The Rev. Peter Mullen is one of my favourite commentators on the state of the Christian religion in the UK today. He often roams into other topically 'hot' issues and his latest blogpost on the teaching of reading in England is characteristically - and enjoyably - bombastic. The Rev. Mullen takes aim at a recent report by OFSTED (the Inspectors of Education in England) which seeks to lay much of the blame for the poor literacy standards in English schools at the door of inadequate use of phonics in the teaching of reading. Peter Mullen's argument (in brief) is that OFSTED’s attempt to improve the use of phonics will do little or indeed nothing to remedy this drastic situation.
The Rev. Mullen uses his blogpost to criticize fiercely the aggressive politically-correct ideology of modern state education. He describes vividly his memories of education as a boy in post-War England. The model of literacy and schooling which the young Peter Mullen was fortunate to experience has fallen victim to the same ideology which has sought to rid our education system of the riches of the broader cultural inheritance of the west in its Christian-inspired literature, art and music.
OFSTED should be commended for its advocacy of phonics. If only OFSTED and other state agencies were to see that a return to the study of the ‘great books’ of the west would go someway to healing the wounds of modern education.
