Well at least it was only a couple of paragraphs of last weeks “Debate with Dennis: Education for its own Sake” that had me fuming rather than the whole article, unlike last time! (see my BLOG on “Its time to get a grip and say “No” to every suggestion in a student evaluation”)

According to Dennis:

Listening to sixth-formers and college students debate "Education for its own sake is a bit dodgy", inspired by Charles Clarke's infamous remark, I was amazed by their instrumentalism. Few could comprehend the idea that education is not a means to an end but a value in itself. One contributor even pointed out with mock horror that his postman had an English degree! What a waste of the postie's time and tax payer's money!

This is my response letter to Dennis, printed in today’s TES FE Focus

“Once again, in TES this week Dennis Hayes fails to attempt to understand the views of learners on their own education. The rising direct and indirect opportunity costs of education, particularly in FE, are bound to entrench a set of attitudes in learners that produce a desire to see a return on the investment of their time and money.

Dennis could, as a result, have called for more state help for learners and attempted to understand learners’ motivation and agency better- as we do and as Sir Andrew Foster recognises: “Learners will want to consider the opportunity cost of studying and will demand a more personalised, excellent service in return. Lessons can be learnt from the Danish model where the learner voice is a central part of self assessment”. Instead he again insults learners by misunderstanding what little it is of what they say he chooses to hear”

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