Comments on: Damn you, PLN!

By: Jon Becker

Jon Becker — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:16:58 +0000

I sure hope you’re right, Gilbert!

But, what if the pipes are in such bad shape that they will necessarily ruin whatever good water tries to pass through them?

By: Gilbert Halcrow

Gilbert Halcrow — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:10:12 +0000

Don’t worry Jon
My optimism has lived at the cold coal face of implementing curriculum reform and technology too long to believe in generalization about generalization!
Equally I have seen many of my secondary colleagues who despite entrenched subjects are inspiring in their trans-disciplinary outlook.
As we know with reform in schools it is not just the pipes, it is the water (or sewerage) that runs through them that make the real difference. I do think primary teachers and their schools are more predisposed to a student centered curricula

By: Jon Becker

Jon Becker — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:18:12 +0000

@Clay – wondering why you refer to yourself as an ex-teacher. I learn from you. Heck, I knew nothing of Gilgamesh before now. Keep being my teacher, please.

@Gilbert – like the optimistic outlook. However, I’m not ready to conclude that elem. teachers, by their generalist nature, see cross-curricular opportunities. I’ve seen elementary schools become more departmental-like, where students have one teacher or one pair of teachers who team up for say math and science, and then another teacher or pair for English and Social Studies. I hate those distinctions at that level. I even shuddered at writing this post when I had to specify a “subject” for each of the folks I mentioned.

By: Gilbert Halcrow

Gilbert Halcrow — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:20:20 +0000

My 5 y.o. daughter starting ‘big school’ last week has raised similar concerns in my mind.
Fortunately she is at a school that teaches the IB PYP so emphasis is on the process of enquiry not content.
As far as future curriculum development I am always less concerned by primary colleague – the nature of being generalists has meant they are usually very collaborative in their planning and always see cross-curricular opportunities, usually revolving around competencies rather than content.
Hopefully that buys all us new school parents some time!
Secondary really worries me – actually tertiary worries me more, as it all rolls down from there. As long as tertiary courses demand exam based criteria, the quality mark (whether students even finish high school) secondary will still emphasizes content based curricula – that means middle years will be spent as exam factories in training.
So these wonderful generalists who are already making lateral connections turn up at the steps of secondary to be ‘production lined’ into subjects. Until the exams go or are at least culled there is no space to worry about learning. Many brave practitioners are trying to develop the curriculum, but hitting your head on exams exits, mean these efforts are inconsistent and not sustainable.
What will change this? I think smaller on-line commercial interests or one-off independent schools will out pace geberal secondary education? While your PLN may infuriate with the distance from your own child’s education; I am heartened to know that they get closer everyday.

By: Clay Burell

Clay Burell — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:08:33 +0000

I’m sure my current spate of posts have already damned me, but thanks for the hot compliment

I’d give anything to have every kid study with the folks you mention, by the way – present ex-teacher excluded.