From the get go?_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

From the get go?

The result was wholesale closure of libraries, the axeing of bodies like the Film Council and the museum, Libraries and Archives Council and the slashing of funds to the Arts Council (£118 million had been cut from its budget). In addition, music services to schools had been cut by local authorities and Education Secretary Michael Gove was introducing a new English Baccalaureate certificate for which an arts GCSE would not qualify.

“Really, for the last several months, hardly a day has passed without some new blow being struck against the values and activities and institutions of which we’re thinking today,” he added.

Cuts to university arts and humanities budgets meant that higher education institutions were now focussing on “practical skills, economic gain and the commercialisation of intellectual life instead of cherishing and teaching ‘universal knowledge’”.

“We don’t want our reputation in the world to depend any more on the speed with which we go to war or the eagerness with which we privilege bankers,” Sir Andrew added.

“We want instead to have a reputation for caring about the good quality of our citizens’ lives and to affirm that the arts and the humanities are the bedrock of that good quality.”

On the closure of libraries, he added: “To see this happening now when we are meant to be having a conversation about the Big Society - frankly, it almost defies belief.