Comments on CONDUCTIVE WORLD: The future of Conductive Education in the UK

David Cameron The Times 3 July 2008 "Let me give ...

2010-02-08T19:50:16.643Z

David Cameron
The Times
3 July 2008

"Let me give you two examples of how this virtuous circle can work.

We will give parents the power to set up new schools. Once parents are more closely involved in how their child's school is run, they will take more responsibility for making sure it is a success. That will drive standards up and provide our society with the economic and social security that a skilled workforce brings.

The same goes for welfare reform. We will give more power to charities and social enterprises that really know how to get people into work - paying them for their success. Armed with this power, they will have a greater stake in - and a greater responsibility for - making success. And their success will mean more people moving from long-term poverty to long-term employment.

Sorry, I expressed myself poorly. I was not refer...

2010-02-08T09:50:32.579Z

Sorry, I expressed myself poorly.

I was not referring to Royal Commissions in general. Of course there have been lots over the last hundred years or so (not least in Australia, though they have been rather less common in the UK over recent years). I should have been clearer: I meant Royal Commissions on what people presently call 'special educational needs'.

There have been enquiries (like Mary Warnock's) but a Royal Commission carries more authority, both in its powers to take and examine evidence, and correspondingly in the notice that might subsequently be taken of its findings and recommendations.

The time is past for chummy chats and unchallenged warm fuzzies.

I disagree with the second half of your comment, on two accounts:

(1) it invokes the too-often unquestioned concept of 'needs' , one of the first aspects of present ways of thinking that requires keen, critical examination;

(2) it implies that the seriousness of certain children's developmental disorders that makes them an especial problem, whereas the problem is surely systemic and system-wide.

For a start: don't tell me that they haven't been...

2010-02-08T01:15:05.820Z

For a start:

don't tell me that they haven't been Royal Commissioning for a century now (if the figures in part 6 are straight: Wikipedians will possibly record the major ones).

They've had reports and inquiries aplenty.

And there's a definite gap in the market for Royal Commissions.

Something about people with "high and complex needs".