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:—{{author|James C. Scott}}, {{br|Seeing Like a State}}}} | :—{{author|James C. Scott}}, {{br|Seeing Like a State}}}} | ||
In the ''Times'' of 19 January 2021 there were reports of schools, ahead of OFSTED inspections, identifying unruly pupils and taking them out on long walks (cunningly branded as “alternative PE”) or, what is regarded as worse, locking them in the squash courts for the duration of the OFSTED site visit. Now leaving aside for a moment that in the [[JC]]’s day we unruly ones were escorted to the squash courts to be ''caned'', not just locked in — so the modern-day unruly should thank their lucky stars — this strikes us as an interesting, and inevitable consequence of the OFSTED inspection regime in the first place, which is an archetypal attempt at ''legibility''. | In the ''Times'' of 19 January 2021 there were reports of schools, ahead of OFSTED inspections, identifying unruly pupils and taking them out on long walks (cunningly branded as “alternative PE”) or, what is regarded as worse, locking them in the squash courts for the duration of the OFSTED site visit. Now leaving aside for a moment that in the [[JC]]’s day we unruly ones were escorted to the squash courts to be ''caned'', not just locked in — so the modern-day unruly should thank their lucky stars — this strikes us as an interesting, and inevitable consequence of the OFSTED inspection regime in the first place, which is an archetypal attempt at ''[[legibility]]''. | ||
The dynamics surrounding a given educational institution are surely unique, and complex: a function of geographical, geopolitical, sociological factors. Yet the government has no choice but to measure, compare and rate them on a simplified basis, on irregular short visits. | The dynamics surrounding a given educational institution are surely unique, and complex: a function of geographical, geopolitical, sociological factors. Yet the government has no choice but to measure, compare and rate them on a simplified basis, on irregular short visits. | ||