Featured

#leftytrad – a contradiction in terms?

I’ve recently come across Adam Boxer’s blog post on being a ‘lefty’ in politics and a ‘trad’ in teaching. He complains that there is a “consistent and widespread conflation of traditional education with right wing politics” – a conflation that is not warranted. Indeed, Boxer stresses that he is a traditional teacher precisely because he is left-wing:

I believe that everyone, regardless of their background, should be able to access society at any level. I believe that a highly effective way to achieve that is by transmitting the cultural goods of society; its finest discourse and mores. I also believe that our cultural and intellectual goods are the right of all citizens, whatever their backgrounds.

Boxer goes on to claim that politics and teaching methods are not related. His left-wing views, he argues, have not changed since employing progressive approaches as a lefty NQT. However, he has come to the realisation that the best way to educate for social equality – i.e. “level the field and to pass on society’s goods” – is to teach as a traditionalist. The assertion that traditional teaching methods and left-wing views are compatible deserves scrutiny. Continue reading “#leftytrad – a contradiction in terms?”

Alex Bloom’s progressive school community

Alex Bloom 4Alex Bloom was headteacher at St George’s-in-the-East school (Stepney, London) for 10 years in the immediate aftermath of World War II. In that time, he created a beacon of progressive education in the state sector, insisting that “a child can’t grow up in an atmosphere of fear.” As the Daily Mirror reported in 1951, the school did not have “formal lessons in the accepted sense, tests or competitions, prizes for achievement, penalties for failure, imposed punishment, division of children into ‘bright’ or ‘dull’ classes.” Continue reading “Alex Bloom’s progressive school community”

Donalda Dickie and the Enterprise

dickieDr Donalda Dickie was involved in devising and implementing a progressive model of education for state schools in Alberta (Canada) in the 1930s and 1940s. She led system-wide change around the concept of the enterprise, which she defined as “a series of purposeful activities arising out of the pupils’ needs and interests and revolving about one central theme.” The Enterprise emphasised social learning that underpinned the development of a sound mental health, an understanding of knowledge linked to community life, and an ability to reason through the scientific method. Continue reading “Donalda Dickie and the Enterprise”

Prejudice upon disdain: a new low for traditionalists

There’s nothing new about the traditionalists’ disdain for progressive ideas on social media. They attempt to shame anyone who questions the traditional model, ganging up on progressive teachers without feeling the need to justify their moribund ideas. Developing a mob mentality is a good way for them to feel safe in numbers.

However, this recent tweet from Tom Bennett (adviser to the UK government) reached a new low point. Continue reading “Prejudice upon disdain: a new low for traditionalists”