Tom Wise in Guardian

gawain · 02-08-2006, 04:05 PM

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/co...835645,00.html

J'accEUse

Even the Conservatives are complicit in the European takeover of British education, says Tom Wise MEP

Wednesday August 2, 2006
EducationGuardian.co.uk

There has always been a European dimension to British education. In geography I was taught about Norwegian fjords, the Danube, the industrial zone of the Ruhr; in history there was the 100 years war, the reformation and Napoleon. Obviously, there were language lessons.
But the news that the Europe minister, Geoff Hoon, has been calling for EU studies to be made part of the national curriculum reminds me how very different were my schooldays. Mr Hoon's call has an explicitly partisan political agenda, which is forbidden by the 1996 Education Act.

His declaration may have come as a surprise to some, but its motivation is not new. What has been remarkable is the vapourish response from the Conservatives.
Introducing EU studies into the school curriculum would be "appalling", said the shadow education minister, Nick Gibb went further, but it is clear the Conservative frontbench haven't the faintest idea what is happening in Europe.

The inclusion of a European element in British education is currently being pushed by one of the Tories' own MEPs, Christopher Beazley, whose report on the subject sets out Conservative policy. His report in turn derives from a series of EU statements and legislation that have as their specific aim to "strengthen in young people a sense of European identity and make clear to them the value of European civilisation".

Most people will have been aware that the EU has been creating armies, diplomatic corps and the like, but we have been led to believe that the areas of health and education remained the responsibility of national governments. Even this is no longer true.

In the field of education, the push towards a common European system started way back in 1974 and has gathered pace ever since. The new meaning of "the European dimension" is unambiguous; it is about "contributing to European citizenship". Moreover, according to the Conservative report, this dimension should concentrate upon "strengthening the European dimension in the training of teachers and in the primary and secondary level curriculum".

This is simply crazy. Teachers are already straining under a load of central Whitehall diktats and directions. But even more absurd is the thought that the primary curriculum will also include this new Euro-dimension.

Given that, according to Tony Blair, one in four children are leaving primary school unable to read properly, what will result? One EU directive plus one EU regulation equals peace, harmony and prosperity forever?

Only last week the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority announced that any reference to British cultural heritage would be removed from the planned national curriculum. It seems the main political parties agree: we can dispose of British culture because we have a nice shiny European one to replace it.

· Tom Wise is a UK Independence party MEP for the eastern counties and sits on the European parliament committee for culture and education

harryaldridge · 02-08-2006, 04:08 PM

Great stuff. UKIP evens get's a look in in the Guardian.

If this issue becomes a big political issue, it could be agood vehicle of explaining the truth about the EU.

We could even find some unlikely support amongst the educational establishment.

mkpdavies · 02-08-2006, 04:10 PM

Good stuff.

I put it down to Mark being on holiday and Clive kicking **** in his absence.

Bluemerle · 02-08-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Good stuff.

I put it down to Mark being on holiday and Clive kicking a*** in his absence.

All the same, credit where it is due. Well done.

02-08-2006, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
gawain Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 268	Tom Wise in Guardian http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/co...835645,00.html J'accEUse Even the Conservatives are complicit in the European takeover of British education, says Tom Wise MEP Wednesday August 2, 2006 EducationGuardian.co.uk There has always been a European dimension to British education. In geography I was taught about Norwegian fjords, the Danube, the industrial zone of the Ruhr; in history there was the 100 years war, the reformation and Napoleon. Obviously, there were language lessons. But the news that the Europe minister, Geoff Hoon, has been calling for EU studies to be made part of the national curriculum reminds me how very different were my schooldays. Mr Hoon's call has an explicitly partisan political agenda, which is forbidden by the 1996 Education Act. His declaration may have come as a surprise to some, but its motivation is not new. What has been remarkable is the vapourish response from the Conservatives. Introducing EU studies into the school curriculum would be "appalling", said the shadow education minister, Nick Gibb went further, but it is clear the Conservative frontbench haven't the faintest idea what is happening in Europe. The inclusion of a European element in British education is currently being pushed by one of the Tories' own MEPs, Christopher Beazley, whose report on the subject sets out Conservative policy. His report in turn derives from a series of EU statements and legislation that have as their specific aim to "strengthen in young people a sense of European identity and make clear to them the value of European civilisation". Most people will have been aware that the EU has been creating armies, diplomatic corps and the like, but we have been led to believe that the areas of health and education remained the responsibility of national governments. Even this is no longer true. In the field of education, the push towards a common European system started way back in 1974 and has gathered pace ever since. The new meaning of "the European dimension" is unambiguous; it is about "contributing to European citizenship". Moreover, according to the Conservative report, this dimension should concentrate upon "strengthening the European dimension in the training of teachers and in the primary and secondary level curriculum". This is simply crazy. Teachers are already straining under a load of central Whitehall diktats and directions. But even more absurd is the thought that the primary curriculum will also include this new Euro-dimension. Given that, according to Tony Blair, one in four children are leaving primary school unable to read properly, what will result? One EU directive plus one EU regulation equals peace, harmony and prosperity forever? Only last week the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority announced that any reference to British cultural heritage would be removed from the planned national curriculum. It seems the main political parties agree: we can dispose of British culture because we have a nice shiny European one to replace it. · Tom Wise is a UK Independence party MEP for the eastern counties and sits on the European parliament committee for culture and education

02-08-2006, 04:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,037 Party: Libertarian Party	Good stuff. I put it down to Mark being on holiday and Clive kicking **** in his absence. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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02-08-2006, 04:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
harryaldridge Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Sussex Posts: 1,912	Great stuff. UKIP evens get's a look in in the Guardian. If this issue becomes a big political issue, it could be agood vehicle of explaining the truth about the EU. We could even find some unlikely support amongst the educational establishment.