Yesterday Civitas brought out its latest publication, ‘Inspection, Inspection, Inspection!’ The report explores how the New Labour government has utilised the education inspectorate, OfSTED, to create a monopoly on what counts as good education in schools. A main area of discussion in the pamphlet is the way in which government regulation is now also imposed on the private sector, via OfSTED – and the illegitimacy of this move. A kind supporter of Civitas pointed out that such criticism about state intervention seems to have been made before – by none other than Harry Potter’s friend Hermione.
In 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' JK Rowling seems to be making similar points about government interference in private schools. Here is an extract from Chapter 11:
'Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited.' Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge.
‘There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle,’ said Hermione, grimly, ‘How about: “progress for progress’s sake must be discouraged”? How about: “pruning whenever we find practices that ought to be prohibited”?
'Well, what does that mean?' said Ron impatiently.
'I'll tell you what it means,' said Hermione through gritted teeth. 'It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.'
In 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' JK Rowling seems to be making similar points about government interference in private schools. Here is an extract from Chapter 11:
'Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited.' Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge.
‘There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle,’ said Hermione, grimly, ‘How about: “progress for progress’s sake must be discouraged”? How about: “pruning whenever we find practices that ought to be prohibited”?
'Well, what does that mean?' said Ron impatiently.
'I'll tell you what it means,' said Hermione through gritted teeth. 'It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.'
Comments (1)
You've got to love someone who can manage to reference Harry Potter when making a serious point about government intervention. You go, Harry
Posted by Gregory L | July 21, 2006 11:35 AM
Posted on July 21, 2006 11:35