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April 12, 2006

On the other side of the pond, the teachers are revolting.

From the Independent(emphasis added in certain quotes). I'm rather old fashioned about education. I think there is a lot to be said for rote learning and standards, though I do like aspects of the Montessori system.

Teachers' leaders called for the abolition of all national curriculum tests up to the age of 16 - claiming they had turned a generation of schoolchildren off lessons.

I suspect the key to academic excellence is not the abolition of methods to identify those who are not keeping pace - so long as those tests are used to determine who requires additional study.

Instead of traditional subject headings such as history and geography, the union wants a range of skills taught - such as creativity, communications and citizenship. These, it says, would "not be amenable to mainly paper tests" which the union says are counter-productive... Teachers' leaders said pupils did not need a knowledge-based curriculum - but should be learning skills for their futures.

Nowlege out of skool! It never helped no won! Eva!

I find the idea of a generation with no knowledge of history quite appalling, as does this gentleman.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment at the University of Buckingham, described the union's report as "disturbing nonsense".

Thank you, Professor.

Scrawled illegibly by Meathe at April 12, 2006 11:09 AM

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