This is a letter from the Guardian, that askes for more fun in school, and supports the concerns expressed by Philip Pullman .
In his fierce attack on the sterile approach to English teaching which the demands of a target-driven education system enforce, Philip Pullman expresses the concerns shared by many both inside and outside the teaching profession (Tests are making children hate books, warns Pullman, September 30). How disturbing is it that, in order to commemorate Children's Book Week, five of our most distinguished children's writers should choose to write not five books for children, but five critical essays for the government, reflecting their concern that our literacy strategy is destroying our children's love of reading and writing? Perhaps the combined force of these eloquent essays will provide the wake-up call that the secretary of state for education needs to reintroduce some joy into our English curriculum.
Elizabeth Greaves
Director, Action for Children's Arts
Victoria Todd
Director, National Campaign for the Arts
[The Guardian, 04/10/03]
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