Headlines such as "A-levels - Highest pass rate ever!"
- Items on the news reporting a dramatic rise in A-grades achieved.
Do you find yourself wondering why, if these are true, young people today seem to be obsessed with computer games and mobile phone technology; why they don't, in general, choose to read books; why literacy and numeracy standards have fallen to a worrying level?
If today's education system is so superior to anything that went before, why can't we see evidence of it when we look around us in society?
As a priority, we need to consider whether today's education system is in actual fact failing our children.
Let's ask first, what is 'education'? ...
Is it 'learning'? I would argue that most of our learning, throughout our lives, happens outside school. But in order for your learning to be accepted and valued in today's society, you need a recognised piece of paper to 'prove' you have studied.
Much government literature and guidelines for student teachers defines education as teaching children to think for themselves, and to enjoy learning and acquiring knowledge for its own sake. But once you get into the system, it is obvious that it is only results that count. And children are encouraged to be able to reproduce facts in order to pass examinations or assignments.
So this is not encouraging the love of learning but the love of diplomas and certificates etc to show potential employers.
I would suggest that this strategy is also an attempt to boost schools' ratings in league tables, arguably due to New Labour's strategy of performance-related funding!
The British education system has become a production line, solely concerned with the end product. Children are taught the art of doing well in assessments. Meaningful understanding becomes of secondary importance. So are we merely force-feeding our children with facts for the benefit of league tables and the achievement of government targets?
In charge of schools and colleges today are many managers with no background in education, only in business. This 'marketisation of education' has become more important than the actual process of learning.
It must be remembered just what education is really about or for. The students` interests must be put before political agendas. And true understanding and a love of learning must be put before targets and financial considerations.
If not, we will indeed fail our children.
By Shirley Heelas
Shirley Heelas is a part-time lecturer and Honours graduate in Psychology, and a mother of two. Visit her website at: http://www.freespiritscafe.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Heelas
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