Philosophies of Education: Government-Funded Education in Britain

This essay examines the philosophical arguments surrounding government-funded, free state school education in modern Britain, with a focus on the ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft. It explores the benefits of free education, such as empowering young people and promoting social equality, while also considering potential drawbacks, including the lack of focus from students and the challenges of implementing effective education policies. The essay discusses the role of Ofsted inspections, the importance of considering the best interests of the child, and the impact of societal factors on educational access. It also addresses the advantages and disadvantages of state schools compared to other educational models, highlighting the importance of diverse school options and government oversight to ensure quality education for all children. Desklib provides a platform to access this and many other assignments for educational support.

Key Thinkers in Philosophies
of Education
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Table of contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
Free education is defined as the education funded through government spending rather than
tuition funding (Stebbins, 2018). The philosophical ideas are concerned in the manner which will
help in developing the aspects of free education for the children. The philosopher which has been
used in the easy is Mary Wollstonecraft. Modern government policies which will be refereed in
the essay will be – variety of schools, Ofsted Inspections, private and independent schools.
The scope of the essay is to analyze and identify the aspects which are in favour and against
the government providing tax – funded, free, state school education in modern Britain. This will
help in knowing that what are the systems of education and the manner in which all major
changes will be taken place at large scale. This will help in knowing the basis of education and
its policies which will be known in argumentative manner. Therefore, the essay will be framed
significantly.
MAIN BODY
Should the government provide tax – funded, free, state school education in modern
Britain
The governments want to give free education to the citizens so that they are able to
analyze and evaluate the education systems which are working properly for the citizens. Free
education is the education which is funded through government spending at large scale so that
the value of education is not lost and the citizens are engaged in learning many things by gaining
the power of education. There are direct costs which are associated with education and in the
manner which helps the citizens in analyzing and evaluating the positive aspects of education.
Government of England wishes to give free education to the citizens to empower the young
people to succeed in the economy, participating in the culture which helps the citizens in
knowing the aspects and importance of education (Aristotle Politics (1905/2008). It is important
that the governments provide education to the citizens so that they are consistent towards the
guided programmes which are created for them and this helps them in knowing that how
effectively they are working upon the scale of providing education to the citizens of England.
Citizens prefer the government to provide free education than families have to organise
education for their own children as this helps in creating value for the education being structured
and framed by the government of England. There has been argument which has been stated by
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Mary Wollstonecraft that if women are not prepared for the education to become the
companion of man, then women will stop the progress of knowledge and virtue. This will ensure
that free education is being divided as the term Co – ed. Citizens prefer the government to
provide free education so they are able to study through the guided and structured pattern of
education in appropriate manner. This helps the citizens in knowing that education is important
for the growth and development of their minds and helps in progressing (Wollstonecraft, Mary
(1792 / 2004). On the contrary, government should not provide tax – funded, free, state school
education in modern Britain as this creates problems and more relaying aspects on the education
policies and practices which are framed which is not taken seriously by the citizens in modern
Britain. As it is an opportunity for the citizens to incur free education, as the rich citizens do not
need free education. Students may not focus for long on one major subject rather they will be
taking concern of how effectively they can grow and diverse their education practices at large
scale. This creates problems for the education system in knowing that how effectively the
changes are being taken place.
Also, with the help of Ofsted Inspection the aspects of government providing free -
education, tax funded and state – school education are described as Ofsted is the office for
standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. This helps in knowing that how the
changes are taking place in the education system. This inspection helps in providing the skills
and education to learners of all ages (Gutmann, (2003).
By making best interests of the child for the government to ensure all children have
access to free education as this will help in knowing the interest of children in studying various
types of subjects in which they are interested. Best interest of the child in gaining free education
which has been provided by the government will help in ensuring that they are inclined towards
initiating the free education and what are the interests of children at large scale. Government is
also taking concern of the best education practice and policies which are designed by knowing
that with the help of free education children are making their careers in appropriate manner.
As argument, there are some rich children who are not interested in taking and initiating
the aspects and progress through incurring free education. This becomes the biggest issue for the
government by initiating the free education services which are being encouraged towards making
the career of children (Marples, (2010).
