Secondary Education and British Parties' Ideologies

In: Res publica: politiek-wetenschappelijk tijdschrift van de Lage Landen ; driemaandelijks tijdschrift, Band 17, Heft 2, S. 303-317

Abstract

Observations about British politics are here derived from a study of relations between ideology & policy in the debate concerning comprehensive schools in Britain (1944-70). The issues of consensus, adaptability, influence of professionalism on ideology & policy, ideological change, & the Labour & Conservative party images are treated. An inevitable connection between ideology & politics is demonstrated. Particularly in education, arguments prevail in which centrality is given to moral prescriptions, because of the close relation between fundamentals bearing on education & the overall ideological orientation. Both parties dislike fundamental principles, just as they avoid creating a long-lasting gap between policies & ideologies. On emergence of a gap, each party hastened to close it; if possible by adapting policies to ideologies. The consensus which prevailed at short periods was a result of pragmatic considerations & was limited to the policy level. AA.