If you’re interested in pedagogy, or just want to think about education in new ways, watch this short (11-minute) video. The funny thing about the argument presented in favor of a less “industrial” model of education, is that it’s the uniquely American “liberal arts” model. 

Simultaneously with founding the republic, the Founding Fathers began a remarkable experiment in education known as the liberal arts model (including founding a lot of the prestigious small colleges along the Mid-Atlantic). We still pay lip service to it today in college/university, but have almost completely dismantled it in K-12. I wish there was a “tea party” movement to return to the educational system our Founding Fathers had envisioned.

I should add that I had never really thought about this very much until my first job, at Dickinson College. At first I thought the institutional veneration of Benjamin Rush (the school’s founder was a signer of the Declaration of Independence & a delegate at the Constitutional Convention) & John Dickinson  (the school’s namesake was an officer in the Continental Army & a delegate at the Constitutional Convention) was just quaint. Now I realize how profound it was.

I’m convinced No Child Left Behind (and all the other movements that emphasize standardized testing) is a travesty. I’m also convinced it’s, well, un-American.

Via politicalprof:

Remaking education.

This is brilliant, and well worth a watch. Unfortunately, this is easier to say than it is to do…

politicalprof

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  1. politicalscienceblog reblogged this from politicalprof
  2. thispairofwingswornandrusted reblogged this from politicalprof
  3. hearthegoldenbells reblogged this from vicevirtueandviceversa
  4. vicevirtueandviceversa reblogged this from themusingprocess and added:
    This is really genius, I ask that you all watch it if you have some time. This is why we have to change the educational...
  5. mellowyellowcream reblogged this from politicalprof
  6. pandapears reblogged this from lauragierlich
  7. isawaglow reblogged this from vernardm
  8. unclegordy reblogged this from politicalprof
  9. mymothertongue reblogged this from politicalprof and added:
    tear my hair out because I have been talking about these ideas all week. Can somebody show this
  10. christinathepanda reblogged this from thehappiestnerd
  11. thehappiestnerd reblogged this from politicalprof and added:
    the watch if you are interested in education/education reform. Yes,...done, but still an...
  12. breanieswordvomit reblogged this from foulmouthedliberty and added:
    That’s it! How do I become a home school teacher?!
  13. foulmouthedliberty reblogged this from politicalprof and added:
    Homeschool forever!
  14. oh-hello-lovely reblogged this from lauragierlich and added:
    I am so mindblown by so many things lately.
  15. sophie-is-bored reblogged this from fellfromfiction
  16. fellfromfiction reblogged this from bookworm-chic and added:
    I think I’ve posted this before, but Ken Robinson is always worth listening to. The man is a genius and this video has...
  17. theethicalegoist reblogged this from politicalprof
  18. reysayshey reblogged this from politicalprof
  19. lettersfromtaiwan reblogged this from politicalprof and added:
    popped up on my blog dashboard tonight since I’ve been discussing this recently with a fellow Brit. Whatever form of...
  20. thechichimec reblogged this from politicalprof
  21. pol102 reblogged this from politicalprof and added:
    If you’re interested in pedagogy, or just want to think about education in new ways, watch
  22. vernardm reblogged this from politicalprof
  23. angular-kick reblogged this from politicalprof
  24. contradictme reblogged this from politicalprof
  25. themusingprocess reblogged this from politicalprof

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