Beyond that, we really should deal with kids by starting with the assumption
that they WANT to learn!
At the secondary level, same thing, except that we should abandon the idea of
having kids sitting facing a lecturing teacher and spouting back predigested
answers. Again, this takes a situation in which the teachers can give
individual attention to their students.
In the universities, we have been moving away from a pretty good system -- at
least in theory -- for the past two decades, as monetary pressures on
universities force them to give up on basic research and consentrate on
moving the "product" through the "system" like an assembly line. The best
education is when students work WITH professors on original research, and
maybe contribute an idea or two themselves.
None of this is terribly original, but then it doesn't really have to be.
As far as prescriptions for any one, single system of teaching are concerned,
I think that the Virian answer could be that lots of methods can work,
depending on the subject, the students, the teachers, and whatever. The
worst system of all is one that treats everyone alike.
-- **************************************** C. David Noziglia Wellington, New Zealand noziglia@actrix.gen.nz
"Blessed are those who have no expectations, for they will never be disappointed." Kautiliya Shakhamuni Sidhartha Gautama Buddha
"Things are the way they are because they got that way."
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