Get ready for McDonald's high!
Today, one of the most significant pieces of leglislation for over a hundred years, The Schools Bill will be presented to the commons, amongst its proposals are plans to let allow schools to become "trust' schools' and allow private businesses/the voluntary sector, religious groups to basically run schools in certain areas.
One could say we are going back to Victorian times or even further back, with the village school, etc, but in their defence, at least there was massive lobbies for state education. What we seem to be getting now is something new, (although not in the US) untested and potentially very dangerous. While many opponents are justifiably worried about the selection process these schools may use in the future and the L.E.A’s being frozen out, no one seems to have concerns about the ideological nature of these schools: Do people think that for instance, that as these schools become accepted that ‘Shell High’ will encourage a critical analysis of climate change and the environment or that a school funded by Muslim or Christian Fundamentalists will encourage a critique of their respective religions, never mind explore humanism, non-beliefs, etc. However, imo, it is the corporate influence that will be the most long lasting and influential: as the Jesuits once said, give me the child at seven and I will give you the man.’ So, one can argue that soon we may have a mirror image' free-market version of the Soviet Union, instead of churning out ‘good communists’ now the goal will be be to churn out uncritical but highly educated consumers who can play their part in the great global economy.
The major opposition to the bill has come from Labour rebels and some unusual critics like Neil Kinnock, . However, the left/radicals etc, have been largely absent, nothing here on IUK for instance, Yet, these are changes which may have profound consequences, long term even more than the War in Iraq, which many activists, particulary the SWP/Respect obsess about (despite the recent tragic events.) The environment, an issue close to radicals hearts will become increasingly marginal in a neo- liberal education system, excepts perhaps as a 'business opportunity'. So, are we sleepwalking into a new 'Brave New World' of capitalist/consumerist hegemony, where a McDonalds High or a Virgin Interactive Academy, (you can be sure Branson will get on board) is the best thing our educational system can offer,
So, where's the opposition?
about the bill
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publ...1719913,00.html
.
Today, one of the most significant pieces of leglislation for over a hundred years, The Schools Bill will be presented to the commons, amongst its proposals are plans to let allow schools to become "trust' schools' and allow private businesses/the voluntary sector, religious groups to basically run schools in certain areas.
One could say we are going back to Victorian times or even further back, with the village school, etc, but in their defence, at least there was massive lobbies for state education. What we seem to be getting now is something new, (although not in the US) untested and potentially very dangerous. While many opponents are justifiably worried about the selection process these schools may use in the future and the L.E.A’s being frozen out, no one seems to have concerns about the ideological nature of these schools: Do people think that for instance, that as these schools become accepted that ‘Shell High’ will encourage a critical analysis of climate change and the environment or that a school funded by Muslim or Christian Fundamentalists will encourage a critique of their respective religions, never mind explore humanism, non-beliefs, etc. However, imo, it is the corporate influence that will be the most long lasting and influential: as the Jesuits once said, give me the child at seven and I will give you the man.’ So, one can argue that soon we may have a mirror image' free-market version of the Soviet Union, instead of churning out ‘good communists’ now the goal will be be to churn out uncritical but highly educated consumers who can play their part in the great global economy.
The major opposition to the bill has come from Labour rebels and some unusual critics like Neil Kinnock, . However, the left/radicals etc, have been largely absent, nothing here on IUK for instance, Yet, these are changes which may have profound consequences, long term even more than the War in Iraq, which many activists, particulary the SWP/Respect obsess about (despite the recent tragic events.) The environment, an issue close to radicals hearts will become increasingly marginal in a neo- liberal education system, excepts perhaps as a 'business opportunity'. So, are we sleepwalking into a new 'Brave New World' of capitalist/consumerist hegemony, where a McDonalds High or a Virgin Interactive Academy, (you can be sure Branson will get on board) is the best thing our educational system can offer,
So, where's the opposition?
about the bill
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publ...1719913,00.html .
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
well
28.02.2006 15:58
>> So, where's the opposition?
What, can't see the woods for the trees mate? Looks like YOU are the opposition! Get on with it and good luck :o).
jools
Jools
Despite what recent tragic events ?
28.02.2006 16:19
What recent tragic events should stop us caring about Iraq ?
So, you think we should care more about UK kids potentially receiving a flawed education rather than Iraqi kids actually getting killed today ? Have you a non-racist explanation for this ? What is the worst that could come from corporate schools ? A non-thinking, non-critical populace who are easily side-tracked from foriegn wars ? We are already there.
Small tip for future reference, if you are trying to encourage more activism in any field it doesn't pay to demean other activists causes or to overstate your own case.
Danny
Read between the lines
28.02.2006 17:01
He's not trying to encourage more of that at all, quite the opposite in fact.
It's just one of the clueless rightwing trolls that hang around here for hours, attempting the old "we're doing this wrong, we're focussing on the wrong things" trick, after first establishing his right-on activist cred by criticising the govt.
As if to oppose the education bill you need to stop opposing the war.
Coming up after the break: in order to successfully eat rice, you need to quit eating wheat.
Fuck you AND your war, "rather scared".
DF
Finally...
01.03.2006 14:05
Dead glad to see that someone's debating this on here, at last.
In fact, loads of organisations have pointed out the dangers of further privatisation of schools and the fact the education bill might help companies bring in a dodgy ethos.
Who's said that? Well the NUT, for a start. And Comprehensive Future. And Alistair Campbell's partner Fiona Millar who wrote a big pamplet recently saying that "the Big Mac academy was no longer unimaginable" or something like that.
It was also pointed out by the MPs on the House of Commons education select committee, which said there should be a list of agreed companies which can be allowed to set up academies and trust schools, deliberately to stop Big Mac High or the Silk Cut technology college. But that idea has been rejected on several occasions by the Government.
Don't believe the hype about the bill being the biggest education change in 100 years. It's all spin and counter-spin. There's actually next to bugger all new in the details - it's a tiny, tiny mouse step compared to previous education legislation by Labour (such as the one that allowed academies to be created). It's just the direction of the steps that's the worrying part.
back to marking,
TeachazPet
TeachazPet