Just what is a good school!?

Monday, 01 March 2010 23:00

Martin Montgomery is a youth worker in Banbridge, he is currently studying for a masters in inclusion and diversity and gives his views here on the academic selection debate which is sweeping our wee country...

Read on and give your views on his take on this complex issue...

With 50% of our young people leaving school without GCSE English or Mathematics, and young protestant boys from working class backgrounds becoming the largest group currently marginalised by the education system, I find myself asking what the church I work for, and worship in, has to say about this. When I say Church I mean my church leaders and to that end I have written an email to the Board of Education asking them for a response on the issues this article raises.

I am aware that the Board of Education along with other religious denominations seek to find a way through the current education impasse surround academic selection. With the Catholic church today coming out in favour of scrapping academic selection, this has provoked a response from the DUP. Peter Robinson claims grammer schools and academic selection must be maintained - however I wonder whose view he thinks he is representing? Indeed whose views do the Church of Ireland represent?

The young people who are being failed by the system are protestants, (probable) DUP constituents, which is why I am confused about the DUP's stance in this debate. When it comes to schooling the voice which shouts loudest is listened to in the corridors of power; the young person may not be this voice, yet they have a right to be heard. The complexity comes in when young people who have felt needs, conflict with parents who have expectations for their child. Unfortunately the cynic in me tells me the one who can vote wins the argument with the MLA's everytime. The DUP is dependant on these votes to succeed in the polls, therefore their policies may not be totally beneficial for the child who sits at the centre of this argument.

I doubt the parents of those children who are cast aside by an education system focused on results would agree with Mr Robinson, put yourself in their situation. What opinion would you have? If you're a grammar school parent or pupil, then perhaps you think the system works, but if you're not, then perhaps you think it's a story of the have's and the have nots. This brings us back to the central question of what defines a good school. Results alone can not be the answer as this tried and tested method simply increases the extremes between academic excellence and failure.

I feel I need to make it clear that I am not criticising teachers or front-line staff, the system they are subjected to and judged by restricts them to viewing young people as targets, the system needs to change to respect young people as individuals with real felt needs which both enable and prevent them to achieve in life. My question is - are we as a church failing them by not advocating on their behalf for a fairer education system? Do congregations within the C of I even realise the impact of remaining silent or neutral on this issue?

The attitude towards grammer schools and the education system is either extreme naivity (indeed complacency) - 'Served me well, and good schools are schools with good results' or extreme hurt and failure of being let down by the system and those who live with the consequence of this - usually marginalisation, little opportunity for employment leading to low aspirations and ultimately resulting in poverty which completes the vicious circle.

As a youth worker I have a vested interested in knowing where my church stands on this issue. Are we as a powerful institution who sit on various school boards and policy making institutions through our Board of Ed. actively and theologically taking a considered approach to this issue?

I would be interested to know if church seeks to educate those who sit on Boards of Governors in schools on the wider implications of pushing a results driven agenda in primary and post primary schools which judges young people solely on academic results. This narrow focus leads to our educational establishments dividing into those who educate future doctors, lawyers and professionals from those who educate future mechanics, cleaners and shelf stackers at age 11!

We as a church must be inclusive of every child and be careful not to maintain the status quo. Indeed at this critical time in our countries history regarding shaping education for future generations, we have a unique opportunity to speak out against marginalisation of young people which academic selection can contribute to, and advocate for those most in need of fair education system believing in the potential for every young person to develop and grow in a holistic way; not simply focussing on getting a grade A where they were once sitting on a B.

Think of it like this, in a grammer school where results dictate success, will a school pump money into supporting a child on a U to try to achieve a grade E, or will they try to get the D grade child to a C? When results are key, the U grade child gets sidelined. This is unacceptable and conditions the U grade child to accept their lot - where is the important life lesson on aspiration and potential being taught here?

I do understand NI has some of the best GCSE results in the UK, however we are a country of extremes, meaning we are also the country most likely to fail young people in helping them achieve any GCSE's at all. Ignoring this inequality is surely a dereliction of our theological imperative to bring sight to the blind. If we can't even bring, or even advocate an equitable education system to our own young people, then we are in real trouble both in terms of caring for our children, and in front of our God who places this responsibility upon us.

Martin Montgomery

Youth Pastor - Seapatrick Parish Church

_{The views represented in this article may not represent those held by DDYC.}