the treatment of long-standing and useful traders like Mr Mazzotta, (persecution is the word that comes to mind) and indulging the machinations of the firm which oversees the town redevelopment, with associated costs in their fees.
I hope the council will drop these draconian penalties against Mr Mazzotta and other traders who gave useful amenities to shoppers and gave Swindon a bit of character.
I hope the council will have a heart in this matter, a heart of Swindon that I doubt will be provided by the planned development.
N Gardner Carlisle Avenue, Swindon
