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EDUCATION MATTERS THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM -THE PARENTS' VIEW Education Matters this month is written by Rod Leverton who is chair of the Greendown Parent Teachers Association. If you would like to respond to the issues raised in this article please write to him. We shall print some of your comments in the next issue. During the Summer holidays, most Secondary Schools received a large red book which contained suggestions by the Government for the new national curriculum for our state schools. Unfortunately, many, perhaps most, Primary Schools did not receive the document, and so have not had time to consider this very important issue. The parents at Greendown, with the support of the Governors, Staff and members of the Parents Association Committee, decided that they should try to make some form of response to the proposals in the document. Two open meetings were held, and the thirty or so parents who attended were able to read the document and make comments and suggestions these were then sent, as suggested, to the Secretary of State for Education, the RT Hon Mr Kenneth Baker MP. This then, is a precis of their
responses, together with the most important aspects of the relevant sections of the document: What is the National Curriculum? The red book, suggests that , all schools have a curriculum which equips (children) with the knowledge, skills and understanding that they need for adult life'. Compaied with our own schooling, which many parents felt was narrow and often irrelevant, this idea seems very welcome. There was a lot of support for the idea that as well as knowing the 'basics', reading, writing, etc. that our children need the benefit of a much wider education. The document then makes some suggestions as to what exactly this means. Maths, English and Science form the top priority subjects, closely followed by foreign languages, technology, history, geography, art, music, and PE. In other words, almost exactly what we had when we were at school! This was quite disappointing - where was the moral education, where was the use of computers, where was the development of the skills that our children will need in the 'high tech' world which they will
enter after they leave school (we noticed that technology was included, but none of the areas of craft or design). The document then raises the issue of 'attainment targets'. It seems to suggest that we should reintroduce something like the old eleven plus exam - not only at age eleven, but also at seven, fourteen and sixteen. We were very concerned of our children 'failing' such an exam, and had our own memories of the horror of our own experience and although we thought that children could have a 'target' which suggested what they might be able to do at varoius ages, we all know how different children are, and how they develop at different rates. We all felt that the system being suggested would be totally unfair and we were unanimously against the idea of that sort of test. We also wondered what was supposed to happen to the new GCSE - we're only just beginfling to understand that exam! We then talked about who finally decides the curriculum. The document seems to suggest that it is the Secretary of State who decides. This worried all of us - we were not convinced of the wisdom of letting any poli-
tician, of whatever party, have such power. Indeed we felt that on an issue of such importance to all our children, it was essential that the curriculum could only be decided by the decision of a large number of people - industrialists, teachers, parents and other interested members of society. Finally, we all expressed our anxiety about the timing of the whole process. We had been given a little over two weeks to talk about a matter of supreme importance. The Government says it wants to give parents power, but then gives us so little time to consider the matter that it seems to be taking the power away before we have really managed to have any influence. This summary is only a very small part of the wide ranging discussion which took place. The parents were quite united in their views and if any other people would like copies of our full response, Greendown School will be happy to supply you with one - please call in at the office and collect a copy or telephone 874224. TO ADVERTISE IN THE LINK RING:
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From left: Steve Mayhew, Peter Collins and Alan, Terry Twyman and A bbye. Group member Terry Twyman The Link reported the beginning of a self-build housing project in is looking forward to a holiday April. Over six months later an when all the work is finished. end is in sight for thirteen families Fellow worker Steve Mayhew who set out to build their own commented "There is great satisfaction in building something houses in their spare time. With guidance from the yourself and also knowing the Wingate Housing Association saving we've made on top of the the group of men, supported by value the houses are now." Peter Collins confirms that wives and girlfriends, have put in twenty-seven hours a week to the building his own house has been project during evenings and a good experience. "It's been weekends. Five houses are 100% effort by everybody all the occupied and the rest will be way. We're all great friends now" said Peter. finished by Christmas.
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