Good post but the more I think about it, yhe more I am convinced we have it backwards... there should be less management not more, less respect for teaching as a profession not more. The whole concept of "teaching" is outdated and discipline and obedience all that good stuff is outdated, meant to prepare children for an economy that does not exist anymore. Cursive writing is a "nice to know"not a must know anymore. Sugata Mitra has the best explanation:
Of course there should be adults that help children learn, and they should watch out for the child's wellbeing but least of all should they try to teach anything than the most basic skills. These adults should encourage and coach the child's learning process but should not be allowed anymore to fill children's heads with outdated information and mindsets.
Gosh, what a long speech. I get what he's saying and I get what you're getting at, but I am not convinced that there should be less management and I do not agree that there should be "less respect for teaching as a profession, not more." To be honest, when I read that sentence, I thought that I must have read wrong somewhere, so I read it again and again and each time, I could not believe my eyes. I do not believe that computer-generated learning is any good (especially for younger children) who needs deeper relationships and love and acceptance. Like Jacques Lacan, I believe that human beings, like animals, are driven by basic need like hunger, sexual needs, and ultimately, the need for contact with others. I have some sort of postmodernism going on inside my head, I feel that we need to rethink our belief in science and progress itself, and I fail to see that science will be able to solve this problem.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it's not going to happen. I am all for incorporating technology into the classroom and all, I am just not so focused on the future. My aim is rather making things better in the now.
Hehe maybe a bit more provocative than necessary. But the "institution"of teaching and management are both too unchallenged. If the outcomes we get are not what we want, doubling down and more of the same is not the answer. People who dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of children do deserve respect. But most "professional" teachers don't have that on the top of their list. The whole concept of school should be looked at from the basic assumptions up. Children are perfectly capable of learning, it is the teachers who often get in the way of that if the childrens attentions strays from the totally obsolete curriculum and they fidget a bit (go figure they are kids) it is that outdated attitude of "management" and "obedience" that is leading a massive prescription of methamphetamines (=ADHD medication) A system which has to drug 10 to 20% of its students to force them to pay attention has got a few things seriously wrong. The role of the teachers in this system currently looks more like prison guards than people who help children develop their inate talents and curiosity. There are too many sacred cows in education. The status of the teacher as an authorithy figure being one of them...
Check out Ken Robinson's TED talks.
I'll have a look, thanks ;)
A child that is not used to working up to an adult age will continue to not work as an adult.
I agree @leprechaun. They need to be taught this, for their own sake.