This is not a rhetorical question but a meaningful one for
all Labour supporters regardless of their knowledge and experience of
education. With scapegoating, scaremongering and school-bashing – by
politicians, political placemen such as Ofsted leaders and the media, all of
whom should know better, we are not getting any hard evidence of what is wrong.
Why not? – is it because some very plump chickens, having
been fed on irrational policies are coming home to roost? Is it because
academic success and Islam cannot be linked by some with a different ideological
if not racist viewpoint? Is it because it diverts from a collective political
fear of the economy/cost of living and electoral defeat? Or is it because actually
nobody knows what to do?
The children involved - and in many other parts of the
country as well, have been used disgracefully in this politically motivated free
for all. It makes a mockery of the Tories (very quiet Lib-Dems on this) even
mentioning safeguarding when political squabbles are being ratcheted up,
personalised and professionals demonised
when children are literally just going to school to learn (and for some at the
moment doing life-changing exams).
The education system in this country is a mess. It is a
fragmented and unsafe environment for our children who, remember, only get one
go at it – you are only seven years old once in your life. It has become the
post-code lottery that we tried hard to remove from Health provision only to
resurrect it within Education. We now know that the government, through Ofsted,
want seven year olds to be warned about extremism….this must be part of the
so-called British way of life. Does this apply to Jewish, Catholic, C of E
schools? Did the country vote for that? There are so many instances of
incoherent thinking at Government level.
The Labour party, rather than a half-hearted response to a
government statement with Tory-lite proposals has to be clear. All state-funded schools, whether LA
maintained, trust academies, sponsored academies, free, nursery, primary,
secondary, tertiary schools etc. must be secular. If private schools want to be
faith schools, then parents and the community must be sure how the teachers
behave as professionals regarding the teaching of religious beliefs. The Labour
Party could of course grasp the nettle this time around and not give charitable
status to the faith schools as this is tantamount to state funding.
Birmingham schools have finally exposed the quagmire of
Education policy – be courageous and reach out Labour!
Elisabeth Rumbold
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