From The Tyranny of Engagement to Devices in Every Hand, Minds in None, here's an imaginary library for an age trying to understand what went wrong with education.
My word! You just brilliantly depicted why I finally had to leave after 34 years of teaching in public schools. It is strangely reassuring to be understood. Thank you for this!
So true and that’s why those of us educated to be educators must humble ourselves, resist our ignorance and learn from the ancients. I am reading your book slowly; it’s that good.
These books are practiced even at university level. I did smile but I learned a lot from the masterful satire. At first I anticipated real books out there. All these books are practiced. The only book not mentioned is, “multiplying your multiple-choice methods”. Thank you.
This is fantastic! As someone who has a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, your “book” is spot on. I worked in EdTech for 12 years. I believed in all mentioned. 1:1, mobile devices (we championed iPads) promises of learning would be possible if school leaders embraced it. I was a PubEd educator, loved technology, got the promotion into EdTech and cheerlead our district into the future. Bullpucky. Eventually I saw programs and EdTech startups and fall-downs all promising promises of visible growth — if you remain faithful to the online curriculum, due diligence. Fierce competitions for your POs, recently voted and passed tax bonds, and grants written and awarded. Just when a vendor thinks they have the best thing on integrating YouTube into the curriculum, another group will outdo what was presented. Stronger. Faster. Efficient. Better. Dog eat dog.
I left. Then I left public education. I joined a private classical Catholic school. I am so happy, more than I have ever been in my teaching career. We barely use tech. I love it! Thank God for classical education.
Superb distillation. As someone from the corporate world, point #4 (Data-Driven, Soul-Deprived) resonates deeply. We have seen exactly how 'dashboards replacing judgment' plays out in industry—if it can't be measured, it doesn’t exist on the KPI board. It is sobering to see the same 'tyranny of metrics' hollowing out education and replacing wisdom with spreadsheets.
Can't thank you enough for this. And am delighted by your marketing stroke of genius. Carry on! Resistance to intellectual and emotional imbecility cannot succeed by Haidt (and his confreres) alone.
I was so excited to read these books I searched for them on Amazon only later to get the reveal at the end of your article. Now I will order your book. Is it divided into these specific topics?
"astonishing discovery that children already possess all necessary wisdom and that the teacher’s primary role is to “facilitate” its emergence" That's a common motif from Socrates (who thought of himself as a midwife) to Russeau (and his excellent Emile) to Papert (and his excellent Mindstorms) in our times.
My word! You just brilliantly depicted why I finally had to leave after 34 years of teaching in public schools. It is strangely reassuring to be understood. Thank you for this!
So true and that’s why those of us educated to be educators must humble ourselves, resist our ignorance and learn from the ancients. I am reading your book slowly; it’s that good.
These books are practiced even at university level. I did smile but I learned a lot from the masterful satire. At first I anticipated real books out there. All these books are practiced. The only book not mentioned is, “multiplying your multiple-choice methods”. Thank you.
Mark
This is fantastic! As someone who has a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, your “book” is spot on. I worked in EdTech for 12 years. I believed in all mentioned. 1:1, mobile devices (we championed iPads) promises of learning would be possible if school leaders embraced it. I was a PubEd educator, loved technology, got the promotion into EdTech and cheerlead our district into the future. Bullpucky. Eventually I saw programs and EdTech startups and fall-downs all promising promises of visible growth — if you remain faithful to the online curriculum, due diligence. Fierce competitions for your POs, recently voted and passed tax bonds, and grants written and awarded. Just when a vendor thinks they have the best thing on integrating YouTube into the curriculum, another group will outdo what was presented. Stronger. Faster. Efficient. Better. Dog eat dog.
I left. