Questioning our Education Minister
Students conducted a telephone interview with Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Schools today at 11.15am. Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Schools has also been contacted with the same questions. However, as yet, we have not received a reply.

The students aim is to find out what both parties think about the headline “Balls seeks power to dictate what textbooks GCSE and A-Level students must study” and “The Idea of Ed Balls determining what parts of history are taught is frightening” (The Guardian/ Thurs 19 March 2009).

These are the questions they wrote to both ministers:

1. According to the press, you are hoping to pass a law which would give you direct control over the textbooks used at GCSE and A-Level in British schools – can you explain why you are making this choice?

2. What makes you confident that you know more about educational choices for children than teachers do – are politicians the experts or teachers?

3. You have been quoted as saying that the ‘power would only be exercised as a last resort” can you explain what the last resort is?... for example would it be if a school decided that it no longer wishes to teach Shakespeare?

4. If your government does not win/wins the next election what kind of changes could we expect in education?

5. How do you think you/your opponent have performed generally in terms of education?

Listen to Ryan ask Ed Balls MP the above questions and his responses.