The unique perspective of our Government on the ‘value’ of education is plain to see. Over the past few months I have been trying to focus on the actual language used in Government announcements to unpick the intention. We have obvious ‘military’ language: ‘the battle against coronavirus’, the ‘front line’ and ‘protect lives’. In a time of national emergency, it is easy to get carried away in the spirit of the moment, but all the more important not to take things at face value.
The unbelievable circus that surrounded children returning to nursery and school was a perfect example. The lack of any meaningful consultation and the unwillingness to listen to practical concerns led to a road crash. Children’s entitlement to education has never been questioned, but the obvious disconnect between Government and those committed to children’s rights was stark. The Government wanted children back so the workforce could return. That’s ok, but why not just be honest about it? Headlines about the ‘damage’ done to children abounded, the moral thumbscrews were on.
Even in returning the nation to work, parents have been left high and dry because there is no plan for the school holidays. Nurseries are battling to stay open and there is no ‘rescue package’ as there is for schools. The language doesn’t reflect the reality – under the surface it simply demonstrates disrespect for the sector.
And what a return it could have been. There is an opportunity to transform education and it is slipping through our fingers. A little bit of inspirational leadership from the top is all it takes. Most children have missed six months of this school year, so why could we not have simply repeated the school year for all, essentially resulting in a school starting age of six from September? Progress would have gone through the roof; children would have been grounded in the security of the familiar, and any ‘recovery’ needed could have been enacted by those who knew children the best.
Given the huge amounts of money being sloshed about now, at least this would be more than crisis management, it would be aspirational and child-centred. But no; children are units of ‘value’ and this ‘value’ is essentially economic to this Government. The statement by Gavin Williamson that the ‘purpose’ of education is to get a job relegates education to a production line, with only one product.