Today the Government's Education White Paper was published. We're still digesting it and trying to work out how it affects both Anne and I in our jobs. I'm doing so in a context - still reading 'Jesus and Politics' which is a tremendous gutsy review of Jesus life, principles, ministry and everything that has happened since; and also having taken up rather at random the 'Very Short Introduction to Habermas'. I first read Habermas as a 70's student, and his subtle, difficult but accurate analysis of the way we live has stayed with me.
Into that mental mix Michael Gove throws his white paper. I want to say 'yes' to so much he aims at; yet I wonder whether the system can deliver it, or these methods. A conversation this morning in a (great) coffee-shop in Tenterden with a colleague "education should enable children to fully discover who they are before God, and respond to his love and promises". Habermas didn't think that - but his analysis tells me that is the optimum way forward for lost humanity. I hope we can make space for it in this new dispensation.
2 comments:
Hello Simon Foulkes. I have stumbled over your blog this evening. How funny that you should be reading the White Paper too. Gove's words bring reunion. My favourite part was when he proposed a network of 'Teaching Schools' Sounds like a plan! Will be interested to know what you make of it. (Hope all's well. New job sounds interesting. I'm pretending to be a headteacher in Devon. It's sometimes fun.)
Hey that must be Jonathan Gower, it's good to hear from you! Thanks for commenting on the blog. I followed your 'link' from the comment but it doesn't go anywhere.
Gove! Education! we wait to see...
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