Why do some politicians persist in referring to training colleges when they seek to reform current teacher development?

In the 1950s and 1960s, training colleges produced most of the teachers required for the expansion and improvement of state education. There have been many changes since then - in particular, the lengthening of courses from two to three or four years and the move towards an all-graduate profession.

Teacher training colleges as such ceased to exist 50 years ago. Their former students, with the exception of those who are working beyond retirement age, are no longer in schools.

Am I being over-sensitive? Or do these references reflect lack of clarity or even a failure to appreciate the history and development of teacher education on the part of these politicians?

Geoff Fenwick, Former teacher, deputy head and lecturer.