DAVID Torrance writes of the seminal work of Tony Crosland, The Future of Socialism, published in 1956 ("UK must rejuvenate itself in order to survive in the 21st century", The Herald March 2).
One of the areas in which such restoration of vitality is required is in relation to education, given the performance of the UK schools in international assessments.
Crosland believed that the way to altering behaviour and attitudes within society was not through nationalisation but rather through bringing about substantial change in the education system. He was, of course, later appointed Secretary of State for Education and Science by Harold Wilson in 1965. He made no secret of his ambition to destroy grammar schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He was prevented from pursuing the matter in Scotland, because schools here came within the remit of the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The movement toward one school for all, with the exception of those attending the private/"public" schools, had started during the early 1960swhen the Conservatives were in power. Crosland accelerated the demise of most of the grammar schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and this course was continued by subsequent Conservative administrations. The process toward comprehensive schooling was implemented by education authorities throughout Scotland with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
It was Harold Wilson, as Prime Minister, who promised that the policy, pursued vigorously by Crosland, of the extensive adoption of comprehensive schools would provide "a grammar school education for all". One wonders if Wilson's promise was ever truly realisable. That statement is probably on a par with his observation in 1967, following devaluation, that "the pound in your pocket or purse or in the bank" had not been devalued.
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road,
Lenzie.
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