TED Talks are all the rage in today’s North American education world. Since British educational visionary Sir Ken Robinson’s 2006 star turn in “Schools Kill Creativity,“ the short You Tube video talks have become a staple at most provincial teachers’ conferences and local Professional Development Days. … More
About Paul W. Bennett
Founding Director, Schoolhouse Consulting, Halifax, NS
The Curiosity of School: Do Schools Kill Curiosity?
Thinking deeply about the story of public schooling can land you in trouble. That’s why Zander Sherman’s first book, The Curiosity of School: Education and the Dark Side of the Enlightenment could well be the most stimulating Canadian contribution to the Great Education Debate in decades. … More
Education “Extras” are Really Essentials: What is Gained — and Lost — in Teacher Labour Actions?*
In 1979, the York Region Public School Board locked me out.
After reporting for school one morning, my OSSTF representative Dick Barron stopped me in the Thornlea Secondary School parking lot.… More
Challenging Smart Students: Do AP and the IB Provide the Right Challenge?
Personalized, student-centred learning is the centerpiece of the B.C. Ministry of Education’s new plan to enrich student learning through “individualization” aimed at providing high quality teaching and learning, more flexibility and choice, and fuller utilization of the power of technology. … More
Taking Back the Schools: Will Won’t Back Down get a fair hearing?
“Taking back the schools” is a growing battle cry in America and it has now attracted the attention of Hollywood. In late September 2012, the feature film Won’t Back Down will hit North American movie theatres and stir further school reform activity.… More
Digital Learning: Why has Dr. Michael Fullan Gone into the Stratosphere?
Leading Canadian school change theorist Michael Fullan has, until recently, remained curiously silent on the 21st century digital learning movement. His 1982 book, The Meaning of Educational Change, put him on the map as an expert on “school change management”, but his strategies tended to be “top-down” and focused inside the system. … More
