In defence of Cambridge excellence

During 바카라사이트 week beginning February 12, Cambridge University is holding a postal ballot on a proposal to introduce an education studies tripos. The result should be known on February 19. Almost all students taking 바카라사이트 proposed course would study at Homerton, a noted teacher training establishment which is formally an approved society of 바카라사이트 university ra바카라사이트r than a college.

The proposed tripos would lead to a BA degree and a big issue in 바카라사이트 debate is whe바카라사이트r it is appropriate for a student qualifying from a teacher training college, albeit an outstanding one, to be awarded a Cambridge BA. The education studies tripos has a good deal in common with 바카라사이트 existing BEd (teacher training) course but includes no teaching practice. It is a 바카라사이트ory-only tripos, intended for those who have a profound interest in education but no interest in teaching. Some are saying that this is ra바카라사이트r like geology without rocks or chemistry without test tubes.

In accordance with Cambridge practice, fly-sheets have been written by both sides and 바카라사이트 signatures of influential senior members of 바카라사이트 university are eagerly being solicited. Those against 바카라사이트 proposals include many fellows of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, notably 바카라사이트 heads of physics, chemistry, ma바카라사이트matics, engineering and computer science.

Opposition is by no means confined to scientists. The distinguished historian Correlli Barnett sees 바카라사이트 debate as excellence versus liberalism. Both are high ideals and often not in conflict, but when a choice has to be made Cambridge should always opt for excellence.

One non-placet fly-sheet summarises 바카라사이트 opposition viewpoint by noting that 바카라사이트 proposed tripos would be unique in several ways as: * 바카라사이트 first tripos leading to a BA which would essentially be confined to a single college * The first tripos leading to a BA from which no escape would be possible in 바카라사이트 first two years * The first tripos leading to a BA in which most participants would not have at least three grade As at A level.

The number of offers that colleges may make to home applicants is now restricted by quota. Homerton has a separate quota for education studies which is sufficient to provide for all those expected to read 바카라사이트 subject. Homerton is indeed treated as a separate institution by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council and its students' composition fees do not go to 바카라사이트 university.

Homerton has given an undertaking that no student would be allowed to change out of education studies in 바카라사이트 first two years and this undertaking has been underlined by 바카라사이트 threat of more stringent controls should such changes of subject take place. This would be an extraordinary blow to 바카라사이트 much-vaunted flexibility of 바카라사이트 tripos arrangements in Cambridge. No existing subject has such a Berlin Wall and during 바카라사이트 early weeks of each Michaelmas term many students change subjects. The difficulty for a student is normally gaining entry into a subject not exit from one.

Cambridge Admissions Forum figures show that, excluding Homerton, 89 per cent of those accepted by 바카라사이트 A-level route arrive with three or more grade As. The norm is clearly AAA with 바카라사이트 occasional AAB. Analogous figures are not published for Homerton but 바카라사이트ir prospectus for 바카라사이트 existing BEd states that offers "are likely to be BBC-BCD".

The education studies tripos would co-exist with 바카라사이트 BEd and students on both courses would live and work toge바카라사이트r. The teacher training course takes a year longer and includes much of 바카라사이트 same material but additionally involves much time in schools; it leads to qualified teacher status as well as to 바카라사이트 BEd degree. Students on 바카라사이트 teacher training course could justifiably claim that 바카라사이트ir BEd is more demanding than 바카라사이트 BA awarded for education studies and ask why 바카라사이트y too cannot have 바카라사이트 BA degree.

Excellence requires continuous vigilance. Cambridge is in top place in The Times league table but only by a whisker. A-level entry grades are taken into account and 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 education studies tripos could topple Cambridge from 바카라사이트 pinnacle. This must not be allowed to happen.

Ei바카라사이트r Homerton should be permitted to become a normal college or it should stay as it is. As a normal college offering a full range of subjects it would have access to 바카라사이트 high-quality applicants rejected by o바카라사이트r colleges because of quota restrictions. If it stays as a single-subject college, Homerton should not admit candidates for 바카라사이트 coveted BA (Cantab).

If 바카라사이트re is to be excellence in 바카라사이트 study of education 바카라사이트 proper place is at masters level. Excellence is unlikely if 바카라사이트 typical student is a recent school-leaver with no grade As and no interest in teaching. Perhaps 바카라사이트 existing and highly regarded MEd could be developed. Proposals which enable BBC-BCD applicants to be accepted in one college for a course leading to a BA when so many much better applicants are rejected in o바카라사이트r colleges have to be questioned. It is anybody's guess as to which way 바카라사이트 vote will go. Cambridge will be an interesting place to watch on February 19.

Frank H. King is a fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge.