Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Been thinking on some of the issues people have posted.
My post on abolishing schools was a provocation. Im not an Anarchist .However the more I look at Anarchist contribution to education theory and practise the more Im impressed. Spain had long tradition of alternative Anarchist education.People now forgotten like Franscisco Ferrer.
The people sticking their necks out and trying to develop education for the people were like Ferrer- who was executed in the end. Shot by firing squad for be a progressive educationalist. Its forgotten that people like him struggled for progressive libertarian education. In a time when Church and reactionary state held sway. These are unsung forgotten heroes of education.
As I got my education in 60s and 70s before advent of Comprehensives I can say majority of my teachers would now be seen an bullies. I was talking to my brother recently. He said look in hindsight these teachers were failures. In everday adult life they wouldn't last. So became teachers as in that environment they were in power over people with little power - children. That is way to deal with the past. He is right. I think the teaching profession needs to look at the dark side of its history as institution.
I am putting "utopian" view. It does have concrete basis. The argument might be has it relevance now
Yes knowledge was for wealthy people. Listened to fascinating programme today about the classics. ( and chilango brought this up on the re opening schools thread. )
"Classics" was brought in as way of educating to show one didn't have to "work". It was a sign of joining the elite.. As learning Greek or Latin was economically useless activity ( UK 17th and 18th C). Later exams were brought in for the civil service for the Empire. Unfortunately lower orders started "cramming" schools to get through these exams. So exams were brought in as filtering exercise. Lower orders were not meant to pass them.
Greek/ Latin education was a sign of being part of ruling elite.
Unfortunately the Greeks and Roman discussed things like democracy, republicism. When translations came in people like Tom Paine and the early workers education libraries used these elite texts to criticise the society they lived in. The working class setting up own education.
What I got from the programme that education is not a monolith or conveyor belt one goes through.
Its contested. Colin Ward and the early Anarchist / the early Labour movement come from the tradition.
So the answer is if ordinary working people could have more control over education - democratic control - then ( and I think Colin Ward would say this) they could deal with social problems in there own localties. Without the State.
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