Something to offer

6th October 2000, 1:00am

Share

Something to offer

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/something-offer
BILL COOPER’S reactionary dismissal (TESS, September 22) of 95 per cent of Scottish schools, ie comprehensives, as inherently second-rate, cannot go unchallenged. His high opinion of German Gymnasien (senior secondaries) is not shared by the pupils thereof; many of our Cademuir pupils come from these schools, preferring, and choosing to invest in, the benefits of a Scottish curriculumeducation.

Their reasons are varied, but include observations such as

Gymnasien usually have class sizes of 30-40 pupils

Public exams are set by the teachers, unlike the independence of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (despite its recent problems); pupils are therefore too dependent on teacher goodwill

The pace is rigidly geared, often to the slowest, and pupils are unable to move onfrustratedbored - with obvious implications for discipline <> Teachers here are more ready to help and support pupils, especially those with dyslexiaother needs.

Certainly no one would deny that Scottish education could be improved - the German system of starting primary school at six, then secondary at 10, has much to commend it; many parents feel pressured into starting their children in school at four, and there is a perception, among pupils and parents, that the period P6-S2 is a time of academic stagnation.

However, a return to selective education does not seem to address either of these problems - which are organisationalpolitical, not educational - and would create the classic self-fulfilling prophecy of low expectationlow achievement for the 80 per cent of “rejects”.

(Ms) H M Wilson

Teacher of classics and mathematics

Cademuir School

Moniaive, Dumfriesshire


Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared