SPRING 1961 VOLUME 3 NUMBER 2 PRICE: TWO SHILLINGS FORUM AND SIXPENCE Who is for Crowther ? L. F. W. White A Challenge to the Minister FOR THE /. L. Dixon The Beloe Report and After : a Symposium DISCUSSION A. D. Heeley, M. Holmes, G. W. Cutts, J. Vincent Chapman An Experiment in Applied Education OF NEW Ray Gosling Discussion TRENDS IN G. Freeland, J. E. Brown, K. Portman, D. Rubinstein, 'Senior English Master' Drama in the Secondary School EDUCATION Alan Garrard Reserves of Ability Jean Floud Teaching and Discrimination Paddy Whannel Mixing in the Comprehensive School G. V. Pape Book Reviews G. Richardson, V. Mallinson, S. S. Segal ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE (POST FREE) EDITORIAL BOARD CHEMISTRY EDWARD BLISHEN FOR JUNIOR FORMS MARJORIE COOKE SECOND EDITION Headmistress, Priory Girls' Secondary Modern School, Middlesex A. C. Cavell S. FISHER For the second edition of this well-known book Senior History Master, Woodberry Down a number of significant changes have been made School, London to the text. The aim of the book remains as be­ fore—to provide a simple introduction to prac­ G. C. FREELAND tical and theoretical chemistry for the young Headmaster, Mowmacre Junior School, Leicester beginner, and take him or her up to the standard of General Science of the G.C.E., or to the E. HARVEY year before the final preparation is made for the Headmaster, Weston Lane County Junior full chemistry paper of this examination. School, Otley, Yorkshire Illustrated 10J. B. F. HOBBY Senior French Master, Yardley Grammar School, Birmingham Scholar's Library H. E. HOPPER Headmaster, Wilby Carr Secondary School^ TOPICS AND OPINIONS Doncaster SECOND SERIES H. RAYMOND KING Headmaster, Wandsworth School, London Selected and Edited by A. F. Scott F. R. ROLLINSON This new volume in a popular series covers Headmaster, Westfield Comprehensive School, three large sections of human activity; society, Derbyshire the arts and science. It deals with the elements of human nature and the varied problems of life LADY SIMON OF WYTHENSHAWB Manchester Education Committee and conduct in essays which range in subject from The Unity and Diversity of Europe to J. H. TURNER Radio Astronomy and the Modern Universe. Director of Education, West Bromwich Is. 6d. J. WALTON Headmaster, Kingsway County Secondary Modern School, Nottinghamshire MACMILLAN'S MARGARET WILSON Deputy Head, Eardley Junior Mixed School, NEEDLEWORK London LEAFLETS—9-16 V. M. Legge and M. C. Laycock Editors: ROBIN PEDLEY and BRIAN SIMON These leaflets are for the girls own reference. Education Department, University of Leicester They can be used in connection with Macmil- Reviews Editor: GEOFFREY RICHARDSON lan's Needlework Plates or independently. Each Editorial Communications. MSS and contributions leaflet deals with one variety of embroidery to discussion (800 words maximum), which will be stitch. No. 9 Running Back Stitch and Satin welcomed, and books for review should be addressed to the Editors, 71 Claiendon Park Stitch; No. 10 Chain Stitch (1); No. 11 Chain Road, Leicester. Stitch (2); No. 12 Lazy Daisy and Fly Stitch; No. 13 Loop Stitch; No. 14 Feather Stitch; No. Business Information. Price Two Shillings and Six­ pence per issue (2s. 9d. post free). Postal 15 Cross Stitch and Herring-Bone Stitch; No. subscription Seven Shillings and Sixpence yearly. 16 Dot Stitches. 4 pages each. The set 2s. 6d. Correspondence relating to subscriptions, etc., should be addressed to the Manager, 81 Lutter­ worth Road, Leicester. FORUM is published MACMILLAN & CO LTD three times a year, in September, January and St. Martin's Street, London, W.C.2 May. P S W (Educational) Publications, 71 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester. Leicester 75176 42 Who is for Crowther ? L. F. W. WHITE Secretary, National Association of Divisional Executives for Education Many readers will remember that a Council for Educational Advance was set up in the early 1940s1 to conduct a public campaign for the measures subsequently embodied in the 1944 Education Act. There is no doubt that the progressive character of this Act was partly the direct result of the work of this Council. At the conference of the National Association of Divisional Executives for Education in September last, Dr. White made a plea for the formation of a similar Council to carry out a campaign for the implementation of the main principles of the Crowther Report. 'FORUM' is glad to print an article by Dr. White elaborating this proposal. We believe that such an organisation could play an important part in determining educational developments in the 1960s. We ask our readers to press for the formation of such an organisation by every means in their power. 'It's a shocker! A startler ! And it will shake every Undoubtedly there is a greater personal interest parent in England.' ('Daily Sketch'). 