Educational standards
Sir: "There is now no excuse for thinking people not to realise that everything British education . . has stood for in its finest periods is under attack," you say in your editorial of May 11, referring to Labour education policy. But surely the threat comes from all three parties, in varying degrees, and what is more, if the EEC referendum ratifies our membership, it is on the cards that within a few years we shall have to contend with a Euro Education Ministry. So this is, perhaps, the right moment to question long held assumptions concerning State run education: Why our education system ia6. run by the state? What do politicians add to education? Why can't state schools, become independent? Can independent schools become the best means of promoting social justice?, Why shouldn't education be paid for by industry rather than by the state?'
Politicians love trying _to ctin„tbm country. And the more sectors they run, the more power and prestige jobs (e.g. Education Secretary) they 'cumulate. But the MPs' task is to pus laws, thereby creating a framework of justice whithin which all sectors may freely and efficiently function. Running the country should be left to the experts and others directly concerned —
in this case teachers and parents.
This calls for the establishment of 'Local Education communities to replace the paternalistic Local Education Authorities. Instead of LEAs organising the schools, the schools would organise their Education Communities. These co-ordinating bodies would consist of members elected by teachers, parents (and sometimes students), of each educational establishment, and they would appoint the necessary administration. Each LEC would elect a representative for the national co-ordinating body — the NEC.
Within the schools, teachers should be free to decide whether they want a head teacher, or whether they would prefer to make staff appointments and arrange duties collectively, as is already done in some schools. Each school would be autonomous.
When the state pays for education, it expects to run it. But if, instead of education taxes, each firm pays a fixed percentage of profits into the educational charity of its choice, via the LEC, no one will expect. to run schools except teachers and parents. The LECs and NEC would arrange for the equitable distribution of this money. It will be up to the parents and • teachers at each school to see that the money available is efficiently spent.
A beginning could be made if, instead of striking, teachers (with the parents), were to start to take over the running of their schools. Not only would this action demonstrate the maturity and dignity of the profession, it would also produce an immediate response because it would spell out to politicians an unpleasant home truth: In education politicians are not indispensible!
Robin Boatman Secretary, Constituency Voters' Policy Association (East Grinstead), 4 Hill View, Highgate Road, Forest Row, Sussex
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