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Today the government has announced further cuts in Whitehall spending so they can fund a school building programme. When this crazy coalition came to power the BUilding Schools for the Future programme, which was hardly perfect but which was in full swing, was decimated. Millions of pounds were wasted as projects that were imminent were axed and other necessary work that was in the planning stages was stopped. And now,only a few years on, with the academy programme muddying the waters between the LA and central government control, more money is needed for school buildings. In the intervening years many pupils have been taught in substandard accommodation. Some have tried to do their learning in corridors, quite literally.
When I started my first job in management I was told to 'keep your eyes and ears open and mouth firmly shut' for some months- ideally the first year. It is a shame that this government's mouth was similarly silenced and its hands tied....if not forever (ideally) then at least for a year to stop these knee jerk 'decisions' which soon need reversing and which come at a cost- taxpayers' money and students' educational opportunities.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20498356
If Finland and South Korea take the first and second places then...hmmmm. The ranking table is drawn up by Pearsons and is, of course, based on test results. Yet again a prescribed, test-based algorithm. I understand that Finland is very reliant on textbooks and a didactic method. It brings us back yet again to 'what is education for?' Are we teaching our young people to think , and to be responsible, happy citizens? Or are we teaching them to pass examinations and test which have little validity? Canada's education system is said to be pretty good - off I go to investigate...... Great link here.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20531666 The NSS...national student survey. Invalid and unreliable. Worth a read for...... Professor, your lectures are a disgrace to the university. Or Professor, you could do with a makeover. Great stuff. https://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2012/dec/01/outstanding-lessons-daily-impossible-secret-teacher
This is a great article, as always insightful and thought provoking. Very interesting blog post from 'angryexteacher' that is worth reading.
http://angryexteacher.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/whats-the-real-reason-behind-the-idea-that-older-teachers-should-go/ I've been thinking about 'what is the point'. Do we go with a banking, or a deficit model of education? Or what? Prof Bill Boyle's seminar at the University of Manchester was interesting last week. He made the point that the children's voice is so often ignored in education. Sure, teachers reckon their voices are ignored, but they are consenting adults. Head teachers voices may be ignored, but shouldn't they be driving reform and shouldn't they be in in the vanguard of people objecting to certain policies and policy enactments? What about the children's voices? Very good point, Bill. http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/william.f.boyle/personaldetails
It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” So this is the start of my story. After a course on literature searching and management, I realised that I did not have a strong enough web presence. So I have spent the last few days sorting out a ResearchGate profile, a new 'professional' FB page, a website and now my blog. Keep watching......
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About me...
I was a psychology and social sciences teacher for many years and now I am in the throes of a teaching and research career in HE. I care passionately about education. This blog will show you why and how.
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