Bel is thinking

From the Daily Mail, we learn that the Department of Education has ‘called on teachers to create an atmosphere in which it is trendy to work hard and “boffins” are not bullied for being too brainy.’

Yes, teachers and all those in authority should ensure that bullying is stamped out in any place where they have a say, whether or not it is a ‘boffin’ being bullied, so that goes without saying.

I am more interested in this new assignment to teachers to ‘create an atmosphere in which it is trendy to work hard’. For starters, if any school can achieve this, it will be the first school ever on the face of the earth to do so. Schoolchildren have never, since the beginning of time, seen hard work as ‘trendy’, and they are not about to start now. In any case, I do not think they should be encouraged to do so. They are children, after all, and it is only to be expected that there are some things (school work, etc) that they will not embrace with the same enthusiasm as they do other things (playing, etc).

In addition, the notion that something must be made ‘trendy’ before we can encourage our children to do it, is something I find baffling. What about instilling in them the idea that hard work may not be fun, but in the end, it yields the fruits of success, a sense of achievement, and respect among peers? What about the idea that applying oneself to something, whatever the difficulties, frustrations, and challenges, might be something worth doing? What about the idea that sometimes we may not feel like doing something, but that self-discipline and dedication, irrespective of the views of others, are values to be exalted in every case? These are the lessons we should be teaching our children.

By trying to get teachers to pretend that hard work is ‘trendy’, the Department of Education is sending out a message that nothing is worth doing unless one can get superficial pleasure from it. They are preaching to children, telling them that they can attain things in life on their own terms. This is grossly irresponsible. Children do not rule the world, and sooner or later, they will learn that ‘trendiness’ does not make things happen. Far better to put trendiness in its real place, as a sometimes fun, often times diverting, ineffectual concept. In the real business of life, there is very little room for trendiness. There are many issues in this life in which the views of children are irrelevant. They need to be told that some things (eg hard work) are necessary, whether or not they are trendy. And they need to be told why.

Children should be encouraged to reach out for the tray of goodies that life can offer. However, with all this ‘trendiness’ talk, what the Department of Education is doing is kneeling at the feet of children and offering them the world on their (the children’s) own terms. Instead of encouraging them to aim high, and reach for a world outside their own, the Department is reshaping the valuable things in life so that they accord with the fleeting values of children. This I find surprising, and somewhat saddening.

Voting has commenced in the Blogpower Awards. Thank you to everybody who nominated me in the Best political blog or column category. I am grateful for all your support (and votes). I am in a category with some really good bloggers, so of course I am grateful for every vote that has so far come my way. If you haven’t yet voted, you can do so here.

There are some interesting categories. The two I am watching with interest are the ‘Most over-rated blog or column’ category and the ‘Most unintentionally humorous post’. Reading the entries for the latter category had me in peals of laughter. I love Blogpower; how else would I have come across some of these hilarious posts?

Image by Ian Grey.

I have written my maiden post for the Ghost Cabinet. It is entitled ‘Public schools and charitable status’ and can be accessed here. In it, I discuss Alan Johnson’s recent suggestion that public schools volunteer their teachers etc to work in the state sector, and question why, instead of such vindictive, publicity-grabbing stunts, the Government does not simply copy from public schools the things that make them so successful.

The Ghost Cabinet is a team of bloggers who examine Government policy, and where appropriate, present alternative ideas. All the main policy areas are catered for by bloggers with experience or interest in each area.

Today brings news of a gloomy ICM poll for David Cameron. He falls behind Gordon Brown on strength, capability, the economy, and much else besides.

Serves him right. Perhaps now he will learn that the British public are not impressed by arrogance, especially when they suspect that there is not much substance behind the swaggering pose. By attacking grammar schools and selection by ability, David Cameron deliberately picked a fight, not only with grassroots Conservative Party members, but also with hardworking parents all over the country who want the best education for their children. Having then seen the disquiet he and David Willetts had caused with their ill-judged policy, he attempted to dismiss these genuine concerns, crassly referring to opponents as ‘delusional’, and then making some off-putting macho attempts at leadership.

In all this, David Cameron forgot one very important fact: he is not yet in 10 Downing Street. The public still have the opportunity to say ‘no thanks’. And as unappealing as a Brown premiership is to many (look at previous polls, for example), people have now decided that even that is preferable to being led by an arrogant man with no substance, and no real understanding of the issues that affect the ordinary voter.

One of David Cameron’s key selling points with the public was that he appeared to be an ordinary man who could empathise with ordinary folk. Many were therefore prepared to look past his seeming lack of substance. However, his chest-beating arrogant performance of the past few weeks has put paid to that. People now see a different Cameron: a conceited, lightweight politician whose bullishness and unwillingness to listen could actually ruin the country. Together with George Osborne, the impression is of two adolescent schoolboys who have been left in charge of the house while the parents are on holiday. While it was alright to watch them thrashing about and losing the spoons, concerned citizens are now sitting up in alarm as these two have now tired of their hitherto harmless game and turned their attention to mummy’s precious antiques. There is now genuine concern that they have no clue what they are doing, and perhaps someone should do something before they destroy something of value.

So the polls are bad for Cameron, but there is one small comfort: we are still far from a general election. There is still time for him to recover from this. I would advise him to don the garb of humility and find some way of ditching this mad grammar schools policy. For a start, he could perhaps endeavour never to mention it again, and hope everyone forgets all about it. More importantly, he and David Willetts should keep their traps shut until their education policy review group reports back with its findings. Then they will have something of substance to put before the public.

David Cameron and his band of men need to learn the purpose of policy: the lives of many, their education, and their future, depend on Government policy. Policy making should therefore be approached with humility, with a sober mind, and with a sense of responsibility. It should never be used as a red rag (or even a sop) to grassroots supporters, to make headlines in the media, or to wrongfoot political opponents.

Perhaps these polls will teach David Cameron this lesson. If that happens, well and good. If not, then God help him.