THANK YOU Libby Purves for bringing a voice of sanity to the continually-assessed, excessively evaluated and interminably tested world of education (TES, March 10).
I have often wondered, when I present an action plan to a 16- year-old, what my reaction would have been at that age on being asked to fill in such a document.
I have the sneaking suspicion that, although compliance might have been forthcoming, enthusiasm and insight would have been distinctly lacking.
When I am approached for advice on choosing university courses, many students look at me as if I am mad when I tell them to go for what intereststhem - because they will be stuck with it for three or four years.
There is a belief that anything with “business” in the title will lead to a well-paid and interesting job but, as Libby states, there is only a small minority whose goals and aspirations are clearly-
defined.
For the rest, any attempt at strategic planning might as well be done with the roll of a dice.
I would like to take up Libby’s last question: “So are we all barking up the wrong tree?” We lost the tree years ago. I think it retrained to become a lamppost.
Carole Blacher
Course tutor
Orpington College, Kent