Jonesieblog - Latest Comments in When were schools ever ideal?

Re: When were schools ever ideal?

jonesieboy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:16:10 -0000

Do we have evidence that setting increases social inequality? My gut feeling is that it can't help, but I haven't seen any research on the matter.

Have you read "Disrupting Class"? I think I'll read "The Innovator's Dilemma" now, since I found Christensen's analysis of the challenges facing innovators (which echo closely what you are saying, and which he expounds in "The Innovator's Dilemma") much more interesting than the specific remedies which he suggests in "Disrupting Class".

Re: When were schools ever ideal?

David Gilmour — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:54:26 -0000

The difference now, perhaps, is that we actually know what needs to change, and why. We know that setting is a contributory factor, for example. We know that preoccupation with exam results is a factor, for example because it can lead to us putting our best teachers in front of the most able students.

The dynamics of the system are such, though, that these choices are locally rational for the decision-makers involved, despite being irrational in terms of the whole system.

The more I learn about this stuff, though, the more I can see how the antibodies move in to attack any new ideas that might pose a threat to the status quo; many people are happy with things just the way they are.

Perhaps the most important thing about Curriculum for Excellence is that offers an opportunity to make improvements. Which brings us neatly back to the antibodies...

Re: When were schools ever ideal?

jonesieboy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:23:08 -0000

That's a relief. I wasn't sure how this post would go down. Most of the conversation about this post has happened on Twitter, btw

Re: When were schools ever ideal?

JConnell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:55:53 -0000

A nail hit firmly upon its head, Robert!