Much is made currently of schools’ need to engage in self-evaluation as part of “intelligent accountability”.
The Office for Standards in Education and others have provided self-evaluation schedules.
However, none to my knowledge remotely compares in educational value to the following checklist devised more than 50 years ago by Teddy O’Neill, head- teacher of Prestolee elementary school, Lancashire.
Asked what a school should be, he replied:
* a place for lectures and teaching
* a workshop for young and old - of both sexes
* a den of hobbies and indoor; games
* a studio for drawing, painting and plastics
* a music studio
* a hall for song and dance
* an educational shop window
* a reference library
* a picture gallery
* a museum
* a reading room
* a book stall for magazines and newspapers
* a club
* a refreshment bar
* an orchard
* an aquarium
* a vivarium
* a home for pets
* a playing field
* a gymnasium
* a bathing place
* a fair garden
* a kitchen
* a dining place
* a laundry
* a first-aid post
* cleansing department
Asked what a school should be, he replied:
* a place for lectures and teaching
* a workshop for young and old - of both sexes
* a den of hobbies and indoor; games
* a studio for drawing, painting and plastics
* a music studio
* a hall for song and dance
* an educational shop window
* a reference library
* a picture gallery
* a museum
* a reading room
* a book stall for magazines and newspapers
* a club
* a refreshment bar
* an orchard
* an aquarium
* a vivarium
* a home for pets
* a playing field
* a gymnasium
* a bathing place
* a fair garden
* a kitchen
* a dining place
* a laundry
* a first-aid post
* cleansing department
* store sheds for raw materials.
Isn’t that better (and more intelligent) than any possible Form S4 ?
Professor Colin Richards
1 Bobbin Mill
Spark Bridge
Cumbria
