'In this world nothing can be said to be certain,
except death and taxes.”
“Eleven plus teachers can make up their own minds
about what they teach.”
The first statement fills us with a wry smile. The
second has the ability to send shivers up our spines. There is no `Eleven Plus
Syllabus’ for teachers to follow. There are books, texts and papers prepared by
publishers and teachers which, however, we can follow religiously - when
necessary. There is no one in supreme authority who can tell an eleven plus
teacher what to teach and when to teach it.
Traditionally eleven plus pupils have been offered
little choice in a curriculum. Children seem to understand that working through
papers and eleven plus exercises will help. If their understanding is a little
fusty – then their parents and teachers usually are fully capable of telling
them what to do.
An eleven plus child may have a list of objectives:
Passing the eleven plus
Getting into a grammar school
Working hard at school
Listening to my teachers and parents
Parents, however, may see parts of the eleven plus
differently:
Giving my child the opportunity to do well at school
Helping my child to learn how to work independently
Passing the examination
Naturally these lists cannot be applied to all
eleven plus children and their parents. There may well be marked differences
between aspirations on the part of both parties. (“To be with my friends,” for
example – may play a part!)
There will always be some form of hidden curriculum
in the eleven plus. Many of us will be eternally grateful that there is no
great need for conformity. Most of us
will probably be reasonably happy with: “If it is not broke – do not try to fix
it.”
