tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post7579928897254089310..comments2024-03-28T00:28:06.035+13:00Comments on leading and learning: Creative teaching - the only alternative to school failure; Sir Ken Robinson leads the way - but who is actually following.Bruce Hammondshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-16502511037870411282013-02-13T22:59:20.423+13:002013-02-13T22:59:20.423+13:00I tell you what! Give me the name of the school! I...I tell you what! Give me the name of the school! I would live to work with like minded people! I have thought about opening my own school!!<br /><br />In a school like this you wouldn't want a principal! You would need a BIG round table where all professionals sat around it with their expertise intact! <br /><br />No more hierarchy of subjects or teachers! A community of learning!! <br /><br />Gill Very Creative teacher in VictoriaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-71140680041047448982012-08-14T23:01:45.624+12:002012-08-14T23:01:45.624+12:00With the thinking you express it is never too late...With the thinking you express it is never too late.<br /><br />With the right principal, with bold aligned teachers,and the support of parents it is possible.<br /><br />And , with you, I believe achievement levels would rise as a result.<br /><br />It wouldn't be easy but nothing worthwhile is.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-49327314520099119222012-08-14T22:36:37.105+12:002012-08-14T22:36:37.105+12:00So is it really to late?
What if a principal truly...So is it really to late?<br />What if a principal truly believed that education could/should be transformed?<br />And what if their teachers decided to be bold and give it a shot?<br />And how about if the parents and school community could be convinced to give it a punt?<br />And what if because of all of this the kids were the true focus of education?<br />Surely the level of student achievement would rise along with the creativity.<br />So do we give up and say it can't be done, or do we put in the effort, roll up our sleeves, and give our kids the future they deserve?Kris Burdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09173304206907408695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-52472052753680426292012-07-11T19:55:46.278+12:002012-07-11T19:55:46.278+12:00I hate to say it but I think you are right, the cu...I hate to say it but I think you are right, the current system won't change because of the pull of the status quo - or worse still the past.<br /><br />I believe strongly in the power of education ( learning) but not in schools.<br /><br />And you are right there is no shortage of expertise to call on.<br /><br />Education is determined by political ideology and at the moment political ideology and education are on a crash course. A new ideology may well be on the horizon but people like yourself can't wait. It was good time for progressive educational thoughts after the destruction of World Wart Two ( more the late 50s and 60s) but by the 80s the political climate had changed for the worse.<br /><br />Your conclusion reminds me of educationalist John Holt, who in his writings in the 70s, slowly changed from a school reformer to a de-schooler.<br /><br />I fear he is right.<br /><br />New schools will need to develop that bypass the old models - which many parents seem to want to keep hold of. That is parents from the elite whose children benefit from the current system.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-67157717707340821772012-07-11T19:29:56.701+12:002012-07-11T19:29:56.701+12:00I left my teaching career prematurely in part frus...I left my teaching career prematurely in part frustrated by the lack of risk taking and willingness of the profession to do what was right rather than what was dictated. Doing so afforded me the opportunity to go exploring to find out what was happening outside of education that was causing such negative ripples within the profession. I came across many figures who were promoting both common sense and delivering insight into the world of learning, so many of which had been "on the stage" for many years. How could it be that there was a system failing so many so spectacularly with so many visionaries about? <br /><br />Two years later I have a much more informed view, I have listened, read, debate, asked questions and researched my way around the world of education. What we collectively know about how the brain works, what learning needs, how people are motivated, environmental influences etc fills many thousands of texts, web pages and conference theatres. If one hundredth of this was listened to and implemented in terms of educational policy we would have conquered distant planets by now (Carl Sagan reference). Instead we have politicians grabbing sound bites for personal gain and power without any true belief in education. <br /><br />Until education policy is wrestled away from political influence it will not matter how many Sir Ken Robinsons we have, not one jot! <br /><br />I have not given up though, I have collaborated with a likeminded colleague and now have a small, embryonic Coaching Centre for literacy and numeracy where empowering the learner and mindful learning is at the core. The children turn up excited each week, parents recognise their children are engaged in learning and the success is wonderful to behold - we are developing true lifelong learners who will, despite not because of the education they receive from our systems.<br /><br />Education has to move away from argument, debate and making noise to action. Go around, you will never go through.<br /><br />Kevin Hewitson<br />Director at Advocating Creativity in Education <br />(See what I mean!)Kevin hewitsonhttp://www.ace-d.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-69383183138116485732012-07-11T13:12:58.388+12:002012-07-11T13:12:58.388+12:00Hi Bruce
Have just returned from 5 weeks in Europ...Hi Bruce<br /><br />Have just returned from 5 weeks in Europe and UK<br /><br />Good to see you still going strong; feel honoured that my book is included in your list.<br /><br />You may have picked up that in Britain there is talk of going back to O Levels because of poor performance in international tests; there is no suggestion that there could be a link to the long emphasis on standardised testing - which has obviously been a total failure! Also noted in Singapore the increasing emphasis on individualised learning with children following their own passions and interests and the parents' wish for education that equips their children with the skills they need to meet the challenges they will face. NZ seems to have a habit of following failing systems, raher than those pushing the boundaries.<br /><br />Regards<br />DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-6450442436368888042012-07-11T13:10:44.948+12:002012-07-11T13:10:44.948+12:00Thanks Debra
I think it is really important to sh...Thanks Debra<br /><br />I think it is really important to share the ideas of Sir Ken to combat the corporate nonsense being imposed on schools.<br /><br />Teachers need to listen , absorb and put into practice the ideas of Sir Ken!Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-53905766790834977612012-07-11T11:35:02.743+12:002012-07-11T11:35:02.743+12:00Thank you Bruce!
