Opponents
of selective education want to introduce COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION.
QUESTION
What
do they mean by "comprehensive education"?
QUESTION
Will
we see NEIGHBOURHOOD COMPREHENSIVES with children directed
to attend one school - and only one school?
QUESTION
Will
we see A MIXED ECONOMY: some 11-16 schools with a few 11-18
schools - the only schools offering a Sixth Form curriculum? Past experience shows 11-18 schools are more attractive to
teaching staff.
QUESTION
Will
we see all post-16 teaching handed over to the Further Education
sector with NO SIXTH FORM provision at all in our schools?
QUESTION
Will
we see ALL SCHOOLS CO-EDUCATIONAL? Many parents prefer single
sex education. Will it survive?
The
Government will expect Local Education Authorities to fund reorganisation
THEMSELVES.
QUESTION
Are
Kent, Medway or Bexley LEAs so flush with CASH
that they could afford a major programme of reorganisation?
Abolishing
Grammar Schools WILL NOT end selection.
QUESTION
Why
is selection acceptable on the basis of APTITUDE (as promoted
by the Government's specialist schools programme -
technology, art, sport etc.)?
Why is it also acceptable on the basis of RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
but UNACCEPTABLE on the basis
of ACADEMIC ABILITY?
QUESTION
Popular
and over-subscribed schools will continue to SELECT
their pupils - BUT ON WHAT CRITERIA?
ACADEMICALLY
ABLE PUPILS in inner city comprehensives have been SELECTED
FOR EXTRA TUITION.
QUESTION
If
comprehensive schools are the answer to all our problems WHYis this provision necessary?
QUESTION
Indeed
if comprehensive education is the great success some say it is,
WHY does the government continue to be so concerned about standards
in education?
Government
legislation was enacted in 1998 and has presented an opportunity
for a petition to be raised which could lead to a ballot on the
future of grammar schools. To date there have been no successful
campaigns.
The arguments
for comprehensive education and against the selective system have
been on SOCIAL and POLITICAL GROUNDS..... NOTEDUCATIONAL
ONES
Medway Local
Education Authority (LEA) is currently spending LESS on education
than the Government says it should........
SO WHO
IS GOING TO PAY THE MASSIVE
REORGANISTION COSTS?
In a recent
telephone poll conducted by the Kent Messenger newspaper, 2%
of respondents wished to see selective education abolished.
The
government continues to encourage the development of "Specialist
Schools" selecting pupils with aptitudes from technology....
for sport....for art.....for music..... FOR ANYTHING ....EXCEPT ACADEMIC ABILITY
OF COURSE!