Category Archives: Pedagogy

What is progressive? What is traditional?

Posted on June 29, 2016 by fish64

“Perhaps it shouldn’t matter that they don’t know who Churchill is. Perhaps it shouldn’t matter that they know nothing at all. But when other children know, when other children understand the world in which they live and mine do not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy | 2 Comments

A dangerous dichotomy

Posted on June 17, 2016 by fish64

“I can hardly believe this article! Resilience, problem solving, change management, communication skills and other so-called “soft skills” are exactly what employers want, more so than narrow exams the kids crammed for so their school could get a clutch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Knowledge, Pedagogy | 2 Comments

Why the traditional/progressive debate won’t go away.

Posted on June 3, 2016 by fish64

A lot of people claim the traditional/progressive debate is boring and worth putting to bed. Most teachers, it is said, use a mixture of methods. I would probably agree with this. I describe myself as broadly traditional, but this does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy | 2 Comments

One rule for me, another one for them

Posted on December 18, 2015 by fish64

I found myself giving a wry smile to the latest from Kevin Stannard in the TES: https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/too-many-educationalists-take-unforgiving-line-all-education For years, those of us who questioned the progressive orthodoxy in education were told that there was no evidence for our views. On my PGCE … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Dogmatism in the UK

Posted on October 31, 2015 by fish64

I have taught abroad in the past in three different countries. I like to think it has given me an additional perspective on my teaching and the confidence to question ideas which are sometimes presented as the last word in pedagogy … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy | 1 Comment

Why Mr Gradgrind, thou art updated – my version!

Posted on October 11, 2015 by fish64

A fellow blogger published an excellent update to Charles Dickens’ character some time ago. The link is below. https://emc2andallthat.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/why-mr-gradgrind-thou-art-updated/ However, I thought I would also do my own version, now that checklists and “can do” statements seem to be the vogue, thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Projects are the best way to learn – not!

Posted on September 29, 2015 by fish64

Myth number 6 of Daisy Christodoulou’s “7 myths of education”, the myth that projects and activities are the best way to learn, seems to be the one that really causes most dismay among her critics. Kevin Stannard and Tom Sherrington … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Progressive Values

Posted on July 16, 2015 by fish64

Although leaning towards the traditional viewpoint, I occasionally enjoy reading blogs which lean towards another view. One of my favourites is http://heymisssmith.blogspot.co.uk/ I recently came across this little gem on her blog The Traditional Values Range.  There’s no need for … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy | 1 Comment

“Neo – progressives” vs “1970s progressives”

Posted on June 9, 2015 by fish64

Reading Robert Peal’s book “Progressively Worse”, I fell that perhaps he could update it with a sequel which recognizes the subtle differences between today’s progressive educationalists and those of the past. I have termed these groups “neo – progressives” and … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy, Uncategorized | 3 Comments