Education in Britain

DON"T DARE  DO WELL AT UNIVERSITY

BRITISH PRIME-MINISTER ATTACKS "SWATS'

By Stephen Wilson

 

            

In 2013, Boris Johnson attacked the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, as 'a girlish swat'. The grounds for what appears to be such an eccentric and erratic comment is that the Prime Minister attained a first class degree at university while he  obtained a 2.1. The word provoked an outburst of indignation because 'girlish swat' is slang for a school girl who studies hard and does well academically at school. The remarks were not only blatantly sexist, but seem to send a crude populist message to school students and university students saying, "Do well, but don't do very well". The British media were reminded of this cheap jibe because only recently Boris Johnson, the current Prime Minister, called the leader of the opposition 'a girlish blouse ' {slang for lacking manhood } for chickening out of agreeing to holding a general election. The comment comes at a time when the British Prime Minister is attempting to force Britain out of the European Union without a deal, regardless of the consent of parliament, or in deed , any legal decisions. However, Parliament is already on the verge of passing a bill which would make such a pull out on October the 31st, without the consent of parliament, illegal. The current Prime Minister lacks a majority in parliament to withdraw from the European Union. When The P.M. declared that, "We will leave the European Union by the 31st October without a deal regardless of what parliament says or any legal decision," legal judges warned him that such action would be 'in contempt of court' and even threatened to imprison him. In other words, the PM is not above the law. The problem is perhaps compounded by the fact that unlike Russia, or America, Britain has no written constitution and procedure is decided by unwritten conventions, agreements and old legal decisions based on precedent. The British system baffles outsiders and even British teachers find it archaic and bewilderingly complex.

 

           NOT VERY DEMOCRATIC

 

            

But it is not the contempt of parliament by the prime minister which should astonish people and especially historians. A conservative leader, Ian Gilmour once wrote that when democracy is leading to an end that is inconsistent with itself there is a case for ending it. Former Prime Minister Asquith ignored the will of parliament on votes for women, Thatcher managed to push through extreme counter reforms despite having less than 40% of the vote and this Prime Minister is once again attempting to suppress discussion and debate in parliament on Brexit by closing it down. What should surprise teachers from all over the world is the cheap insult 'girlish swat'. You might be forgiven for thinking that a pupil at school or a student at university who attained the highest awards and marks would be generously applauded. You might believe if a student got first class degree or Red diploma , people would say "Well done".

            

For instance, in Russia, when the daughter of Oksana Chebortareva got 100% in the Russia exam, the chief of Moscow Education presented her with a medal. But In Britain, the Prime Minister will condemn you as 'a girlish swat'. Such a comment is hardly going to inspire school students to study harder. On the contrary, it is like giving children a green light to study less and mock those students who are doing well. It is often the case that talented students are taunted and tormented by the less talented pupils for doing too well. The Prime Minister sounds like a bully. In fact, he is one. Perhaps the P.M. is seeking to draw support from crude populist elements in Britain who resent a more cultured or educated culture. Sound familiar?

 

           DISCRIMINATION ON THE JOB MARKET

 

            

The fact remains that students who do well at university by attaining a first class degree face hostility from their peers and the public. I recall after I had helped prepare a college student, Mary Wilkinson, for a psychology exam how she got a first, but when she took up employment at the college she complained of resentment. Time and time again students complain that when they inadvertently speak of their exact exam marks they might not get a job or they are typecast as 'an academic'. I remember when I showed my exam results to an American employer it provoked fury. I never got the job. As a result, students carefully conceal their exam results. Otherwise they render themselves unemployable. Part of the problem is rooted in the existence of a non intellectual and non philosophical culture in Britain. The Philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre  identified the aspects of this culture where people no longer freely discuss, debate or listen to each other. Instead, they self righteously assert opinions on to another. They aggressively attempt to score points or win the argument by raving, ranting and cheap insults.

            

But what if losing an argument is a good thing?  What should matter is for a person to spiritually or personally to advance on the path to enlightenment. Should anyone be expected to know all the answers to the world's problems? A low level of rhetoric has largely replaced a more sophisticated tradition where rhetoric was not reduced to the art of persuasion, public relations or marketing, but the art of speaking politely and eloquently. In the public schools of Shakespeare's time rhetoric was a subject where children were encouraged to use the language clearly , carefully and articulately, to respect opponent's arguments, write verse, sing well and perform plays. This is a far cry from today. Then people learnt Latin, Greek and foreign languages and adored the theater. Now in Britain, the government discourages pupils from learning foreign languages and going to the theater is often frowned upon 'as something for the rich'. And if a school student studies too hard he is greeted by a chorus of mockery.  And a person who entered university can be labelled "Girly swats who wasted their time at university.'' It seems that the bully in the back of the classroom is taking full precedence. He is not just a naughty school boy, but a prime minister. It is not simply the negation of the hard-working student.

            

You are also witnessing the growing negation of the authority of the teacher. So this low level of rhetoric is reflected in the childish comments of the current British Prime Minister. And it has an entirely negative impact on culture, never mind education.