To what extent is this an issue of technology? I was an emotional (and later physical) truant in the 1970s because I felt no ownership of the hoops the school held up for me to jump through. I would make the right noises (or marks on paper) to keep the grown-ups off my back, and spent the rest of my time in the far-richer world inside my head. A habit I've not lost, btw.
Robert Jones
· 1 year ago
Unless my school experience was radically different from the norm, it has ever been thus! When was school ever really relevant to real life? I think we devalue genuine arguments against the institution of schools when we try to present them as somehow being new and related to technology.
José Picardo
· 1 year ago
"I hate to say it, but if you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem…"
I wish I were brave enough to say that to a few people in my school.
Our pupils have grown up in an environment that is fundamentally different to the one I experienced while groing up (I'm in my early thirties). They have multiple TV channels, personal computers, portable computers, media players and broadband with access to a whole host of services and entertainment (and education if we make it so). Not using this to our advantage is madness.
Doug Belshaw
· 1 year ago
Thanks for your comments. :-)
@Ian & Robert: Having written my MA thesis on late 19th-century schooling I would be a fool to say anything other than it has ever been thus! However, what I do think technology does is bring into focus the shortcomings of the system, especially in an age dominated by it...
@José: It was great to meet you at TeachMeet08. We do need to harness the technologies available to us instead of banning them. It feels like spitting in the wind sometimes though. :p
Doug Belshaw
· 1 year ago
Lisa Stevens has kindly scanned the article from the TES as it doesn't seem to be on the website. Click here for the full-size readable version! :-D
pinayseotest
· 1 year ago
Jeg ser det hele tiden, det er en form for disassociation. Den »virkelige mig" for dem er ikke den person, de er i skolen: det er kun det sted, hvor de hoppe gennem bøjlerne.
All Comments
I wish I were brave enough to say that to a few people in my school.
Our pupils have grown up in an environment that is fundamentally different to the one I experienced while groing up (I'm in my early thirties). They have multiple TV channels, personal computers, portable computers, media players and broadband with access to a whole host of services and entertainment (and education if we make it so). Not using this to our advantage is madness.
@Ian & Robert: Having written my MA thesis on late 19th-century schooling I would be a fool to say anything other than it has ever been thus! However, what I do think technology does is bring into focus the shortcomings of the system, especially in an age dominated by it...
@José: It was great to meet you at TeachMeet08. We do need to harness the technologies available to us instead of banning them. It feels like spitting in the wind sometimes though. :p