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| Enuf is Enuf - time to fight back!! |
Education Readings
By Allan Alach
I welcome suggested articles, so if you come
across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz
Teacher Stress & Anxiety in New Zealand Schools
‘The results clearly illustrate the extent of the problem of stress
and anxiety in NZ schools today: the majority, 54% of respondents (365)
answered Yes. 44% (296) answered No, and understandably,
The Problem with Choice
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| Choice? |
‘I know too many people who are not educators (and some who are)
that are in favor of the choice movement in education. The biggest reason
people want choice is to improve the education for their own children and then
create competition so that other schools will be forced to improve or shut
down. Unfortunately, both reasons are based in misconceptions about education.’
Russell Stannard: Why are digital literacies so important?
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| Russell Stannard |
‘I have just returned from Finland where if you can’t use the
internet you are massively hindered in your day to day activities as almost all
government/ municipal contact is done online. They have huge problems for
example with older people, immigrants and refugees, who cannot interact with
the system. It is becoming harder and harder to survive in society without
having the basic digital literacies.’
Instead of “Job Creation,” How About Less Work?
Increased automation has not reduced our
workload. Why not? What if it did?
‘So, I say, down with the work ethic, up with
the play ethic! We are designed to play, not to work. We are at our
shining best when playing. Let’s get our economists thinking about how to
create a world that maximizes play and minimizes work. It seems like a
solvable problem. We’d all be better off if people doing useless or
harmful jobs were playing, instead, and we all shared equally the necessary
work and the benefits that accrue from it.’
What Kills Creativity in Kids?
‘Creativity is a choice—and if children are going to choose to be
creative then parents (and teachers) have to be careful not to stifle it. What
kills kids’ creativity? Here’s what to avoid.’
Standardizing Whiteness: the Essential Racism of Standardized Testing
‘But when you define a standard, an ideal, you make certain choices –
you privilege some attributes and denigrate others. Since the people creating
the tests are almost exclusively upper middle class white people, it should
come as no surprise that that is the measure by which they assess success. Is
it any wonder then that poor kids and children of color don’t score as well on
these tests? Is it any wonder that upper middle class white kids score so
well?’
Contributed by Bruce Hammonds:
The Big Picture Learning School’s story
‘In the schools that Big Picture Learning envisioned, students would
be at the center their own education. They would spend considerable time in the
community under the tutelage of mentors and
The school of the future has opened in Finland
‘Child psychologists have long argued that changing the approach we take to education would help many children learn to love school rather than hate it. We've all heard pre-schoolers talk about how they can't wait to sit at
their school desk and run to their next lesson with their rucksack over their
shoulder. In fact, we probably remember that feeling of excitement ourselves
the first time we
To Advance Education, We Must First Reimagine Society
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| John Abbott |
‘Because disaffection with the education system reflects a much
deeper societal malaise, it’s imperative that we first figure out what kind of
world we really want: a world populated by responsible adults who thrive on
interdependence and community, or a world of “customers” who feel dependent on
products, services, and authority figures, and don’t take full responsibility
for their actions? The answer, he says, will point to the changes needed in all
three pillars of education — schools, families, and communities.’
From Bruce’s ‘goldie oldies’ file:
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| Frank Smith |
Quotes from Frank Smith and John Taylor Gatto
Both of these authors should be on your reading
list.
John Taylor Gatto is the author of 'A
Different Kind Of Teacher'. Frank Smith's book is called 'An Insult To
Intelligence’. As well, Smith’s book
“Reading” is a must read.
Teaching for thinking
‘There is a lot of talk about teaching thinking in schools and all
sorts of thinking processes are often seen on classroom walls. The trouble is
that more than talk and processes are required - there ought to be some real
evidence of students thinking to be seen. All too often was is seen is 'higher
order thinking for thin learning!’.'
Importance of School Values
‘A vision gives an organization a sense of direction, a purpose, but
only if it is ‘owned’ and translated into action by all involved. But vision is
not enough in itself. The values that any organization has are just as
important or even more so because they determine the behaviors that people
agree to live within. Alignment of people behind values is vital but too often
both vision and values are just words hidden in folders are rarely referred to.
What you do must reflect what you believe if there is to be integrity. And any
alignment needs to include students and parents as well.’
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