Education should be freely available to all to first degree level or equivalent. Tuition fees for university students should be abolished, as university education is of general benefit to society, and should be covered by general taxation.
Education should be freely available to all to first degree level or equivalent, regardless of age. Tuition fees for university students should be abolished, as university education is of general benefit to society, and should be covered by general taxation.
We will remove the guidelines[^4] that force teachers to act as counter-terrorism officers and that stifle free speech within the learning environment.
We will add Philosophy to the current core subjects of Maths, Science and English. Philosophy will coach pupils on how to deal with the challenges of life as well as establishing the principles of the modern society.
@anilliams - almost 8 years ago
Not sure about philosophy being a core subject. Why philosophy and not politics, for instance? Also, unfortunately, philosophy may be a bit too high-brow for a lot of kids, especially those pre-sixth form, and the value in teaching the subject might be lost.
@philipjohn - almost 8 years ago
@OliverJackson1 Could you elaborate a bit more on what you expect this will include?
@OliverJackson1 - almost 8 years ago
@andrewdwilliams / @philipjohn , yeah of course.
So, the starting point for any social science or pseudo-science is Philosophy (some may consider that debatable but I would strongly disagree with them). From Philosophy we develop Politics, Economics, Sociology etc. So, in turn it makes sense to incorporate it as a curriculum fulcrum.
I envisage (but don't hold me to the details here) beginning with Foundation and Year 1 students (4 - 6) working with some of the key allegories of philosophy - namely, the Allegory of the Cave and the Allegory of the Apples. The first focusing on the importance of finding the true form of something - not just what it may look, feel, smell, etc. The second, focusing on the importance of disseminating all information before decision making.
These classes would be tangible and physical.
Years 2 - 6 would then focus of the key principles of knowledge and understanding. Inductive and Deductive reasoning classes. The categorical imperative, the tautology of existence (cogit ergo sum), what is Rhetoric and the separation of sub-specie durationis and sub specie aeternitatis. That may sound heavy but in practicality isn't.
Secondary school would then be set for the separation to socio/politico/economic avenues. Philosophy itself would continue with a focus on Angst and Alienation (quite vital for that period of life). The existentialists would play a key role in helping students come to terms with lifes issues as well as developing on the foundational understanding they would have built. Topics here would concern Sartrian Bad Faith, Angst, The Uber Mensch, The Importance of History, The Intrinsic Nature of Suffering, The Will to Life, The Power of Communication, The Sublime and The Virtue of Liberty.
This curriculum addition would ensure sound, reasoned, careful but capable thinkers with the critical capacity to understand rhetoric and disseminate lies (statements built on bad truth). Let me know what you think. As always happy to debate further on this :).
@philipjohn - almost 8 years ago
Thanks, that makes sense. Whilst reading through that I thought to myself that some of that is likely touched on in Religious Education so perhaps we could replace R.E. (I'm no fan, anyway) with Philosophy.
Sure enough, we already have :)
👍 on the ideas, but could do with an edit to make sure it matches up with the section @philipjohn linked to (either editing this new text, or that existing text, whichever makes most sense).
@philipjohn - over 7 years ago
This proposal has exceeded the time limit, so we'll close it off, but @OliverJackson1 please do think about what could be done to make this proposal more successful, and try again. Thanks!
The OpenPolitics Manifesto
@OliverJackson1 - almost 8 years ago
Amendment to Funding - drawing out the limitless age concept (I have assumed that this was implied by the wording).
Addition of Curriculum and the incorporation of Philosophy to the core curriculum. the aim here is to establish the key principles of society early on within pupils. Moving then to establish greater critical reasoning and theorisation skills. This subject will also help establish methods for dealing with the challenges of life.