The Open University.

At any age after eighteen, and even without qualifications, people in Britain can study for a degree with the new OPEN UNIVERSITY. They work at home and are helped by postal courses, and radio and television programmes. The principle is important — higher education should be available to everyone.

The State offers free education to everyone at primary and secondary levels (although parents can pay to send their children to a public school, of course). The money is provided by the Local Authorities: the county (Lancashire, Sussex, etc.) or the city (London, Manchester, etc.) Pupils who go into higher education (university, for example) can get a grant from the Government. This depends on their parents’ income. The grant helps to pay for their teaching, their food and lodging, and their books.

— Speaking

When you’ve looked at this information, say whether the education system in your country is different from the British system.

— Speaking

WHO DO YOU AGREE WITH?

Public schools

are not, in fact, for the general public at all! They are private establishments (often residential) where parents pay a lot of money to buy an education and a certain prestige for their children. Many of the best-paid jobs in politics, business and the professions are still held by people who went to these schools. There are few public schools, for girls because, until quite recently, the British had not discovered that women are as clever as men.

Secondary modern schools

are for children who are neither rich enough to go to a public school nor “clever” enough to go to a grammar school. Many people feel that this system is unjust, because it gives an unfair advantage to children who go to public schools and grammar schools, so...

Grammar schools

To enter, children have to pass an exam. If they are successful, the school itself or the Local Authority pays for their education. A grammar school’s main objective is to prepare its pupils for the G.C.E. exams and to encourage them to go into higher education

Comprehensive schools

were established to make the system fairer. They are a mixture of the grammar school and the secondary modern. Nowadays, in many parts of Britain, all children in an area go to the local comprehensive school (except, of course, those who pay to go to a public school).

& Reading

Read and comment on the following text.

There is a furious debate in Britain concerning secondary education. Some people are in favour of keeping public schools and grammar schools. Others want them to be abolished, and to be totally replaced by comprehensive schools.

There are people in Snatchwood who have very strong views on the subject. Read first what Mrs Hope, the headmistress of Snatchwood Comprehensive School thinks.

“Comprehensive schools offer all children the chance to succeed.

It’s wrong to examine children to see if they’re “clever” enough to go to a grammar school. It isn’t fair to select children at ten or eleven, because they’re too young. And the point is, the ones who fail the exam will keep a sense of failure all their life.

At a comprehensive school, pupils have time to discover what they’re good at and what they’re interested in. Some will want to concentrate on academic subjects, like Maths or English literature. On the other hand, some might prefer more practical subjects like Home Economy or Metalwork. As long as we offer a wide choice of subjects, every child will be able to succeed in his own way. Children will only start to realise their own individual power if they’re free from a sense of failure. The trouble is, of course, grammar schools and public schools still exist. Some people say we must keep them. They say all parents should be free to choose their child’s education. But how many people are free to send their children to a public school? Only the ones who’ve got enough money.

No, there’ll only be true equality when comprehensive schools are the only form of secondary education.”

Now read what Douglas Wayne, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Snatchwood thinks.

“How can we accept a one-school system? Britain’s supposed to be a free democracy. Well, it’s no good trying to create a democratic society if we can’t even choose the type of education we want for our children. The Government hasn’t got the right to order everyone to go to the same type of school.

My wife and I worked hard for our money. We made a lot of sacrifices to send our son to a good school. Parents should be allowed to spend their money on their children’s education if they want to. And what about really bright kids? The point is, no one thinks about them nowadays. If a child’s clever, then he should go to a grammar school, where all the pupils are as intelligent as he is. And what if someone wants to send his children to a particular school for religious reasons?

Some people say we must have equality of opportunity for everyone. That’s all very well, but children are different, so surely we need different types of school. If you abolish choice, then you abolish freedom. I believe that comprehensive schools will kill democracy.”

— Dialogue invention

Look at what Mrs Hope and Mr Wayne say, then work in pairs and make up a dialogue between them on the subject of comprehensive schools. Use phrases like: “It’s wrong to...; the point is...; on the other hand...; the trouble is...; it’s no good... -ing...; that’s all very well, but...; in favour of -ing...”.

Making a speech

The problems of secondary education aren’t only British problems. They exist in all countries. What’s your personal opinion? Write a short speech on the subject of secondary education, and give your views on these points:

v Should all children go to the same school?

v Should “clever” children be selected at the age of 11 and have a separate education?

v Should parents have the right to pay for a special education for their children?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30