Education system is ruining thousands of children’s lives

WHAT a revelation from Brian Hanwell (Yorkshire Post, August 13).

His letter relates to my school days in the Wortley Rural District under Wakefield Council between 1922 and 1931. A church school of four teachers and headmaster with infants – standards 1-8, and I know of no other school where you learned to read and write properly before you left at 14 years of age.

Each teacher taught every possible subject, slates and blackboards were mostly used, as books of any type were rare, but some of the finest scholars came from that school.

As Brian Hanwell writes, I think that the 1870 Education Act has served many people well and should be concentrated on by teachers today, giving pupils more practical skills against all the theory that is practiced today. We don’t all want to sit at desks pressing buttons all day. I certainly have enjoyed a very busy but interesting life which benefits from experience, which makes me think how the present system is ruining thousands of children’s lives by not teaching the essentials of life.

From: Jack Brown, Lamb Lane, Monk Bretton, Barnsley.

IN the early 1980s, I worked for the Thatcher government. My job was to research and develop training and education for the long-term unemployed (LTU).

My obvious, first task was to find out how educated they were and what their present needs were. I designed a questionnaire and, together with a colleague from Sheffield University’s employment psychology department, participated in interviews of every LTU person in a Dearne Valley township.

We discovered that 50 per cent of the LTU were illiterate and innumerate. The Government commissioned wider research after our first annual report and it confirmed that figure nationally. Periodic research since confirms little or no change.

One of our other findings was that sport had been the favourite subject of LTU males at school and the least useful to them since leaving school.

Our schools are derelict in their duty as long as so many 
of their graduates leave 
illiterate, innumerate and doomed to join the LTU. It is not their job to breed Olympic hopefuls.

Fortunately, David Cameron – unlike Boris Johnson who has been too cynically opportunist by far – has not been transported into unreason by sporting fanatics.

His promise that he will restore competitive sports in schools 
will deliver higher national standards without debasing the curriculum.

It will also create demand for revival of defunct youth club and social club leagues and extra-curricular training in all fields. Providers of the latter must seek charitable support like any special interest groups.

From: Andi Lonnen, Yorkshire Women’s Members’ Network President, ACCA.

A PROFESSIONAL career doesn’t always mean you have to go to university.

Over the next month thousands of potential students from across the Yorkshire will be considering whether university is the right route for them.

The cost of university is rising to as much as £30,000, however, not wanting to burden yourself with this level of debt doesn’t mean a professional career is beyond you.

Many professional bodies such as ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) don’t require a degree.

Studying for a professional qualification instead of choosing to complete an undergraduate degree can have a number of advantages.

You can earn valuable practical experience while completing your qualification, which could put you three years ahead of your peers and once completed you will have a qualification that is equivalent to a masters level degree.

University experience could be an important part of your development, but it is always worth considering whether it is something you want to do, or are doing because you think it is the logical next step.

In today’s competitive job market, three years experience gained while studying for 
a professional qualification 
could put you ahead of your peers.