If my recollection is correct - and I stand humbled if not - then what and where were the poor standards that MacColl was aiming to raise? And by what standard did he judge? The programme didn't touch on this.
   an excellent point, I reckon he was trying to steer singers in a certain direction, his direction, now in some ways that was not a bad idea because he was a good singer and song writer,but it meant that right from the start the project was doomed, because the pupils grow up and want to fly in a different direction.
the point is that standards did not need to be raised , I mean can you imagine Derek Brimstone and ralph mctell and wizz jones,AND Gerry Lockran and John Foreman, and Ian Campbell shambling on stage and forgetting their words.
MacColl felt he could help ,other singers sing the way he wanted them to sing , to interpret British traditional songs his way., its not a bad starting point, but when the birds have learned to fly they have to fly their own way.
finally I must deal with Martins comment about political songs, yes its fine when we agree with the politics,and I agree with Ewans politics, but the majority of us do not feel its fine when the British National party try to hijack folk music., so its only ok when its the politics we agree with.