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New minds for a New Millenium Time for a rethink about the role of education  in a democratic society. A crisis in education I write this in a week primary teachers are to go on strike for better pay .   Concerns about the  excessive  workload expected of teachers is just as big a concern . Time for new thinking Both issues need to be sorted if teaching is to become an attractive career – a career that values teachers as the professionals they once were. I f conditions are not resolved then improving salaries will not solve the issues of workload and associated stres s. As one wise old rural adviser once said, ‘teachers need to protect their time and energy, if this is wasted on b/s then they will have no time left to teach.’ With this in mind the following is a look into a possible future. It all began with Tomorrows Schools The workload and associated stress has increased dramatically since the introduction of the competitive Tomorrow’s Schools reforms of the lat...

The Taranaki Environmental Approach  of the 1970s Last week I was at a meeting attended by Andrew Little Minister of Justice in the Labour Coalition Government. During our conversation iot arose that  I had taught Andrew's secretary in the mid 70s! I said I would find a photo for him to pass on to her. I remembered that there was a photo of his secretary in an article I had contributed to an N ZEI  Forwards to Basics   book edited by Jack Shallcrass in 1978 Jack was a well known commentator on progressive educationalist at the time and contributed regular article to the NZ Listener The purpose of the book was share the range of successful educational practices in primary schools . Jack writes in the preface he had 200 contributions and I remember him visiting my classroom at this time . Jack wrote  encouragingly about the quality of the teaching he was privileged to observe . Maybe its time for a modern version of his book? My own contribution took the form o...

Teaching in a Modern Learning Environment (MLE) or an ILA – innovative learning environment or a FLE – flexible learning environment . Theme based on Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea Teaching in a Modern Learning Environmen t (MLE) offers an opportunity to extend the educational opportunities that can be offered to students. To achieve anything that is more than an extension than which can be achieved in ordinary classrooms is the problem. Architecturally ‘opening’ out the classrooms will naturally make quite a difference to the learning situations for both learners and teachers.   Students will be able to feel part of larger more complex and initially exciting unit and this will apply to the teachers as well but for the teachers in particular will be the feeling of being in a team. This will allow teachers to share their problems and successes – and most importantly will enable a variety of organisational arrangements to be made imposable in self-contained classroom. Theme based ...

 2017 Kelvin Smythe and John Dewey 1897 Education Readings By Allan Alach Two important articles bookend this set of readings . If you’re not familiar with John Dewey , I recommend you read Bruce Hammonds ’ article: “John Dewey - New thinking 1897! ” If you want to see how Dewey’s vision can be expressed in a school, read the first article from Kelvin Smythe : “ A schoolwide science experience.’ I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz A NZ schoolwide science experience This is a must read! ‘ My intention was to provide an opportunity and context where children could engage to make connections with science in their environment, to learn how science activity affects life, indeed their life . I delighted in the idea that that in the process of undertaking this science, the children were keenly telling their parents what they were doing, why they were doing it, and the ambitions they had for the outcome.’ http://b...