z46\doc\web\2000\11\ukstan.txt


Hu:
In the US, the standards based education movement is a strange
blend of people trying to use standards to enforce way too much
academics (real math and phonics) or way too much progessivism
(whole language and fuzzy math), but both agreeing that we need
"higher standards" and "more testing" and "higher stakes". It is
turning into a national disaster as thousands fail, and it is
revealed that test score increases in Kentucky, Texas and 
Washington have been grossly exaggerated. This sounds very similar
to what has been happening in the UK.


-----Original Message-----
From: Stewart Deuchar [mailto:Stewart@sdeuchar.freeserve.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 12:20 AM
To: arthur.hu@aubeta.net
Subject: Re: High Standards failing in UK




Dear Arthur Hu,


Thanks for your message. I have been a silent admirer of yours for years. It 
is hard to answer your question in your own terminology. For the past thirty 
years governments of both main parties have struggled to pull our education 
system out of the grip of progressivist madness which overwhelmed it in the 
Seventies. The main instruments adopted have been:
* the National Curriculum (1988)
* a national testing regime at ages 7, 11and 14 (in addition to the national 
exams at 16 and 18.
* a draconian inspection regime (Ofsted) whereby every school is inspected 
thoroughly every 4 years. (Ofsted also inspects education authorities and 
teacher-training establishments)
* national literacy and numeracy strategies imposed on all primary schools. 
These measures have only been partially successful. 


It seems that Woodhead resigned because he felt that he had done what he 
could, and it was time to take on something else.  He has contracted to 
write for the Daily Telegraph, which could be interesting.


Sincerely, Stewart


(I learnt Chinese in the army and spent 2 years in China 1946-48, but 
regrettably I have forgotten most of it now).