I bought the book today - "Dumbing Down" by "acclaimed education expert Dr Kevin Donnelly" (back cover) - and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So far I have checked the reference list to find Allan Luke featured (as an "educrat" who, as the glossary at the back explains, has been allowed to get away with murder, so to speak), Roy Killen featured once, and only two of Bill Spady's publications (and not his book on outcome-based education). There is absolutely no mention of authentic or productive pedagogy, and none of quality teaching.
I've also noted that in the glossary "fuzzy maths" is explained as maths teaching where teachers focus on real world problems, use cooperative learning, and apparently don't believe anything should be remembered or rote learned.
The back cover is most enlightening, and makes very clear not only Donnelly's stance but what he hopes to eradicate. He laments the apparent passing of rewarding merit or competition (huh?), and the English syllabus allowing Shakespeare and Big Brother to exist anywhere near each other.
I only wish he wasn't getting paid for my buying his book ...
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3 comments:
Hello from Dr D,
I'm glad you bought the book - hope you enjoy it, if that is the right word. At least the book appears to have started a debate about curriculum and the impact of PC on education, a debate we need to have.
I'm realy glad that you get paid so little for writing a book.
Your take on learning in today's society seems very out of step with common sense. Our students need to be prepared for all challenges. Kids are more aware of the demands of society and need to be able to develop skills than learn supposed facts
Dear Kevin,
It would be a debate in here if you would respond to some of the comments and their content ...
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