Grid of Posts 3×2

  • It’s a Privilege

    To view the opposition as dangerous is to misunderstand the basic concepts of democracy. To oppress the opposition is to assault the very foundation of democracy.  ― Aung San Suu Kyi, Letters from Burma Tim Squirrell, former president of the Cambridge Union said: “Safe space gets a bit of a bad rap, most of the Read more

  • The Gatekeepers

    …the man bends over in order to see through the gate into the inside. When the gatekeeper notices that, he laughs and says: “If it tempts you so much, try it in spite of my prohibition. But take note: I am powerful. And I am only the most lowly gatekeeper. But from room to room Read more

  • Scrooge and the Last Day of Term

    “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!” Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. “The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” so the song goes setting its own challenges for institutions Read more

  • The Death of Classroom Conversation

    “…It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Dickens: Tale of two Cities We live in an age in which those who have knowledge, the thinking goes, have power. Nations compete with nations to climb up the greasy PISA tables in the yah boo sucks gameplay of our kids are better Read more

  • Keep it Simple

    If you want to look for advice as to what some of the best practices in teaching and learning are you needn’t look far beyond the 16 Century. In fact much of what passes today as ‘cutting edge’ theory and practice was already old hat by the renaissance. In ‘The Didascalicon’ Hugh of St Victor wrote much that echoes down Read more

  • The Great Leap Forward

    I think it is vital to discuss the purpose and quality of education, so you might think that I welcome the Commons Education Select Committee’s Inquiry as to what it might be… but I don’t. The worry is that they might reach a conclusion and it is here that the danger lies, for a committee deciding Read more