For Crosland, what socialism was about was equality -- and the Labour Party was missing the point insofar as it concerned itself too much with issues of public ownership at the expense of this core value. Crosland, it should be noted, advocated more than the toothless 'equality of opportunity' of John Smith's Commission on Social Justice - he wanted a thoroughgoing transformative equality that looked to overthrow traditional patterns of status, privilege and wealth in British society. (On becoming Education Secretary, Crosland announced that his aim was to "destroy every fucking grammar school in the country.")
source - http://www.voiceoft
The Labour government has failed to live up to its election pledges on education, many parents believe, according to a new survey.
Although parents vote the Tories as most likely to improve education if elected next year, the majority do not think the Conservatives would fulfil their pledges to make schooling a priority.
The poll of 1,000 parents found that seven in ten believe politicians do not know very much about education, while nearly three quarters (72%) feel the UK's leaders are not in touch with the education system.
Almost nine in ten (87%) believe that political parties hype up their promises to secure votes, and nearly half (47%) say politicians want an education system which does not suit children's needs.
Despite Tony Blair's "education, education, education" pledge when he took office in 1997, more than a third of parents (35%) think Labour has failed to live up to its promises.
Parents voted the Tories most likely to improve education, with 29% of the vote, followed by Labour (19%) and the Liberal Democrats (11%).
Educational charity Edge, which commissioned the survey, said parents often feel sidelined when it comes to their child's education.
The survey found that a focus on basic skills, such as literacy and numeracy, was parents' top education priority (chosen by 64%) followed by greater investment in teachers (59%), investing in school buildings and facilities (51%), more practical options in schools (50%) and more apprenticeships (44%).
Edge chief executive Andy Powell said: "The message is clear - British parents know what they want for their children when it comes to education, but currently none of the parties are meeting their expectations.
"The policymakers are making these decisions for their children now, which is why now is the time for parents to act. We want an education system that recognises that there are many paths to success, nurturing the individual interests and talents of the nation's young people."
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