Britain’s state school system is a conspiracy against the public

Progressive, UK of GB and NI.

Conspiracy. Blah. La La Libertarian. La La La land.

David Grant

Both Ms Birbalsingh and yourself bemoan the lack of rigour and the teaching of knowledge in the state system yet both of you seem to think that there is such a thing as the British state school system. This isn't a nationalist point, just a plea for simple accuracy. Clearly educational journalism is broken in this country.

James Delingpole

@davidgrant And your niggling pedantry proves what exactly? The same misbegotten progressive ideology which afflicts the English state system also afflicts that in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

David Grant

Amongst other things that you're too lazy to do basic research. The systems that operate in these Islands are quite different. Scotland has already, for example, the five compulsory subjects that Mr Gove wishes to introduce in English schools. Northern Ireland has a grammar school system. Instead of making ludicrous statements about the state system being some kind of conspiracy, you could try actually talking about what aspects of this 'progressive system' you don't like and what you imagine it should be replaced with. Citing someone who has only taught in five schools in London simply isn't good enough.

James Delingpole

Ah, David, yes: the pedantic, blitheringly irrelevant point made haughtily to try to discredit an article with whose thesis you vigorously disagree. I'm familiar with this technique. Very popular on Spectator blogs for some reason. But my dear fellow, if you'd understood the piece rather than wasted so much energy luxuriating in your ability to spot irrelevant errors, what would you have realised is this: what the piece was saying is that the whole progressive system is a conspiracy against the public. Obviously I could have gone into more details, but here's the thing: Spectator columns only limit you to 1000 words. Maybe that could be the subject of your next rant-ette: how disgusting it is that the article didn't express at fully-supported thesis-length its quibbles with progressive education, starting perhaps with a definition of what progressive is, then moving on through the history of comprehensive schooling, etc. Alternatively, you could go and read the New Statesman.

Chris Langan-Fox

Education is a Female-Dominated Industry, populated by empathetic, nurturing communications experts who can barely add up and read women's magazines on a daily basis.

This continual 'praising' of their 'dedication' is galling. Most are crap. Most cannot take responsibility for themselves let alone children, and most are barely out of being children themselves.

The experience level of the teaching workforce is half what it used to be as women leave the job long before competence is achieved and respect earned.

I could add more but I must go now and be burned at the stake for my Heresy.

Olaf Rye

The educational system in this nation is utterly rubbish. As I teach at an university, I can tell you with some authority that the written papers are exceptionally poor. Moreover, there is a lack of critical thought. Not all of this is the fault of the schools, to be sure, as much blame must also be assigned to the general trend towards stupidity and vulgarity in society. Nonetheless, the poor grammar, vocabulary and a student body that passively receives information and does not seek out to assess the strength of the arguments must be stopped. Nothing of the sort seems to be proposed by any of the political parties.

Sir Graphus

Yes!!! Every word. I’ve just been in trouble with my daughter’s teacher for scribbling irritably on her homework “this is such a load of rubbish, I won’t make her do it; please set proper homework in future”. I got a very snotty letter back from the head. The system is designed to make mediocre kids appear to be doing reasonably. Everyone else is criminally shortchanged. I am now about to bankrupt myself sending her to a school where they do it properly.

Cogito Ergosum

A wonderful rant, James. I am sure most speccie-readers wish they could write as effectively and forcefully.

But Northern Ireland was, and perhaps still is, different.

In 2007 I was a candidate in the town hall elections. As our vote count proceeded, only I and the chief official were keeping track of the numbers. After the result was finalised, I congratulated her on her grip on the numbers.

"Yes" she replied. "I went to school in Northern Ireland."

ligger

If a tenth of what I read about education today in the U.K. is true, we are as a country - to coin a phrase - well and truly stiffed. My experience in the oil industry is that few Brits under the age of thirty five, have any concept of spelling or punctuation. They are put to shame by their fellow workers for whom english is probably their second, even third or fourth language of use or choice.I'm afraid that I also find many in their twenties, quite unable to express themselves clearly. What has happened, please tell me someone? As for myself, I attended a very well known public school, didn't have much choice in the matter - who does at twelve ? Very very glad my parents made that choice all those years ago made and the financial sacrifice to do so.I decided to do the same for mine!!

D Short

And if we are being pedantic as David Grant is, let's hoist him on his own petard and point out that Northern Ireland is not British, but is simply part of the United Kingdom.

And citing a person who has taught in five London schools is certainly useful; the number of children taught in London schools is probably higher than all children taught in Scotland, so London schooling has an important effect on British education.

Minnie Ovens

Thank you Mr Delingpole for responding to Mr Grant's off the wall, irrelevant comments.
It saves me the problem of trying to do so. The problem being that, having seen what the PC Lefties and Luvvies have done to a perfectly good educational system over the past forty years, I become apoplectic with rage, which is not good for making a precise, searing and rational argument.
Like Mr Grant,why not nit pick at the small print and no-one will therefore dare to attack the glaring record of failure shown in the University admissions, and the desperate need to import many our trained brains from without.
There are two kinds of teachers in the State system. Those mediocrities who either failed to get into a good university or a good private sector job and those who just love teaching.
The latter simply wish to teach and teach well. They are held up at every turn by the former, seething with psuedo-intellectualism and massive chips on shoulders,who will do anything to thuggishly promote their agendas which usually means promoting something which is inadequate and farcical. They inhabit the Unions and act as the PC stasi in schools.
I hope to God that Mr Gove can rid us of these pedantic boors and allow our children, once again, to flourish as they have not been able to do for many years.

Frank Nugent

Unfortunately Australian public schools suffer from very similar problems. If you want your child to become an illiterate environmental activist you should send them to a public school in Canberra. Private schools are flourishing as parents vote with their feet and abandon the public sector.