Times Educational Supplement: B.Ed.

Gerard Kelly is the editor of the Times Educational Supplement (TES). In his editorial in February he argues for the abolition of the undergraduate route into primary education. He writes:

"Does it matter? Teaching is a practical not an intellectual pursuit. An intimate knowledge of Shakespeare's sonnets is of little use if the teacher lacks the crowd control skills to impart it."

I find it extraordinary that the writer of these lines is the editor of a newspaper that is there to appeal to and, I have always supposed, support, the teaching profession. Here he states that teaching does not involve the engagement of the intellect. So, now we know how he feels about teachers and their profession and would explain why the TES has noticeably been 'dumbed down' in its content over the last few years.

Anyone who understands teaching will know that his remarks are wrongheaded. Firstly, being a good teacher means being artistic, creative and above all well-informed about how children learn. Secondly, having an intimate knowledge about the arts and sciences will make a teacher passionate and interested about the world. Children are wise enough to see this and will respond positively. In addition, Kelly, the editor of the leading teaching newspaper in the UK, appears to conceptualise teaching as 'crowd control'. No wonder he wants to see the demise of the teaching degree, he advocates the classroom being policed by bouncers and riot police. I have to assume, Kelly is tired of editing the TES and wishes to move 'on' - perhaps to a journal on a subject he knows something about.

Most of his remarks about the undergraduate route into teaching are poorly informed. Kelly supports the Graduate Teacher Programme as it can "instill loyalty to a particular institution". A teacher needs loyalty to his/her profession and to the principles and knowledge base there-in. It would be extremely unhealthy for teachers to stay in one school for protracted periods of time. Headteachers will know that a good school encourages staff development and welcomes teachers moving on and the arrival of professionals with experience in different teaching environments and a love for different aspects of life, art and science.

Teaching, as a profession, is under attack. The suggested abolition of the undergraduate degree into primary education is part of this attack. Teachers need to resist any move to take away the link between teaching and the generators of professional knowledge - the universities. Save the the Undergraduate routes into teaching!