What Should Teachers Teach?
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
What country are you referring to, Immanuel?
The politicians here, in the UK, and I include the dreadful Tories, are very concerned about balancing the risks of covid and the risks of depriving children of attending school
The politicians here, in the UK, and I include the dreadful Tories, are very concerned about balancing the risks of covid and the risks of depriving children of attending school
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Oh, the politicians everywhere are all abuzz over COVID, not just in schools, but in businesses, and so on. What I was referring to had nothing to do with COVID per se. I was speaking of their total lack of concern about the impact of the computer-saturation that children are experiencing as a consequence of the new measures, which was already well underway before the COVID crisis. That's also what Postman speaks about, and it's also what the research also clearly shows is terribly detrimental to the development of young brains.
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Many politicians are concerned about electronic media's impact on the education of children. The reason I mentioned covid in this respect is covid lockdowns are known to every politician to cause dependency on electronic communications between teacher and pupils.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 4:03 amOh, the politicians everywhere are all abuzz over COVID, not just in schools, but in businesses, and so on. What I was referring to had nothing to do with COVID per se. I was speaking of their total lack of concern about the impact of the computer-saturation that children are experiencing as a consequence of the new measures, which was already well underway before the COVID crisis. That's also what Postman speaks about, and it's also what the research also clearly shows is terribly detrimental to the development of young brains.
Before covid there had been concerns about children not reading books, and covid has highlighted the problem of over-dependence by children on electronic entertainments and communications.
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
No, they're not. They're totally keen to get as many computers into schools as they can, because that's seen as "technologically advanced education." And they want as much education online as they can get, because it's cheap.Belinda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:43 amMany politicians are concerned about electronic media's impact on the education of children.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 4:03 amOh, the politicians everywhere are all abuzz over COVID, not just in schools, but in businesses, and so on. What I was referring to had nothing to do with COVID per se. I was speaking of their total lack of concern about the impact of the computer-saturation that children are experiencing as a consequence of the new measures, which was already well underway before the COVID crisis. That's also what Postman speaks about, and it's also what the research also clearly shows is terribly detrimental to the development of young brains.
Name just one law or policy that has been produced by politicians to restrict access to screens for children while their brains develop properly.
Can't?
Then just how "concerned" are these politicians?
The reason I mentioned covid in this respect is covid lockdowns are known to every politician to cause dependency on electronic communications between teacher and pupils.
Of course. But COVID is not really relevant, except in this incidental sense. Screen time is still bad for developing brains, COVID or not.
Before covid there had been concerns about children not reading books,
Well, parents seem vaguely concerned. But you'll find that most of them are not so concerned as to do anything about it. And their "concern" is often offset by the parents being just as convinced as the politicians that "technological education" is essential for the 21st Century, and that sort of thing. So few of them take the hard steps to reduce to strict limits the computer/tv time their children have. In fact, they most often have video games and cable subscriptions that they use as proxy "babysitters."
We have the stats. Back in the 1990s, the average child who claimed "I don't watch TV" watched 2-1/2 hours of it a day. The ones who reported they did watch TV watched far more...up to 6 hours a day. And now, children have their own computers, TV's, video games, social media, and their own phone screens in their pockets at all times, and many keep them recharged and running all the time. Many are never OFF screens during their waking hours.
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Computers are very useful for information retrieval but not for obsessive gaming or social media.
Computers are one of several teaching tools. Mannie, you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals. Education is a specialism. Do you think you know more than medics do about medical practice?
Computers are one of several teaching tools. Mannie, you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals. Education is a specialism. Do you think you know more than medics do about medical practice?
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
oh, yes...let's not question the professionals...they are a finer clay
oh, yes...let's not question the professionals...they are a finer clay
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
You at least have some practical experience of teaching so you are more credible than a complete amateur.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:11 pm you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
oh, yes...let's not question the professionals...they are a finer clay
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
nice of you to sayBelinda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:13 pmYou at least have some practical experience of teaching so you are more credible than a complete amateur.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:11 pm you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
oh, yes...let's not question the professionals...they are a finer clay
irrelevant, though
these examples of finer clay, these profesionals, these technocrats, should not be questioned
you see no danger in that?
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
But "information retrieval" is not "wisdom," not "understanding," and not "learning."
Oh, B. That's your funniest remark yet!Mannie, you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Yes, I do see some danger in this. All respectable professionals are peer reviewed, and sometimes have to do refresher courses. There also must be safety standards that protect whistleblowers.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:25 pmnice of you to sayBelinda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:13 pmYou at least have some practical experience of teaching so you are more credible than a complete amateur.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:11 pm you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
oh, yes...let's not question the professionals...they are a finer clay
irrelevant, though
these examples of finer clay, these profesionals, these technocrats, should not be questioned
you see no danger in that?
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Indeed info retrieval is not wisdom or understanding, even when the student can parrot what info she has retrieved.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:29 pmBut "information retrieval" is not "wisdom," not "understanding," and not "learning."
Oh, B. That's your funniest remark yet!Mannie, you should leave problems of teaching methods and curriculums to the professionals.
Take our philosophising here on these forums. We can quote stuff we have looked up. This is no use to man or beast unless we can learn new ideas and learn how best to evaluate ideas other people have produced.
Teachers same as doctors and priests should open their methods and theories for inspection by both their peers and the lay people they serve.
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- henry quirk
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Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
professionals we're not to question, reviewin' professionals we're not to question: checkBelinda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 7:23 pmYes, I do see some danger in this. All respectable professionals are peer reviewed, and sometimes have to do refresher courses. There also must be safety standards that protect whistleblowers.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:25 pmnice of you to say
irrelevant, though
these examples of finer clay, these profesionals, these technocrats, should not be questioned
you see no danger in that?
professionals we're not to question, gettin' additional trainin' from professionals we're not to question: check
whistleblowin' professionals ought not face those they accuse: check
a recipe for shiny times
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
You are so mysterious, Mannie. You keep your personal identity unusually well covered up.As you have the right to do, of course.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:23 pmIndeed they should. And some of us are very far from "lay people."
Re: What Should Teachers Teach?
Then get to work on it if you don't already do so.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 12:38 amprofessionals we're not to question, reviewin' professionals we're not to question: checkBelinda wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 7:23 pmYes, I do see some danger in this. All respectable professionals are peer reviewed, and sometimes have to do refresher courses. There also must be safety standards that protect whistleblowers.henry quirk wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:25 pm
nice of you to say
irrelevant, though
these examples of finer clay, these profesionals, these technocrats, should not be questioned
you see no danger in that?
professionals we're not to question, gettin' additional trainin' from professionals we're not to question: check
whistleblowin' professionals ought not face those they accuse: check
a recipe for shiny times