Education for conviviality

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Alan Barnes

Probably most of us would readily assent to the paramountcy of personal relationships in primary education, but equally most would baulk at the task of analysing and commenting on such relationships. Alan Barnes examines this vital but difficult area with great sensitivity, arguing for teacher-pupil encounters which cannot be reduced to items on a check-list whatever the latter's source or apparent authority. In relation to public disquiet about ‘standards’ he is quite clear where he stands: ‘skills in reading and writing and in mathematics are important, but they are not as important as happiness, fulfilment, caring relationships, conviviality — the high goals of education. Standards must be improved but not at the expense of goals that are of greater moment’.