Monday, December 04, 2006
Private Schools, No Good?
The Times reports here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2485876,00.html (sorry can't link for some reason) on a "study" by a Professor David Jesson, of York University (so from my part of the world as it were).
Apparently he was "... surprised by his own research, which showed very little difference between the state and independent sectors ..." and from there we have our headline of: "Private schools are 'no better for A levels'". If we read on another few words we get: "...in the proportion of the most able students gaining three grade As at A level ...". Note that bit "proportion of the most able", well a cursory glance at the results every year shows us that some pupils in the state sector do obtain good grades, so yes we can conclude that if your child works hard and is dedicated then not even the socialist education system of our state can hold them back.
The professor clearly not overburdened with an analytical mind goes on to conclude: " “This is the demolition of the myth that independent school education is of itself creating better results,”". Well that as maybe, but it only applies to the most able students doesn't it? Also the measurement is finite the A grade is the maximum, but it could be that those from the private sector are scoring higher despite still receiving an A grade. What of the less able students, well conveniently the good professor doesn't look at them, but isn't it possible in fact I would say likely that the independent schooling actually contributes to say an increase of maybe 10% or more to their grades? Which can easily be the difference between a lower and higher grade.
The professor is clearly out with an agenda to prove that private schools are a waste of money. Perhaps they are, but he hasn't proved it, and I know what my opinion is. Amazingly though: "He conceded that independent schools may still produce better results than the state sector in subjects most valued by the elite universities, such as science, maths and languages." Which is most odd as this presumably means that in his comparative analysis he was comparing results from media studies in the state sector with results from maths in the private one. Again although never having undertaken a media studies course or qualification I think I know which is shall we say more academically challenging.
If I'd have come up with a study like this I'd never dare speak about it let alone publish it, for fear of being ridiculed. How can someone with so little analytical grasp be a professor? I'd wager he earns far more money than me, and what for? To produce drivel like this.
With professors like this knocking around we need private universities as well as private schools.
Apparently he was "... surprised by his own research, which showed very little difference between the state and independent sectors ..." and from there we have our headline of: "Private schools are 'no better for A levels'". If we read on another few words we get: "...in the proportion of the most able students gaining three grade As at A level ...". Note that bit "proportion of the most able", well a cursory glance at the results every year shows us that some pupils in the state sector do obtain good grades, so yes we can conclude that if your child works hard and is dedicated then not even the socialist education system of our state can hold them back.
The professor clearly not overburdened with an analytical mind goes on to conclude: " “This is the demolition of the myth that independent school education is of itself creating better results,”". Well that as maybe, but it only applies to the most able students doesn't it? Also the measurement is finite the A grade is the maximum, but it could be that those from the private sector are scoring higher despite still receiving an A grade. What of the less able students, well conveniently the good professor doesn't look at them, but isn't it possible in fact I would say likely that the independent schooling actually contributes to say an increase of maybe 10% or more to their grades? Which can easily be the difference between a lower and higher grade.
The professor is clearly out with an agenda to prove that private schools are a waste of money. Perhaps they are, but he hasn't proved it, and I know what my opinion is. Amazingly though: "He conceded that independent schools may still produce better results than the state sector in subjects most valued by the elite universities, such as science, maths and languages." Which is most odd as this presumably means that in his comparative analysis he was comparing results from media studies in the state sector with results from maths in the private one. Again although never having undertaken a media studies course or qualification I think I know which is shall we say more academically challenging.
If I'd have come up with a study like this I'd never dare speak about it let alone publish it, for fear of being ridiculed. How can someone with so little analytical grasp be a professor? I'd wager he earns far more money than me, and what for? To produce drivel like this.
With professors like this knocking around we need private universities as well as private schools.
Tags: education, Professor Jesson, state
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
Labels: Education
