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A powerful read about Western WEIRD Education Modern Western learning and teaching based on 'collecting data on human learning  of children's behaviour in school is like collecting data on killer whales based on their behaviour at Sea World.' WEIRD killer whales The full article was written for the Washington Post by Valerie Strauss August 20th and was based on research by Carol Black a filmmaker who has been deeply involved in the unschooling and alternative education movements Carol's writing posted on her blog provides insight why modern schooling fails so many students . Carol's blog was motivated in response to an educational consultant's  view that 'spontaneous reading happens for a few kids. The vast majority need ...explicit instruction in phonics' A view based on 'research' and 'data'.   This edict got under Carol's skin ,  'It is possible to be bad at phonics even if you already know how...

Time to escape the box! Education Readings By Allan Alach I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Paradigm Shift Urgently Needed In Education Childhood stress levels are at an all time high. ‘The way to combat this childhood suffering is by creating a paradigm shift in how we currently educate our children. One which addresses both the universoul nature (our inner essence) and intellectual development of children. In the 21st century, children need hope and inspiration. They need guidance toward inner peace as much as they need guidance towards academic achievement.’ http://bit.ly/2blYabp No grades, no timetable: Berlin school turns teaching upside down Pupils choose their own subjects and motivate themselves, an approach some say should be rolled out across Germany. ‘The philosophy behind these innovations is simple : as the requirements of the labour market are changing, and smartphones and the internet are transforming ...

Teachers and principals need to find their collective voice and fight back against the current destruction of the public education system - a system  once based on the centrality of education as a common good. At the New Zealand Primary Principals Federation's Annual meeting the warnings about the negative future scenarios  couldn't have been made more clear. .   One after the other  highly respected international educators made it very clear - do not follow the failed reforms that have been been imposed in their countries as part of a neo-liberal 'market forces' agenda/ideology. Unfortunately,  since the introduction of Tomorrows Schools,  we are well on the way to making the same mistakes .    Tomorrows Schools, introduced by the then Labour Government, held out a promise of  democratic neighborhood schools. Schools  were to...

  Entering the creative era By Allan Alach I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Which Is More Difficult: World’s Toughest Sport Or Teaching? ‘Speaking of deforming and fracturing, the figures fo r teachers’ careers are starting to look scarily more like the short-lived careers of elite athletes. Not because they ‘get old and slow’ and lose the A world wide issue athletic edge but simply because they get bruised and drained by the emotional highs and low s, the expectations, shaped largely by societal expectations but (soon) internalised as their own, incessant demands on their mental and physical capacities and more.’ http://bit.ly/2bjd0gA A true educational warrior My Epiphany Moment. A story. ‘My thinking moments changed to considering the differences between assessment and testing and evaluation and appraisement and teaching. I needed to sort myself out . Here I was:  professing to be a teacher, a lover of l...