Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Layer 246 . . . Bright Blue and Another Education Debate – Part 2

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Continuing from yesterday's Layer (245)  .   .   .   .   .   .   .

So what was last night's meeting (at bright blue) on about?

Here's what Dr Seldon had to say for himself:

Our education system currently concentrates on teaching children how to pass tests and exams - relentlessly coaching them - in what are virtually factory schools. Very little active learning takes place - it's mainly about passive memorisation.

Parents and schools need to work together to combat the top-down (political and bureaucratic) drivers of the system. We should be taking our inspiration from Harvard's multiple intelligences model. Intelligences can be arranged in pairs -

logical . . . . . linguistic

personal . . . . . social

spiritual . . . . .  moral

creative . . . . . kinaesthetic (physical)

We need to nurture all 8 of these 'aptitudes'.(?)

The time for a monolithic system of State education has passed.

When Dr Seldon became the head of Wellington School five years ago there was no wellbeing agenda or multiple intelligences approach. Thanks to the introduction of these things the school has improved dramatically, in all aspects of children's achievement, happiness and wellbeing.

He says his parents and children 'love' the 8-intelligences model.

He believes teacher training is very important and we need to teach young teachers to think!

He's proud to be a theist who is 'enchanted' by art, poetry and nature.

Dr Seldon claimed that States such as China are relentlessly persisting with an education system that's essentially about "hammering facts into children". This is odd since there is documented evidence that China has switched to a completely new paradigm for teaching and learning - in line with what can be called the Dryden and Vos model - whilst it's Britain and America that persist with trying to hammer in the facts and making academic attainment the be-all and end-all.

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Meanwhile, Toby Young declared that he's "wary" of concepts like multiple intelligences and any distractions that allow children to 'opt out' of traditional academic subjects. (!)

Mr Young is certain that children need above all a subject-based and knowledge-based curriculum.

In answer to the question 'What is education for?' Young is quite clear that the purpose of schools should be to go on driving up 'academic standards'.

He believes we've been 'dumbing down' by offering kids "economy-driven, utilitarian, skills-based learning" and "lowering the bar with utilitarian Diplomas". He says the 'drift from subject-based learning' is failing children. Children in State schools are no longer developing the ability to think critically and analytically about the world. This is due to the current 'tyranny of liberalism'. Children need a fairly narrow academic curriculum.

He gave as an example of what should be happening a Charter school in East Los Angeles - the Renaissance Art Academy, whose children are taught to make 'intelligent free choices'.

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Anthony Seldon supports the idea that people like Toby Young should be able to set up their 'own' schools. Universities had had to introduce their own screening exams because teachers in both independent and State schools have learned how to teach and coach to the tests and to successfully cram kids for exams. Teachers are now merely technicians, and the targets culture has bent and distorted what goes on in schools - not in the true interests of children.

He pointed out that people like Digby Jones are very unhappy since employers are saying that schools are failing in many ways to prepare children for adult life and the world of work.

Children are generally far from happy. Exclusions are rising. Violence is escalating.

Seldon believes that all schools should be privatised, and a voucher system introduced. Schools should be able to please themselves what they offer - be it academic or artistic or sporting achievement, etc. Parents should have a choice as to the type of schools their children attend.

Teaching tricks and techniques to pass exams is simply not enough.

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Toby Young says the State now needs to fund overcapacity and create surplus places in order for there to be genuine choice on offer.

Far too much money is wasted on Local Authorities. More should be spent on setting up Free Schools.

Young is concerned, however, about the possibility of schools being set up by people he regards as nutters, crazy, outlandish, etc. He mentioned Steiner schools, which of course would be considered nutty by him since the Steiner ethos is all about offering more choice and empowering children with regard to the studies and skills they prioritise. Also the emphasis they put on social, emotional and spiritual intelligence.

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To his credit Dr Seldon said immediately that Steiner schools do a superb job. They are 'fantastic'.

He also said he supports the International Baccalaureat, and that GCSEs and A Levels are bad exams. Our current examination system is aimed at giving examiners what they want, and not allowing pupils to have genuine individual responses to books, poems and plays like MacBeth.

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Toby Young evidently has a problem with epistemological relativism and wants to challenge it. Hmmmmmm. He also has a bee in his bonnet with films like The Matrix and Avatar.

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Anthony Seldon thinks we should be opening children's hearts and minds by offering them lessons in philosophy and thinking skills, which is what happens at Wellington. Children need to become independent thinkers.

He says State education has done great things, but "that era is now over". We now need to trust and to empower children and parents. Schools should be places that foster a spirit of genuine enquiry and where there is delight and a driving curiosity.

He is encouraged by shadow minister Gove saying the next (Tory) government will reduce the influence of Local Authorities.

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Toby Young believes that schools such as the Mossbourne Academy in Hackney are giving their kids the best life chances by putting them through a 'demanding academic curriculum' and having very high expectations.

Naturally he didn't consider to what extent Mossbourne's greater academic success is coming about partly through a rigorous screening of the children who apply for places.

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A lady from Montserrat, who considers that children in this country do not listen to their teachers and that discipline is what is needed, asked the two speakers to sum up in a sentence what education is really about. She herself thinks its purpose is to restore in man the image of his Maker.

Toby Young thinks it's to liberate children from the tyranny of the State. (The tyranny of TY is infinitely preferable.)

Anthony Seldon thinks it's to build a better society.

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If you can be bothered, you can eventually catch all of the above on video on  Bright Blue's website:

http://brightblueonline.com/events.htm

Already on there is the previous debate - "Does Inequality Matter?" - which took place on January 12th 2010 when the speakers were Theresa May and Polly Toynbee.

Anthony Seldon's recent interview on the Today programme is here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/listen_again/newsid_8515000/8515877.stm
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1 comment:

  1. Naturally he didn't consider to what extent Mossbourne's greater academic success is coming about partly through a rigorous screening of the children who apply for places

    Mossbourne is oversubscribed and has an admissions policy which prioritise pupils with SEN over all others in such circumstance.

    ReplyDelete

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