Comments on: The bully of curriculum raises its head once again http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/ Life in Perpetual Beta Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gilbert http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174782 Gilbert Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:31:09 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174782 The two last posts have me thinking. I can see how the curriculum can be damaging. Especially if it is the driver or if encourages teachers to confine a student as pointed out by Robert. Most of my experience with teaching is in situations where formative assessment plays a driving role. I could live without the curriculum but still need clear learning objectives/goals to be for FA to function properly. How do you define curriculum. Would like to better understand where the objectives fit in to your definition. Gilbert The two last posts have me thinking.

I can see how the curriculum can be damaging. Especially if it is the driver or if encourages teachers to confine a student as pointed out by Robert.

Most of my experience with teaching is in situations where formative assessment plays a driving role. I could live without the curriculum but still need clear learning objectives/goals to be for FA to function properly.

How do you define curriculum. Would like to better understand where the objectives fit in to your definition.

Gilbert

]]> By: Robert J. Saulnier http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174781 Robert J. Saulnier Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:51 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174781 “Curriculum is the confinement of the human experience.” I have to disagree. A curriculum is like a map of things to learn and experience. It is your guide (teacher/organisation) who confines a student by controlling where and how he gets around. Hopefully you have a good guide, someone who will let you wander around a little. What’s important about the curriculum is that it contains things we want to experience and some paths (best practices) that show us how to get to the treasure chest. A curriculum will never limit a student, only the student or other people can limit someone. “Curriculum is the confinement of the human experience.”

I have to disagree. A curriculum is like a map of things to learn and experience. It is your guide (teacher/organisation) who confines a student by controlling where and how he gets around. Hopefully you have a good guide, someone who will let you wander around a little.

What’s important about the curriculum is that it contains things we want to experience and some paths (best practices) that show us how to get to the treasure chest.

A curriculum will never limit a student, only the student or other people can limit someone.

]]> By: Harold http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174780 Harold Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:21:23 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174780 I had doubts about posting this, Gilbert, but it was written and I wanted it out there for discussion. As you note, my main point is about curriculum, not EFI, but EFI is the hot topic. I'm actually a little disillusioned that banning homework in school never became an issue here. Once again, children have no say in the matter, in spite of Canada being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. You won't see any parents protesting homework outside the Legislature. I'm still quite firmly against curriculum in education, as I believe that the only place for set curriculum is in training. I had doubts about posting this, Gilbert, but it was written and I wanted it out there for discussion. As you note, my main point is about curriculum, not EFI, but EFI is the hot topic.

I’m actually a little disillusioned that banning homework in school never became an issue here. Once again, children have no say in the matter, in spite of Canada being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. You won’t see any parents protesting homework outside the Legislature.

I’m still quite firmly against curriculum in education, as I believe that the only place for set curriculum is in training.

]]> By: Gilbert http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174779 Gilbert Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:59:39 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174779 Hey Harold, You might have to repost the need for a curriculum discussion when we all cool down from recent annoucements. I don't agree with the curriculum bashing but I your right when we say that we have to sincerely ask why we’re using it in the first place. It is interesting how the french immersion thing becomes an issue. Meanwhile the province increases the number of witch hunters by 43 and no one minds. GB Hey Harold,

You might have to repost the need for a curriculum discussion when we all cool down from recent annoucements.

I don’t agree with the curriculum bashing but I your right when we say that we have to sincerely ask why we’re using it in the first place.

It is interesting how the french immersion thing becomes an issue. Meanwhile the province increases the number of witch hunters by 43 and no one minds.

GB

]]> By: E Johnsen http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174777 E Johnsen Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:01:14 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174777 Kelly Lamrock has taken a shamefully devisive tactic in trying to implement... no... FORCE his will upon the system. In one radio interview I heard him say that children in the EFI programs usually had parents who were better educated with more money. ??????? What would be the point in saying that other than to generate support by making people think that the EFI was catering to some sort of upper class? Since Lamrock has done this, the comments on News sites abound with radical 'Anglophone-first' posts and declarations that the French system discriminates since it will not allow English children to attend. Congratulations Mr. Lamrock, you have succeeded in resurrecting 30 year old biases. P.S. If Kelly Lamrock does believe that supporters of EFI tend to have more education and money, wouldn't he think that might be a dangerous demographic to pi$$ off? Kelly Lamrock has taken a shamefully devisive tactic in trying to implement… no… FORCE his will upon the system. In one radio interview I heard him say that children in the EFI programs usually had parents who were better educated with more money.

??????? What would be the point in saying that other than to generate support by making people think that the EFI was catering to some sort of upper class? Since Lamrock has done this, the comments on News sites abound with radical ‘Anglophone-first’ posts and declarations that the French system discriminates since it will not allow English children to attend.

Congratulations Mr. Lamrock, you have succeeded in resurrecting 30 year old biases.

P.S. If Kelly Lamrock does believe that supporters of EFI tend to have more education and money, wouldn’t he think that might be a dangerous demographic to pi$$ off?

]]> By: Daniel Lemire http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174772 Daniel Lemire Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:37:30 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174772 Judging by the level of language, the CBC comments are probably by poorly educated parents. Oh! The irony! Judging by the level of language, the CBC comments are probably by poorly educated parents. Oh! The irony!

]]> By: Jacques http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174771 Jacques Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:51:31 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174771 Those comments from CBC story are expressions of pure bigotry and falsity. Really, the two solitudes remain... BTW, we francophones in NB also have English immersion, that is, as soon as we step outside the door, switch on the computer or open the TV or radio. Learning English in NB (or in North America) is like a cold; you're gonna catch it anyway!! Those comments from CBC story are expressions of pure bigotry and falsity. Really, the two solitudes remain…
BTW, we francophones in NB also have English immersion, that is, as soon as we step outside the door, switch on the computer or open the TV or radio. Learning English in NB (or in North America) is like a cold; you’re gonna catch it anyway!!

]]> By: Karyn Romeis http://www.jarche.com/2008/03/the-bully-of-curriculum-raises-its-head-once-again/comment-page-1/#comment-174768 Karyn Romeis Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:18:03 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=1505#comment-174768 "Curriculum is the confinement of the human experience." Well said that man! Along the way in my career, I made a brief foray into the world of formal education when I worked for two years as an IT tutor at a further education college. What drove me back into the arms of corporate learning was the bully you mention. As an experienced teacher/trainer, I felt competent to do a needs analysis for my students and then set about meeting their needs. I resented being told what to teach them. I also resented the tacit (no - strike that - the explicit) pressure to teach to the test. Since I believe so strongly in empowerment, in enablement, in giving people a leg up to a place they couldn't reach without help... well, I couldn't reconcile that with a stringent curriculum, so I left. “Curriculum is the confinement of the human experience.”

Well said that man! Along the way in my career, I made a brief foray into the world of formal education when I worked for two years as an IT tutor at a further education college.

What drove me back into the arms of corporate learning was the bully you mention. As an experienced teacher/trainer, I felt competent to do a needs analysis for my students and then set about meeting their needs. I resented being told what to teach them. I also resented the tacit (no – strike that – the explicit) pressure to teach to the test.

Since I believe so strongly in empowerment, in enablement, in giving people a leg up to a place they couldn’t reach without help… well, I couldn’t reconcile that with a stringent curriculum, so I left.

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