Using facts from the article and other sources of information answer the following questions

1. What kind of new policies are being implemented by the US Department of Education and what are their results? What arguments for and against the retention issue are used in the article?

2. What examples are given to support the claim that retention policies prove to be effective?

3. Do you think there are rational and consistent arguments for retaining a pupil in a grade?

4. Don’t you think that traditional methods used to judge whether schools fail their students or not (the number of students reaching expected targets, the results of standardised tests and exams) are not effective any more? (For new ideas read the supplementary text “Education and Inclusion” or visit the Web site of The Centre for Studies of Inclusive Education (CSIE)).

2. Exchange your views on the following points. For more information and new ideas read the supplementary texts “School and Life”, “Challenge Churchill!”.

1. The threat of retention is improving schools.

2. Learning is important but not to everyone.

3. Teaching methods are of no importance nowadays.

4. Marks and exams sidetrack proper personality development.

5. Modern teaching methods and innovative technologies could revolutionize the process of education.

6. Young people expect far too much of themselves these days.

7. Our schools are integrated into the rest of the society and meet its increasing demands.

8. What our schools need is more money and better teaching but not further restructuring.

Role-play. Read carefully through this outline of the problem, making sure that you understand it.

The problem

Woodville School has a new principal called Taylor. Unlike the previous principal, who was very traditional, Taylor is young and wants to change a lot of things. Taylor calls a parent/teacher meeting to put forward his/her ideas and to decide on the new school policies. At the meeting, the parents and teachers must collectively decide which proposals should be accepted and which rejected.

The Characters

Here are the characters. Read through the description of each of them. Can you imagine that you are that person? Suggest what he/she may be saying. Try to use the appropriate language exponents from the Speech Functions Bank.

The principal: Mr/Ms Taylor

The principal has progressive attitudes towards education and wants to abolish uniforms, homework, examinations and compulsory sport at the school! Не/she also wants to abolish Latin and introduce more relevant subjects such as Current Affairs and Consumerism. He/she will ask for more suggestions along these lines at the meeting.

The Humanities teacher: Mr/Ms Smith

Не/she teaches English, History and Latin and thinks that the new principal is too radical. Не/she agrees that uniforms, and compulsory sport should be abolished - but thinks that homework and examinations should be maintained, especially as the students have to sit for public external examinations in order to get into higher institutions and apprenticeships.

The Science teacher: Mr/Ms Bell

Не/she supports some of the principal’s ideas about education but thinks that a moderate amount of homework should be given. Also, in order to prevent competitiveness among the students, a cheap and simply uniform should be kept. Bell used to teach Domestic Science/Carpentry before coming to Woodville School and would like to see the introduction of these kinds of subjects.

Parent 1: Mr/Ms Baxter

Не/she has more traditional ideas about education, supports the continued teaching of Latin as a valuable mental discipline, and is generally suspicious of the principal’s progressive ideas. Mr/Ms Baxter will consider moving his/her child to a different school if the principal's proposals are agreed to at the parent/teacher meeting.

Parent 2: Mr/Ms Logan

Не/she has moderate or liberal ideas about education but is very much against the introduction of fashionable subjects such as Consumerism into the school syllabus.

Parent 3: Mr/Ms Harris

Не/she has very progressive ideas about education and thinks that the older pupils (15–17-year-olds) should only spend two or three days at school each week – the rest of their time being spent outside in the community!

Assemble into your discussion groups and by discussing the problem, try to work out a way to solve it. Afterwards give an account of the outcome of the meeting. You may like to elect a group representative for this before you begin.

Writing

Write a feature article about the improvements that could be made in secondary education in this country.

Section 2. schools with a difference

Starter activity

What do you know about alternatives to conventional schooling in Great Britain/the USA/Belarus? What would you criticise/praise in private education? Have you had any experience of working in non-government educational establishments? What are your impressions?

READING ONE