The Grammar School Gaffe.
David Cameron is squirming
The new Conservative Leader, David Cameron will do well if he can extricate himself from the current row in the party over his recent moves to reduce support for grammar schools and selection. Of course, no Conservative Party leader in recent years has allowed the building of any new grammar schools, or proposed the building of new grammar schools, or the extension of existing grammar schools, so the current arguement was caused needlessly.
Cameron’s latest strategy is to tell the party and the public that parents should choose schools, rather than schools choosing children, which is all very well, except that most of those doing the protesting are from the school of thought that would choose to “prepare” their children for an 11 plus selection exam, and they don’t feel like being told what to do by a publicly educated toff from Eton!
The row has simmered on for seven days now and Conservative Home has become like a magnet to those who hold views closer to the traditional values of the Conservative Party than perhaps the views held by the Shadow Cabinet and it’s PR trained leader. Comments have been flowing in with alacrity since the issue broke and Tim Montgomery and Sam Coates have made no attempt to keep the lid on things, indeed they are probably helping David Cameron’s sufferings, as a barometer of how the centre right is thinking these days, it’s probably a better read and resource than the party’s official website, or The Daily Telegraph, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it is the real reason why WebCameron was set up too!
Recent posts about the education (grammar schools) issue highlight just how easily a politician can end up in hot water, and perhaps think it might have been better just to keep his mouth shut.
The Cameron article on the Conservative party website is worth a look if you haven’t seen it already – it’s semi-recycled in today’s Times too.
He doesn’t seem to be anti-selecion at all, just prefers a system where streaming (and presumably setting) takes place in all schools on the basis of a comprehensive intake. This is still streets ahead of what we have at the moment, and reflects standard practice in most of the developed world.
Grammars did a great job but life has moved on since then. I think Mr Cameron still underestimates the strength of opposition he will face from the educational establishment over his more modest proposals, but if he gets the chance I wish him the best of luck ..
Elliott Joseph
May 22, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Didn’t I read somewhere that you were educated in an elitist grammar school curly? You middle class lot really get yourselves hot under the collar at times.
Ginger Geordie
May 22, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I was educated at South Shields Grammar and Technical School for Boys. Yes, selection was used, but I doubt that you could find enough people to fill a double decker bus who would agree that it was elitist.
Middle calss? Me? Having a laugh aren’t you?
Born and brought up in John Williamson Street, South Shields, Barnes Road Infant and Junior school, yeah real middle class!
I am sure a little bit of additional coaching might have happened back in those days in South Shields, but nothing like what I’ve just read about. Besides, with some kids, it really doesn’t matter how much money you spend on their education, they don’t improve much at all. Just look at David Cameron (still hasn’t learned that cutting taxes is good for the economy and raises more revenue), his father should have trousered the cash and sent him to a comprehensive!
Some children are naturally gifted and ought to be allowed to progress at a faster rate than their peers, there’s nothing wrong with that at all, (for those education authorities who choose to do it that way.)
curly15
May 22, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Curly said: “…with some kids, it really doesn’t matter how much money you spend on their education, they don’t improve much at all.”
Come on Curly, all kids have the ability to learn, even children in challenging social circumstances or with profound disabilities. They attain different levels and learn in different ways but don’t make sweeping statements that children don’t have the ability to learn.
comingup4air
May 22, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Heard of sarcasm?
curly15
May 23, 2007 at 12:51 am