Life Lessons
The Case for a National Education Service
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Verso Books
Published:4th Sep '18
Should be back in stock very soon
A transformative vision for education is presented in Life Lessons, advocating for a National Education Service that ensures lifelong learning for all.
In Life Lessons, Melissa Benn presents a compelling case for a transformative approach to education, advocating for the establishment of a National Education Service. This initiative seeks to redefine the objectives and methodologies of our current education system, emphasizing the need for a significant overhaul. As society evolves and individuals are living and working longer, Benn argues that education must adapt to meet these new realities. The proposed National Education Service would provide lifelong learning opportunities, ensuring access from early childhood through to adult education, much like the National Health Service does for healthcare.
Benn's vision is clear: education should not merely focus on exam success but should prepare individuals for the complexities of modern life. The future demands that citizens cultivate both their creativity and critical thinking skills, enabling them to navigate an increasingly uncertain world. Life Lessons emphasizes that learning should be a continuous journey, fostering personal growth and societal contributions.
This book outlines a radical agenda for making education accessible and relevant in the 21st century. Benn calls for a comprehensive understanding of the role education plays in promoting equality and addressing societal challenges. By envisioning a National Education Service, she encourages readers to consider how we can reshape our educational landscape to better serve everyone, ensuring that learning is a right, not a privilege.
Invaluable in providing education activists with the tools to move debates on Labour education policies forward . A very readable book, to be thoroughly recommended. * Morning Star *
Life Lessons is an eloquent and much needed blue print for a more equitable education system at a time when radical ideas are in short supply. -- Fiona Millar
When we see what's going wrong in education, we need people like Melissa Benn to give us signposts for what else is possible. As a lifelong campaigner for a fair and equitable education system, she shows she is the ideal person to map out a progressive agenda for education in the future. With an overloaded curriculum, relentless testing and increased selection, this book is a timely appeal for a rational and democratic education service. -- Michael Rosen, author of Good Ideas
Captures the spirit of the progressive education movement as it exists today, and reflects its current grievances and priorities . will be warmly welcomed by all those who believe our education system is broken and needs radical transformation. * Red Pepper *
Benn is not only an outstanding campaigner but she's also a brilliant writer. What I loved about her book is the mixture of radicalism and pragmatism; Benn presents solutions to the many problems facing parents, pupils and teachers today. This book is an essential argument for an equal and fair education system, and a vital contribution to our National Education Service, one of Labour's flagship policy proposals. -- Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretry
ISBN: 9781788732208
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 14mm
Weight: 196g
176 pages