The London School of Economics is not generally known for embracing any ideas which would fall out with the liberal left but on Grammar Schools, it tells the full, unvarnished truth.The abolition of this magnificent schooling system has led to greater social inequality and not less.
Well, of course it has! It was the vehicle which was designed to lift the brighter children in the lower classes and to give them the same chance as anybody born higher up the social scale.
Indeed, back in 1944 when Butler was working on the best of all education acts, Labour saw this as a great opportunity.
Tragically, they turned against this on vague ideological grounds. The Grammars were excellent - I went to three and should know. They created a genuine environment for learning and intellectual rigour. If there was a problem, it was that the Secondary Moderns for other pupils were underfunded. Easily resolved without wrecking a wonderful system.
And so was born the apprehensive - sorry - comprehensive school. I experienced three of them as a teacher. When they did work, it was in spite of the system and not because of it.
When politics enters education, you are in trouble as a society.
Of all the social disasters caused by the liberal left, the successful assault on the Grammars must be right up there in the top three. Dumbing down and the politics of envy turn my stomach.
To understand current education fully, read:-
'All must have prizes' by Melanie Phillips.
LINKS:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=346152&in_page_id=1770
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar_schools_in_the_United_Kingdom
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/01/02/do0201.xml
http://www.ngsa.org.uk/news/2001/06-01.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=431250&in_page_id=1770
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