The power of this new book lies in its ambition, its scope, its unexpected connections, and its clarity. The beauty of this book is found in its alternating current of fury and compassion, realism and hope, humour and common sense. It is an exceptional ride.
Durrie, now 92 and standing on a long career as educator in both public and private systems, begins with a searing critique of what has gone wrong, and why and how, in conventional teacher-directed education. His examples are often appalling.
He continues with an assessment of the price our culture has paid in its mediocrity, in collapse of the arts, and in corrosion of liberal values and authentic democracy. In every debate, he centres children and their innate curiosity, capacity, and eloquence.
He buttresses all of this with a long central essay that deals, primarily in the English-speaking world, with a history of the many reformers who sought to build an architecture of public education. These are often sad but redeeming tales, amply sourced and cited in 676 (!) footnotes. He concludes with a three-part look at futures.
Cuprins
Introduction
PART ONE
What School Has Done For Us
PART TWO
The Erosion of Civilized Society
PART THREE
The World of Fun and Games
A. Shoot To Kill
B. Learning As Fun or The Erosion of Childhood
C. Social Media
PART FOUR
How Did We End Up With School?-And Why
A. How and Why It All Started
B. Visitors from North America
C. Locke and Friends: The Philosophy of Education
D. The Denial of Freedom
E. And Then What Happened?
PART FIVE
The Next Big Thing
PART SIX
The School and Its Agenda
PART SEVEN
In Conclusion
Epilogue
Appendix
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Notes
Despre autor
Tom Durrie has degrees in music history, opera, and psychology. After spending ten years as a teacher, in the 1960s, he developed a fixation on school and what’s wrong with it. Aside from that, a long life has led him down many paths. Besides teaching, he has been a vocal coach and accompanist, piano technician, actor and director, arts administrator, psychotherapist, university lecturer, caterer, handyman, community activist and organizer, father of three grown children and grandfather of six. He now lives in the small community of Boston Bar, in British Columbia, where he gives piano lessons and is active in community affairs.
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