So Ed Balls is at it again. Not content with leaving them in peace we are told that he now wants to merge the few remaining Grammar Schools with what he describes as 'failing' Secondary Moderns. Where have we heard this before, I wonder? Ah yes, the 1970's Labour Government of Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan shamelessly pursued a policy of introducing comprehensive education wherever possible, destroying many good schools - both Grammar and Secondary Modern - in the process. A few selective schools survived this evil policy which had nothing to do with educationally sound reasoning and everything to do with class jealousy and a failure to see what can be done given the right money, resources and attitudes.
For a few short years during the 1970's I was privileged to attend a Secondary Modern and, believe me, it was anything but a failing school. Although students were allowed to work at their own pace, it had good academic standards, strict discipline enforced by teachers who were certainly not wimps, and a strong sense of community. I, for one, felt happy and privileged to be part of that school community. Sadly it was swept away - destroyed - by the evil and misguided policies of the then Labour administration. Maybe I can be forgiven for being a little jaundiced in my view of Ed Balls. To all intents and purposes the policy he wants to pursue of merging the remaining Grammar and Secondary Modern schools is unashamedly Old Labour. Let us hope that his misguided ideas meet with robust resistance and don't get a chance to be implemented during the remaining days of this Government.
(Note for American & Canadian readers: In England a Grammar School is a selective secondary school providing a predominantly classical curriculum suited to the needs of the academically most able. A Seconday Modern school (now a rare breed like the Grammar School) ia one which offers a predominantly vocational curriculum for students who aren't particularly academic in the traditional sense and who benefit more from work of a more practical nature.)
For a few short years during the 1970's I was privileged to attend a Secondary Modern and, believe me, it was anything but a failing school. Although students were allowed to work at their own pace, it had good academic standards, strict discipline enforced by teachers who were certainly not wimps, and a strong sense of community. I, for one, felt happy and privileged to be part of that school community. Sadly it was swept away - destroyed - by the evil and misguided policies of the then Labour administration. Maybe I can be forgiven for being a little jaundiced in my view of Ed Balls. To all intents and purposes the policy he wants to pursue of merging the remaining Grammar and Secondary Modern schools is unashamedly Old Labour. Let us hope that his misguided ideas meet with robust resistance and don't get a chance to be implemented during the remaining days of this Government.
(Note for American & Canadian readers: In England a Grammar School is a selective secondary school providing a predominantly classical curriculum suited to the needs of the academically most able. A Seconday Modern school (now a rare breed like the Grammar School) ia one which offers a predominantly vocational curriculum for students who aren't particularly academic in the traditional sense and who benefit more from work of a more practical nature.)