'It faces the in education than ever before but it would be a Prime Minister with a challenge no Cabinet dare mistake to think of it as a popular acceptance of its refuse.' 'Is your Government prepared to start now unquestioned right to further expansion. Historic­ on a twenty year plan to revolutionise British Edu­ ally, popular approval to the development of com­ cation?' ('Daily Mirror'). 'This morning we are pulsory education has come reluctantly and grudg­ plainly told how our poverty-stricken education ingly, driven by the philanthropic idealism of a small must be revolutionised.* ('Daily Herald'). 'It is not a minority, the economic necessity arising out of question of whether we can afford to do it, but of modern techniques of production, the family urge to whether we can afford not to.' ('Observer'). 'Obvi­ provide a higher standard of living for the offspring ously,' wrote the 'Observer', 'all newsmen nowadays so that they can enjoy better social prestige and the assume all of us, the general public, are vitally in­ fear of the political consequences of a democracy terested in our children's education.' Yet here is an founded upon a mass of untutored voters. If there extract from a letter written at the time to the 'News is to be further educational advance the vague, gen­ Chronicle': 'The teacher's job is difficult enough at eral interest in the service must be channelled into the moment, especially in the cities and large towns, a popular agitation. Educational progress will be he has to educate surly toughs and brazen hussies of achieved only by definite objectives, clearly stated, 15. And now the planners want him to cope with the simply formulated and enthusiastically advocated. It tougher and more brazen breed of 16.' will be a tragedy of this decade if we flounder through Crowther. The opening sentences of the A forgotten text book? Report assert, 'This Report is about the education of English boys and girls aged from 15 to 18. Most Nearly a year later, only vaguely remembered by of them are not being educated.' And the major the general public, the Crowther Report is in danger issue is 'Does it matter ?' It is our task to convince of becoming a text book for academic discussions or people that it matters enormously. What education professional controversy. Its bold strategy has been needs at present is a sense of urgency of purpose, of forgotten in brilliant but purposeless debate on its missionary zeal in advocacy. minor issues. The Ministry has been effusive in praise of its analysis but hesitant in approval of its recom­ The age must be raised mendations. Who can chide the Ministry when there The case for raising the school leaving age to 16 has been no clear lead from educationists generally? during this decade is overwhelming. The existing And who can expect popular enthusiasm when there secondary modern school is a revolt against educa­ is professional indifference ? The public will ignore tional capitulation at 15. The sooner we realise that what we advocate with hesitation. without a. nurumum age of .16 fte .experiments, of 4% recent years are doomed to failure, the better. It may tions of secondary modern education is wholly and be suggested that there is an economic argument for lamentably inadequate. It is not safe either for asserting that it is preferable to educate a few society or for the individual that the vast majority graduates, leaving those who want to leave at 15 to of young people should be sent into full time do so, but in the long run economic prosperity employment at the age of fifteen. demands a higher level of education all round. All the social, economic and political factors Indeed it can be claimed that the case for the aver­ demand action. The future pattern of further educa­ age and less than average pupil to remain at school tion is dependent upon recognition of the urgency of is stronger than for the intelligent pupil to do so. reaching a final decision on the main principles of The latter is in any case more equipped to face the Crowther. world than the former. From the economic aspect What is required is a united front by the education industry cannot permanently be organised on the profession. It is therefore suggested that a Council basis of a highly (although narrowly) educated of Action be established representing the profes­ minority with an ill-equipped mass of poorly trained sional teachers and administrators, the education workers. Recent experience has shown that the committees and, indeed, all those who have the extent and rate of day release is not sufficient as a welfare of the service at heart. The Council for base upon which to build a part-time system that Educational Advance should, when established, be will be adequate to meet the demands for a higher charged with the purpose of stimulating public content of education during the 15-16 age.