Okay, the analogy might be a bit stretched, but is this really so different from how many students feel in school?
Last year, the DfES launched the Aiming High strategy to reduce the gulf in attainment between pupils from different ethnic backgrounds. Although attainment varies from area to area, on average pupils of Indian and Chinese background achieve the highest, while those of African-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Gypsy/Traveller background are falling behind.
It is admirable that the government has acknowledged that these inequalities are unacceptable. It is even more commendable that they are endeavouring to do something about it.
However, it is noticeable that much of this debate takes place between adults, whose school days were generally pre-GCSE, pre-National Curriculum, pre-SATs. We may be able to join in the arguments with vigour, but we have no idea what it is like to learn in a secondary school in 2004. Shouldn't we encourage the views of those who do?
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