On the week of the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Anthony Crosland, Tom Watson wonders what he would have to say about the current state of British politics.Mr Crosland's proud ambition? As his wife put it in her biography of her husband, "If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to destroy every fucking grammar school in England"
In 1974, Hackney Downs Boys' (Grammar) School, with an excellent academic reputation, was made a Comprehensive.
20 years later it was described as the 'worst school in Britain'.
Even the local socialist MP, Diane Abbott, refused to send her son there.So what would Crosland have to say about the current state of play in British politics?
Frankly, who cares...
4 comments:
What a superb post!!!We need to raise your profile. That is brilliant
I'm touched, Newmania.
I attended a Grammar in Liverpool 40 years ago, by passing the 11+. What I do not understand about Socialists is why they do not want selection by ability for schools. Surely this is the most egalitarian way of choosing pupils.
I have worked (not as a teacher) in schools and mixed ability classes are not good for anyone. Streaming or any other similar system enables pupils of the same ability to progress. Socialists appear to be in denial that people are different and have different skills.
Malthebof
I went to Hackney Downs School from 1970-75 so saw the changes begin. It was a really good school when I first went there but by the time I left was beginning to change. I was let down by the system and left with few academic qualifications. (Since I have studied and gained a high level of education so it was not my intelligence that was at fault). I am a socialist but the schools have been used as a political tool and that has let many children down over the years.
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