Heading for a teacherless future

1st June 2001, 1:00am
Affronted by a culture of mistrust and blame, thousands of experienced teachers abandon the profession. Other creative individuals leave in exasperation at the prescriptive, mechanistic nature of modern classroom practice.

Thousands of threshold “failures” consider if they have a future in education. Unknown numbers of potential recruits give up in the face of skills tests.

At the same time, the number of classrom assistants rockets, money is poured into information and communications techhnology and the National Grid for Learning gears up to supply standard lessons to pupils on-line.

Is it too Machiavellian to suggest that the “teacherless school” may soon be a reality, with the “school-less education system” another step away? Think of the savings!

John Ewart

21 Darley Road

Eastbourne, East Sussex