#136 - Katharine Birbalsingh - Why Britain Stopped Believing Children Need Discipline

Yeah.

Um, well, the thing is, is that, uh, we, uh, in Britain have always been a country that allows for different models of schooling.

Um, you know, we're, we're, we very much embrace the, the, the idea of freedom.

You know, there are religious schools, there are, um, Christian schools, there are Islamic schools, there are Hindu schools, there are schools that are-- Those are our pips, um, for the, uh, uh, lesson changeover.

Um-

Okay

... and so you know that you're definitely in school with me today.

[laughs]

[laughs]

And, um, you know, uh, there are, there have always been a variety of different schools.

Um, I have to say that in the 1950s, uh, the sorts of values that were being taught in the schools and the discipline and the expectations of the teachers and the children were very similar.

Even though there would've been a variety of different types of schools, um, uh, those things were constants.

Hmm.

Uh, nowadays, there is much more variety, um, with regard to what happens in schools.

And I always say that, um, headteachers are sort of, um, well, uh, uh, you know, they're sort of tyrants in that [chuckles] depending on the head's, uh, personality and his values and what he thinks is important, uh, the school will often, uh, take on, um, that what the head really believes is important.

And of course, uh, there's lots of difference between what we all, uh, agree on in, in education.

And unfortunately, my sort of beliefs on what works in education are less popular than, say, the more progressive beliefs.

Hmm.

There are more progressive headteachers than there are traditional headteachers, let's put it that way.

Uh, especially in, in 2026.

Um, and that is the case for any of the, um, big, uh, uh, top, uh, independent schools.

Um, Eton you mentioned, for instance, recently.

I ca- I can't say about the head who's just started, but certainly the, the head, uh, master rec- most recent headmaster was known as, um, I understand his, his nickname by the boys was Trendy, uh, uh, Hendy.

Oh, yeah.

[laughs]

Yeah.

Um, well, the thing is, is that, uh, we, uh, in Britain have always been a country that allows for different models of schooling.

Um, you know, we're, we're, we very much embrace the, the, the idea of freedom.

You know, there are religious schools, there are, um, Christian schools, there are Islamic schools, there are Hindu schools, there are schools that are-- Those are our pips, um, for the, uh, uh, lesson changeover.

Um-

Okay

... and so you know that you're definitely in school with me today.

[laughs]

[laughs]

And, um, you know, uh, there are, there have always been a variety of different schools.

Um, I have to say that in the 1950s, uh, the sorts of values that were being taught in the schools and the discipline and the expectations of the teachers and the children were very similar.

Even though there would've been a variety of different types of schools, um, uh, those things were constants.

Hmm.

Uh, nowadays, there is much more variety, um, with regard to what happens in schools.

And I always say that, um, headteachers are sort of, um, well, uh, uh, you know, they're sort of tyrants in that [chuckles] depending on the head's, uh, personality and his values and what he thinks is important, uh, the school will often, uh, take on, um, that what the head really believes is important.

And of course, uh, there's lots of difference between what we all, uh, agree on in, in education.

And unfortunately, my sort of beliefs on what works in education are less popular than, say, the more progressive beliefs.

Hmm.

There are more progressive headteachers than there are traditional headteachers, let's put it that way.

Uh, especially in, in 2026.

Um, and that is the case for any of the, um, big, uh, uh, top, uh, independent schools.

Um, Eton you mentioned, for instance, recently.

I ca- I can't say about the head who's just started, but certainly the, the head, uh, master rec- most recent headmaster was known as, um, I understand his, his nickname by the boys was Trendy, uh, uh, Hendy.

Oh, yeah.

[laughs]