IT may be that Jane Le Coyte wrote her latest letter supporting selective education to rattle Jeff Adams’ cage.
She added nothing to the argument. Sport maybe, but the damage caused by selective education makes it too serious to play with.
She claims, “Grammar schools, post war, allowed a level of social mobility to some working class children which did not previously exist.”
Even if true this would be faint praise indeed and would not answer the challenge that comprehensive education was, or would be, a massive advance from the selective system.
Before the war, 90 per cent of children left school at 14.
Only 10 per cent got passes in a public exam and only five per cent went on to higher education.
Jane’s comment simply means some schooling is better than none.
PETER SMITH Woodside Avenue, Swindon
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