The education policies of the Conservative/LibDem coalition government are remarkably bold, and recent ministerial assertions that the purpose of education is to promote social mobility need scrutiny. The idea sounds plausible, but it conceals a flawed proposition - that public…
The Tyranny of the School Bell by Joe Harrison
Imagine if you and I were to have a conversation but I just kept on interrupting you every time you start speaking. You go to make a point but I cut you off. You try to ask a question, and…
A Coasting School Could Be Good News by Maurice Holt
Another peculiar notion that has emerged from OFSTED over the last few years is the suggestion that there are coasting schools, which should be abhorred by all right-thinking folks. This label is attached to any school which fails to show…
Time for teachers too! by Joe Harrison
Of course if we are seeking to provide time for pupils to become absorbed in their learning experiences, and time to reflect upon them, the question then arises what is required of a ‘teacher’ in this model? Now this is…
Driving Up Standards - To Where? by Maurice Holt
Managerial talk has become so embedded in education that there’s always some minister or local councillor telling us that the task for schools and teachers is “driving up standards”. The message is crisp, with no explanation - whatever is meant…
What do we mean by ‘Slow’?
Many thanks to Kooj for his thoughts on the ‘About Slow Education’ piece I wrote. I think he’s raised an interesting question. Take a look… “Joe, this is really interesting and worthwhile as an antidote to the many pressures and…
SLOW AND COOL: The Idea of Slow Education
By Maurice Holt, professor emeritus of education, University of Colorado, Denver. The credit for using “slow” in a new way goes to Carlo Petrini, who started it all. Looking for a place to eat in Rome, he saw a sign for “fast…