Page 14 - link magazine

14 EDUCATION MATTERS

NATIONAL CURRICULUM - IMPOSSIBLE TASK?
by Ian Matthews, Head, Greendown
At the last general election, all that any government, having
three major parties included in control of the curriculum, would
their manifestos, the need to consult and take the advice of a
create a national education cur- wide range of opinion - including
riculum. What they didn't do, teachers, industrialists, parents
and still hasn't been done, is to and so on. The problem, is in
say exactly what this is and how it getting these people to agree.
What for example constitutes
is to be taught (and financed!).
Firstly, the word 'curriculum' History - and whose version is
is the term used to describe what to be taught? (France doesn't
is taught in our schools. It doesn't call the English Channel by the
just describe a list of subjects, same name - for the obvious
but should include what is actually reason!).

taught within each subject. In There are a large number of
many countries, notably France, problems ahead about this whole
Japan and Canada, it describes issue. Perhaps enough people
exactly how the subjects are to will be consulted to ensure that
be taught - interestingly, these we do end up with a balanced,
GGLEBOX countries are now beginning to unbiased statement of what our
question this method and may children should learn. Perhaps
soon be moving to a more liberal parents will be asked what they
approach where the teacher is at think. Perhaps some notice will.
Specialists in video and TV repairs.
least able to design the teaching be taken of the educationalists.
Satellite TV reception equipment. methods. Other countries, in The government clearly carries
particular some of the Australian an enormous responsibility to
Free home estimates. states, are allowing the schools, consult the right people and then,
working under the influence of having taken a balanced view, to
All work guaranteed. strong local governing bodies, to provide the resources to do the
decide the whole curriculum job properly - only time will tell
Service from 8am - 9pm without any form of national whether the political will exists to
make this possible.
guidance.
SWINDON 813485 In Britain, we are still not very
sure what is to happen. There is a LETTERS
1.
general feeling that some form of from Mrs. Lilian Rouffell, Prince
guidance in the form of a national Rupert Court, Freshbrook.
curriculum is to be welcomed - Why or why can't we have an
PLANT
/ 5
indeed many people say that independant Fruit and Veg. Shop
UNIT 7 ASH
1//HIRE Ii
/,'A
KEMBREY PARK
because we have a national in the West Swindon centre?
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SWINDON
WILTSHIRE SN2 6UN examination system (one of the Why should the Dee Corpora-
FAST SERVICE - FRIENDLY AD V/CE very few countries to do this), tion decide what is best for folks
Telephone: 0793 46520 then this automatically creates a in this area?
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national curriculum. In fact, There are a great many senior
before the old 0 levels and citizens and low income families
LIGHTWEIGHT PLANT HIRE SPECIALISTS CSE's were abolished, it was who, from information I've re-
FOR D.I.Y. AND TRADE found that we had well over ceived, would more than welcome
twenty thousand separate 0 and a greengrocer who would un-
CSE syllabuses being used in this doubtedly supply their needs.
country. Many of these were of •.S.
course very similar - particularly An interesting letter has been re-
in the basic subjects such as maths ceived from 'Wotters'. Unfortu-
and English. Nevertheless, the nately without name or address, it
variety is enormous, and clearly cannot be published. Please con-
something needs to be done, par- tact the Editor to discuss it.
ticularly with the new GCSE But to answer some of your
about to come into being. points, West Swindon is getting a
The issue is exactly what is the night club and there is a social
curriculum, and what happens if group for young people who want
whoever designs the curriculum to make friends in the area; see
tries to bias it. Suppose a national page 3 for details.
curriculum banned 'left wing
weirdo subjects' and instead sub- Required for Babysitting - mature
stituted 'right wing weirdo sub- person for two girls age 7 & 4.
jects'? It is obviously to be hoped Telephone: 870533 (Nine Elms)
• _ 4 •_.4 4
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4
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