Full Description
Originally published in 1983, reissued here with a new preface, Tales Out of School presents the experience of seventy young people from different parts of the country, most of whom left school at sixteen and are now either in work, unemployed or in the twilight world of the Youth Opportunities Programme. Through a series of interviews they reflect upon their eleven years of compulsory schooling and the preparation it gave for the world of work, offer their comments and criticize the school institution and processes. Many of them have experienced long periods of unemployment, and their perceptions of the relationship between school and adult life are both revealing and thought-provoking.
The second part of the book initiates a dialogue between pupils and the Establishment by presenting responses to the young people's comments from well-known adults who were at the time specialists in particular educational fields and who were in a position to have some influence on practice and policy. This unique juxtaposition of the views of both 'consumers' and 'enablers' provides the basis of a valuable and exciting debate. Today it can be read in its historical context.
Contents
New Preface for the Reissue. Acknowledgments. Abbreviations. Part One: Young People's Comments Introduction. 1. Primary School and Transition to Secondary 2. Secondary School 3. Curriculum Issues 4. Teachers 5. Schooled to Work 6. The Search for Work 7. The Government Training Schemes Part Two: Adult Responses Introduction. Responses to Chapter 1 Neville Bennett, Professor of Educational Research at Lancaster University. Responses to Chapter 2 David Hargreaves, Reader in Education at Oxford University. Responses to Chapter 3 John Mann, Secretary of the Schools Council. Responses to Chapter 4 John Eggleston, Professor of Education at Keele University. Responses to Chapter 5 Andrew Bird, Senior Careers Officer. Responses to Chapter 6 Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead. Responses to Chapter 7 Colin Ball, Co-director of the Centre for Employment Initiatives. Some Conclusions. Appendixes.