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It might be the best interests of society for children to have access to free education as it
will help the children by living in the society and this will help them grow and progress more in
the different manner such that they will be able to become self – confident and become good
decision – maker at large scale. This will help in knowing the basis through which each child
incurring free education is able to create value of their education process so that they are able to
lead happy life. This helps in eradicating various social evils such as poverty, gender
discrimination, religion, racism etc. This will help the children in creating value of their free
education as they live in the society and learn many things which help them knowing how to live
in the society.
By arguing, sometimes society creates problem for the children as there are many rituals
and superstition that women are not allowed to be educated and this was well explained by Mary
Wollstonecraft in her argument for education of women and not only men (Wollstonecraft,
Mary (1792 / 2004). This becomes major problem for women living in the society and facing
such gender issues towards taking free education.
Yes, there are benefits to most children sharing common education experience at state
schools as they are more affordable particularly for state students, they are more flexible, the
atmosphere of the state schools is more dynamic which helps the students in knowing more
about the schooling and education pattern which are being followed at large scale within
education system (Hand, (2010).
The drawbacks which the state schools incur are that there is frequent testing to meet the
requirements within schools; there are class sizes which are considered as larger than other
schools, the resources which are required in the schools to teach the children and in other manner
are disproportionate. Usually children in the state schools are bullied and there is high violence
in the country which the state schools face.
There are different varieties of school which helps in providing education to children and this
helps in knowing that how effectively and in proper manner the children are taking concern at
large scale. The varieties of school are academic schools, free schools, LEA controlled schools
(Gutmann, (2003). The LEA controlled schools ensure that different groups of children receive
different types of education which are designed for them as the Local government authorities
(LEA’s) are responsible for state – funded schools and colleges at a local level. This helps the
children in knowing and analyzing the aspects such as how different type groups of children are
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receiving the education in an appropriate manner. The academic schools are educational
institutions which provide learning spaces and environments for teaching the children. Free
schools are the schools which helps the poor children to seek education who are not able to pay
for their studies.
Yes, government using provisions of free education for children helps in knowing that
government is focusing and is upgrading the scales of education for children so that the literacy
rate does not lowers down.
The government should try to control the context and the books of what is to be taught to the
children so that they do find difficulties in letting the children learn new things which are also
added up in the environment by them. The education system is framed under different clauses
which are being idealized by the schools (Gutmann, (2003). They are being framed by state
authorities that ensure that there is no equal measure of providing the education to the children at
large scale. The state officials and authorities if provide free education for children, then the
government should take measure of how the changes can be framed and what are the educatory
regulations which are to framed for the children at large scale.
On argument, the government should not try to control what should be taught in school as
this creates problems in the education system at large scale and the importance of education is
lost to be provided by concerning the system sand patterns of schooling at large scale.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from the above essay that the government should provide tax funded,
free, state – school education in modern Britain. The importance of education was analyzed for
the purpose of free education in the point of view of society, children etc. The main points were
also gathered by arguing on the topic which were concerned for the free education of children.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Aristotle Politics(1905/2008). Jowett, B. (Translator) & Davis H.W.C. (Editor) New York:
Cosmo Classics. Book 8, Parts I, II, & III.
Gutmann, A. (2003). ‘The Authority and Responsibility to Educate’ in Curren, R. (2003) A
Companion to the Philosophy of Education. Chapter 28, pp. 397-407. Oxford:
Blackwell.
Hand, M. (2010). ‘What Should Go on the Curriculum’ in Bailey, R. (Ed.) The Philosophy of
Education, An Introduction. London: Continuum (Week 9)
Marples, R. (2010). ‘What is Education for?’ in Bailey, R. (Ed.) The Philosophy of Education,
An Introduction. Chapter 3 pp. 35-47. London: Continuum. (Week 2)
Stebbins, R.A., 2018. Leisure as not work: a (far too) common definition in theory and research
on free-time activities. World Leisure Journal. 60(4). pp.255-264.
Wollstonecraft, Mary (1792 / 2004). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, London: Penguin.
Chapter 12, ‘On National Education.’
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