Who can compare the work done by a good sixth-
form teacher and, say, a good infant teacher? Not I: nor, I venture to suggest, Mr. Brand. Certainly neither could do the other's job. Unfortunately the Govern- ment is prepared to pay neither adequately: the consequent shortage of quality teachers in the lower age-groups is made up, God help us, by such people as the 'old ladies'; in the sixth form this cannot be. But a shortage of quality teachers in one sphere is no worse than too many child-minders in another.
The ideal answer, obviously, is both a higher basic scale, to attract the quality which would push out the child-minders, and then, since the facts of life require it, added increments to those still in demand, e.g. maths graduates. We shall not get this; most MPs send their children to private schools and don't give a damn about the State system. Since this is so, I suggest that preference be given to giving a worth- while education to all at the primary stage. At the moment many children spend their entire school days in the care of child-minders; this is not fair to them, and they are the people who count.
I have met other teachers who are ashamed to admit to their occupation in public. I find it strangely pathetic.
Previous page
