Ken Robinson on Changing Education
September 29, 2011Paradigm shift
I’ve posted other pieces on Ken Robinson which I always find interesting. Sir Kenneth provides the opportunity to think, think, and think some more. This would be a good video to use for discussion with colleagues around where we are in education today.
Robinson was in Vermont last week as keynote speaker at the Rowland Conference on High School Transformation.
http://www.therowlandfoundation.org/conference.shtml
“Robinson challenged the audience to create schools that are more personal and give students rein to explore topics that match their aptitude and passions. Too many people don’t like their jobs, and it shouldn’t be that way, Robinson said. “If you’re doing something you love, an hour feels like five minutes,” he said.
“He urged educators to stop teaching subjects in isolation — algebra I, chemistry, American literature and so on, and instead bring history, science, math and art together — just as they mingle in real life. Remove architectural barriers that put the English faculty in one wing, the math people in the other, Robinson said. Principals, he said, are the heart of education and they need to be allowed to lead.
“And while he conceded that there are forces blocking the path to more creative schools, Robinson said there is more room for innovation in contemporary schools than some might think. He reminded the crowd that Shakespeare managed to write very fine poetry without veering from traditional sonnet form.
“‘There is much more freedom in the system than what we choose to exercise,’ Robinson said.”
http://goo.gl/FDXhj
Wow! This is fascinating, and I am forwarding it to the staff here at Maranacook! Thanks for posting this, Argy!
Thank you Jay for sharing this information. So much of what Robinson says is common sense and when we think about and discuss it with colleagues it is difficult to challenge. I am reminded of what Bea McGarvey, author of Inevitable said about education not to long ago at the Department workshop, we need to provide learning environments for our young people of today and our world. I wonder if Bea and Ken have ever had a conversation?
Hi Linda!
Glad to hear from you… please pass it on and urge others to forward it as well!
I agree, Argy. Perhaps we can invite Ken Robinson to come to Maine to reinforce that common sense.