Sir Ken Robinson is leading the w...Thank you Bruce!<br />Sir Ken Robinson is leading the way for us. I appreciate TED talks, all of which we’ve heard and absorbed, but here are my favorites, compiled into one post, which I’ll be passing along to everyone I know. About to go Tweet this post now.Debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02273349436461781371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-91353042021064924782012-07-11T09:57:51.578+12:002012-07-11T09:57:51.578+12:00Hi Straun
Chidren are involved in personalised le...Hi Straun<br /><br />Chidren are involved in personalised learning from birth. It is at risk as soon as any form of schooling begins.<br /><br />Check out my early education blogs for more details - or some of the books I listed in the blog about creative learning books.<br /><br />Any pre school learning ought to fun (particularly if introduced by adults). The best thing is to create conditions with lots of things for kids to explore,encourage lots of talk, art and writing if they want.Kids should be involved in lots opportunities for exploring through their senses.<br /><br />I would be careful pushing phonics on kids to seriously - best done naturally in context. If kids want to write "endless stories" this would be great.<br /><br />Kids do "pick up learning' as you say - their identities are created through their experinces - for better or worse. Culture counts.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-58658828157497752102012-07-11T07:45:33.151+12:002012-07-11T07:45:33.151+12:00Hiya Bruce, I'm interested in when you think p...Hiya Bruce, I'm interested in when you think personalised learning could begin? As soon as they hit school, or do they need a few years of early teaching (colour wheel, phonics, writing endless stories about their weekends etc) before this is a reality? The interesting thing for me as a teacher with unschooled children is to see the growth in literacy and numeracy naturally and as a part of an overall education. We value life and learning, and the kids are just picking up things as they go along. Much of the learning seems to be subconcious, which I find very interesting.<br />Anyway, will stop ranting now. Thanks for the fantastic posts.<br />StruanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-77605457282224086022012-07-10T22:03:52.894+12:002012-07-10T22:03:52.894+12:00Greetings Allan. I was lucky enough to almost shar...Greetings Allan. I was lucky enough to almost share a stage with Sir Ken at the Inspired Impact Conference to 1400 people held in Palmerston North in 2011. I say almost because of illness he gave his address via sattelite - but it was still highly successful.He even took questions from the floor!<br /><br />I also was impressed with Steve Maharey. Steve gave a number of presentations about personalised learning. The current governmnent is blinkered by their corporate efficiency ideology and the current minister so far has little original thinking to offer.They are all trapped in conservative reactionary thinking akin to Henry Ford. What can't be measured doesn't count.<br /><br />Sadly , unless I am proved wrong, New Zealnd principals will go the way of the Aussie principals. The system is failing - it will need more than timid compliance to ensure all students learn. There is the way but not the will!<br /><br />Lets hope Labour will pull their fingers out and finish what Maharey started.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-36607614982506185862012-07-10T19:30:22.217+12:002012-07-10T19:30:22.217+12:00One sad aspect (if sad is the right word) is that ...One sad aspect (if sad is the right word) is that when Ken Robinson was here for a principals' conference in 2007 (great presentation BTW) he also had quite a lengthy meeting with then Minister of Education Steve Maharey. There was a video floating around showing some/all of this meeting. Can you imagine the present Minister (or her predecessor) doing the same thing? Maharey also did a presentation at this conference, which left foreign visitors gobsmacked. They couldn't believe that NZ had a minister of education with his vision, and wanted to take him back to their countries. Again, imagine, if you can, the present and immediate past incumbents doing this? No room for endlessly repeated meaningless sound bites.Allan Alachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18158713687489914185noreply@blogger.com