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”Month: December 2017
Why do progressive educators deny being progressive?
Progressive educators face regular attacks on social media. Comments are often aggressive and malicious, with traditionalists playing to the mob mentality of their followers by jeering at progressive ideas. This blog has documented the caricatures with which traditionalists hope to score cheap points in on-line ‘debate’. We expect nothing less. Traditionalists can only be defensive about regurgitating their sterile, discredited and moribund prescriptions for education. What is more puzzling is the way progressives respond to the attacks by denying they are progressive.
Continue reading “Why do progressive educators deny being progressive?”Back to front: the problem of research for classroom teachers
Over recent years teachers have been coming under increasing pressure to incorporate research findings in their classroom practice. The Schools Minister takes every opportunity to promote the research of his favourite academics who draw on cognitive science and advocate direct instruction. A slew of simplistic manuals and blogs written by his acolytes purport to help overworked teachers digest the ‘evidence’ in bite sizes. However, in this rush to popularise the traditionalists’ focus on curriculum content and teacher talk, the teaching profession is in danger of approaching educational research and the aims of education back to front.
Continue reading “Back to front: the problem of research for classroom teachers”
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