SATs Ur-day...

So.. its SATs time again.. possibly for the last time... which brings out all the old arguments about tests getting in the way of education.. which I feel misses the point.. for most people in this country, including the educators, have no idea about the aim of education, or rather, what was the aim when our rather artificial system was divised... who has not heard a teen ager complain bitterly that knowing the rainfall on the bus in the amazon delta will be of no use in the outside world... do I see a hand raised at the back?? No?? good.... because ( and this is a closely guarded secret these days, yet known to our not so distant ancestors... ) the aim of our education sysytem is not to enable the student to gain knowledge in the subjects taught.. the actual subjects taught are immaterial.. remember the early schools and unis taught religion and latin.. occasionaly maths.. even today a Classics degree will get you far in Civil Service.. but why? what is the point of education? I will tell you.. promise!! Our education system is set up to teach people to learn... to accumulate and assimilate information, and then show that the student can use that information or skill under pressure... it is to prepare you for doing the same in a job..... the idea is that (i) you will make your errors at school rather than in the more costly work environment, and (ii) to weed out those less able... the aim is not to enable everyone to get a qualification.. in fact its aim is to make qualifying so difficut that it is easy to see who is good at learning and who is not... which is where it all falls down of course.. because today we see education as inclusive, yet attempt to do it in an exclusive way... and we place far too much emphasis on academic subjects, mainly because education is controlled and formulated by academicians... which makes our supposedly new, inclusive way even more exclusive, by effectively penalising those who would do far better in a less academic environment... and here liesthe problem.. we purport to wanting inclusive education, but cannot get away from exclusivity... we need to decide what we want to do. do we separate wheat from chaff at a certain age, ensuring that the so called best jobs go to the best students, or do we attempt to educate everyone to the same level, accepting that that means some will leave school at thirteen, while others stay till seventy.... or do we find some middle ground.. encourage the student to find out what they enjoy and are good at (and the two are not necessarily the same!) and channel them in that direction, regardless of what that is.. value those who are less academic, and show them that just because they are not university degree material, they are not second class citizens... and vice versa... or even verse vica.... in my (possibly incorrect .. but only possibly.. ) opinion, we need an education system tailored more to the individual, and less to government targets... put those who desire high pressure positions under pressure, so they don't crack at the wrong moment, and let the others off.... make education about learning about learning, and about learning skills, and gathering knowledge.. but that would take thought, long term planning, interest and above all money.. all of which are in short supply... but i digress.. good luck to those sitting sats, and to those satting sits.. and until we learn what we need, Wisebeard salutes you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!