The real power does not lie with politicians. Politicians know it. Members of a society supposedly casts their ballot to choose a party and a leader who end up driving the decisions that are made by the other elected members of parliament. Leaders are said to be “chosen by the people for the people,” but some see them as only a reflection of the society they represent. It can be difficult to know where, and with whom the balance of power lies and what can be done to change attitudes and behaviours in a particular society.
The way to change society is not through politics. It is much more basic and grass roots than that. The real harbingers of power are the people who deal with children in our schools. They are molding the minds of the next generation and forming opinions, stimulating thought and guiding belief. Why do you think politicians are so interested in education? They know that if they can influence how people think, they can control them and how they ultimately vote, which is important to them in gaining and keeping control over the big decisions in society.
Over the past thirty years our education system has been radically and fundamentally changed. Why do you think that is? Do you think it just worked out that way? Maybe it is progress, as we are told by government figures and league tables. Think again. Control over the curriculum and how it is taught, has become increasingly centralized and perfunctory. Teachers are being trained to teach skills and lower level order thinking skills. They are regarded as successful if they enable the children to pass a test, and this is then used to judge the suitability of the school in preparing workers for jobs in society, and whether on not the school can be judged as “good”. There is no room for personal needs of either the young people, or the adults who work in the institutions. If staff perform to a given and prescribed set of criteria, they are regarded as suitable to teach. Teachers do not have a professional opinion, as it is not required. Staff who have a wider view of what Education is are being phased out of the system, as “creativity is not wanted any more.”
Education has been forced into the straight jacket of a false kind of science, which is not in reality science at all. Research has tried to be “scientific” but it has become clear that research can be used to justify so many things. Research is used to justify an opinion, which is then imposed on the whole structure. When it does not work out, we move onto something else. It is hard not to become cynical about so-called educational initiatives, as they ultimately end in change for changes sake, without benefiting anyone and wasting a lot of money in the process.
The truth is, human beings are more than their physical selves. We are emotional and spiritual beings and cannot be forced into a mould, like a piece of clay.
Education is an art form. We deal with human beings, who are creative creatures, not machines to be programmed by a programmer. Unsurprisingly, many young people cannot relate to school systems and leave school with nothing to show for their time there. People cannot learn without the moral and spiritual framework that is missing from our institutions in these days.
Education is fundamentally about forming relationships with each other. The quality of the education depends on the quality of the relationship and how the two parties (or more) work out their difficulties, problems and successes. If we cannot relate to students or each other, we need to ask ourselves some serious questions about what we are doing there in the first place. Relationships are built on trust and hard work and must be sincere. Ever young children are quick see through someone who is simply trying to manipulate them.
The view we have of our young people is the key to what we will provide for them. Lack of respect is a key issue to old and young alike, and the attitude of disregard filters down for the top layers of our social structure to the young people in our primary schools. Each layer seems to be a chopping block for the other, and in Educational terms, teacher are at the bottom of the food chain and have to try to stop the pressure from affecting the children they teach.
No matter how controlling the authorities, their programmes of work cannot take the place of faithfulness, hard work and dedication. Parents recognize it too and it helps them to have a high view of themselves and their families. Human beings were made for a high and exalted purpose- to be the friends of God. Nothing is greater that this, not even the role of angels in heaven. He was even prepared to give up his own life to rescue us from our own stupidity and rebellion. Human beings live forever and what we do and say has eternal consequences, therefore was need to be far more accountable for what we say and do, not to a human authority, but to our creator. Only as we respect and honour him do we in turn respect each other and lead each other on the right path.
It is not fashionable to talk about right and wrong, but it must be discussed. Maybe many young people have never thought of it before, and are very interested when someone talks to them openly about the things they do wrong, in fact, what all of us do wrong. The ideas that there is non-negotiable standard which must be kept, is news to many, and it can be liberating to children who struggle with their behaviour to know that we are all in this together. They are not the odd one out, but even their teacher has to grapple with doing the right thing.
We are not encouraged to think in this way, as the media preaches that everyone can do what they like and express what they like. I am not asking for a censorship of the press, but we need to change our world view completely. We need to instill in our youth that there are ultimate standards to be reached, and it has nothing to do with exam results. The reality of eternity should be felt by children, and the fact that wrong deeds must be answered for and that what we say matters. Some things should not be said….
Who is in control today? The Head teacher? The teachers? The government? Ofsted? The Local Educational Authority? Her Majesties Inspectors?
It is time for society to take a stand and speak out against the dark machinations which take place in the corridors of power. They have no place in schools. Schools are for children and parents and those who take responsibility for them, when parents are not there. We must put back the soul into Education and win back again the real aims of what Education is about. Schools were not invented to provide career opportunities for adults, but learning, services, help, support and comfort for those living in a community.
I am not asking for a rebellious uprising, but a quiet revolution, where everyone does the excellent job they are capable of, when they were given the chance to succeed. I am asking those in education to break out of the shackles of educational dictatorship and make a stand.
