March 03, 2003

The Americanization of Britain, continued

The Americanization of Britain, continued

Stephen Pollard reports on academic standards and university admissions policy in Britain, which seems to be steering itself towards following the disastrous American model. The "flexible targets" are not identity politics-based, as in America, but rather are based on "class." The goal is an acceptable "social mix," to be encouraged by punitive funding sanctions leveled against institutions which don't meet the targets. The intended effect ("intended" because it is both means and end) will be to discriminate against students who have attended "good schools" in favor of those who have attended "bad schools," regardless of achievement or ability. Sound familiar?

Why not improve the bad schools? Easier asked than done, apparently. And "bad" is relative. Unlike in Britain, American high schools regularly turn out barely-literate graduates. The first year or two at an American university must be devoted to remedial education. Being able to read and write a coherent sentence puts you miles and miles ahead of most of your classmates. Ask any British exchange student: he or she will tell you that American undergraduate coursework is the easiest thing they have ever had to do, far less demanding than what had been expected of them in high school back home. The Brits have no idea how bad subliteracy can get when the educational system is set up to encourage it; but it looks as though they're going to find out.

Posted by Dr. Frank at March 3, 2003 10:28 AM | TrackBack