Experiment: Explain a few of the problems with current thought I recently saw this advertisement on Facebook for an event in Bristol. I have a little bit of trouble deciding if they are 100% serious or if it is supposed to be kind of funny. Maybe I just want to find a bit of humor in my…
Experiment: Explaining the rational, thoughtful allure of neoliberalism. Neo-liberalism is not just a trend in government, it is a global cultural shift. Even though I would not consider myself a neo-liberal, it is still embedded into how I think about the world. And even though I think it is a destructive mentality, I can understand the appeal. Neo-liberalism…
Is it a “safe simulation” To drive for excellence, But be adverse to the risk that would guarantee it. Teacher collaboration, But individualism to keep people replaceable. Opportunities to open minds and have incredible experiences, As long as a certain percentage is profit. Site-based-management, As long as it fits regulation. Teacher ownership, As long as…
Experiment: Writing negatively about pragmatism. As I wrote in an earlier post, I believe that income inequality is the biggest challenge facing education today. This is a view shared by people across political lines. Milton Friedman is an education inequality warrior. He believes very passionately that unequal educational opportunities are a symptom of the way that the…
Experiment: Explaining neoliberalism from the “wild” I received this letter from the Nottingham City Council after applying for school busing for my son. I’ve highlighted the part that struck me. Perhaps there is nothing wrong here, or maybe this is one of those statements that suddenly brings the hidden into the light of day. From a rational…
Eh, it can’t all be technical. Here are my personal thoughts of what I want school to be. I want to work in a school where teachers . . . are the guides for learning, facilitators, and leaders of the community, supported by administration are valued for their specific skills and interests work collaboratively (not…
Experiment: writing about the connection between philosophy and my own view on research. At the end of a long day last week, I encountered a particularly challenging section of a book. I left myself this note, so that I would remember that it was not just a normal bookmark. Having totally forgotten about it, I opened…
Last weekend I attended the conference “A Voice for Education” in Nottingham. This was part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences and none of those titles prepared me at all for what to expect! This was the first question of the day, and I did not have a very good answer. The question is,”What…
Experiment: Writing an analysis of a philosophical concept. Even if you are already familiar with the story, you will still enjoy this version: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is one of those philosophical ideas that seems to apply to everything. There are endless avenues that an analysis of The Cave could go down. For my own…
Emily Winchip 