If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can't, thank a Teachers' Union
Of course, the progressive education movement doesn't like that. It's biased or unfair or something. I forget the actual claim. So they want to make education warmer, friendlier, happier. They believe the educational environment should be nuturing and comforting - not discouraging. That's why using red pens to correct tests is out (red is harsh!) and purple (ahh, soothing) is in.
Progressive education also attempts to "level the playing field," which, if I may translate from progressivian to common sense, means "lowering the standards." In this feel-good, sunshine and lollipops world, everyone's work goes up on the walls because it's all sooooooo wonderful! You see, it's not fair to judge a child's work because there are no wrong answers, only life experiences.
Progressive education began with the goal of providing a nurturing environmnet that aimed at kids' hearts rather than their heads. The movement's leader, John Dewey was a champion of education reform and believed the whole "teachers teach students facts" concept was so nineteenth century. He saw the role of the teacher as more of a coach and the role of the state as necessary to "bring about the improvements progressives sought."
What does that mean as far as how our kids are actually taught in the classroom? Dewey didn't try to hide his beliefs:
"existing life is so complex that the child cannot be brought into contact with it without either confusion or distraction; he is either overwhelmed by a multiplicity of activities which are going on, so that he loses his own power of orderly reaction, or he is so stimulated by these various activities that his powers are permanently called into play and he becomes either unduly specialized or else disintegrated."
That would appear to be a quote from the same book as I am reading.
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