Last night I went to a school to learn about the 'A' levels that one of my children might do. It was a grim reminder of how central government now dominates education and damages it.

I was told that not one of the examining boards for French 'A' level now sets a single piece of French literature. The students will not read a single French book or play. Instead they will go through a textbook which includes one chapter on literature and three on the environment. This is a sick cocktail of philistinism and eco-propaganda.

I did French 'A' level myself many years ago. In fact I failed it (it was possible to fail in those days). I can't remember all the literature we read but it included the boisterous play, Le Malade Imaginaire, a sinister novel by Francois Mauriac (please excuse the lack of an accent on the first 'c', I don't know how to put it in), beautiful poems by Ronsard and L'Etranger by Camus.

I have no objection to 'A' levels including less literature and more about modern France. But no literature at all? It is absurd. And no history either. Instead, those who are very concerned about the environment have taken over the show. I defend with enthusiasm the right of such people to have their say and for the issues they raise to be discussed in school with all sides of the argument represented. It would obviously be a relevant in Geography. But to push it into every conceivable subject, even languages, is outrageous and shows that such concerns have gone beyond opionions openly debated into being dominating propaganda that no one dares oppose. Propaganda is the enemy of education. Education should be at least in part about challenging received opinions, not about ramming them down throats.

What is more objectionable still is that there is no choice. A school cannot avoid this hugely unbalanced curriculum by changing examining boards. The QCA, apparently, has determined the balance: masses on the environment, nothing on literature.

I came across something similar in History. There central government has determined what periods of history in which countries students will study all over Britain. There is apparently a choice that can be made between the 19th century and the 17th century and these choices involve different countries. But it is still highly prescriptive. This is control freakery verging on totalitarianism. It is obnoxious to anyone who believe education is about enabling the mind to roam. It is absurd to anyone who understands that teachers and children alike are more motivated and excited about the teaching and learning process if they have some choice and control of their what and how the study takes place.

In both these subjects, regret at the changes in the curriculum was freely expressed by the teachers concerned as well as myself. "We were not consulted," the French teacher said sadly.

Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in Education

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