[ssf] Get ready for McDonalds High!

[dave thompson]

Hi

Just some thoughts i have posted up on Indymedia and
elsewhere, comments welcome

regards

Dan T 

 Today, the Govt launches its contreversial Schools
Bill, where's the opposition?

Get ready for McDonald's high!

Today, one of the most significant pieces of
leglislation for over a hundred years, The Schools
Bill will be presented to the commons, amongst its
proposals are plans to let allow schools to become
"trust' schools' and allow private businesses/the
voluntary sector, religious groups to basically run
schools in certain areas.

One could say we are going back to Victorian times or
even further back, with the village school, etc, but
in their defence, at least there was massive lobbies
for state education. What we seem to be getting now is
something new, (although not in the US) untested and
potentially very dangerous. While many opponents are
justifiably worried about the selection process these
schools may use in the future and the L.E.A’s being
frozen out, no one seems to have concerns about the
ideological nature of these schools: Do people think
that for instance, that as these schools become
accepted that ‘Shell High’ will encourage a critical
analysis of climate change and the environment or that
a school funded by Muslim or Christian Fundamentalists
will encourage a critique of their respective
religions, never mind explore humanism, non-beliefs,
etc. However, imo, it is the corporate influence that
will be the most long lasting and influential: as the
Jesuits once said, give me the child at seven and I
will give you the man.’ So, one can argue that soon we
may have a mirror image' free-market version of the
Soviet Union, instead of churning out ‘good
communists’ now the goal will be be to churn out
uncritical but highly educated consumers who can play
their part in the great global economy.

The major opposition to the bill has come from Labour
rebels and some unusual critics like Neil Kinnock, .
However, the left/radicals etc, have been largely
absent, nothing here on IUK for instance, Yet, these
are changes which may have profound consequences, long
term even more than the War in Iraq,(despite the
recent tragic events) which many activists,
particulary the SWP/Respect obsess about  The
environment, an issue close to radicals hearts will
become increasingly marginal in a neo- liberal
education system, except perhaps as a 'business
opportunity'. So, are we sleepwalking into a new
'Brave New World' of capitalist/consumerist hegemony,
where a McDonalds High or a Virgin Interactive
Academy, (you can be sure Branson will get on board)
is the best thing our educational system can offer,

So, where's the opposition?

about the bill
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publ...1719913,00.html
 

good article here, although again it comes from a
producer angle, not a wider question about what
education is for.

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/

 

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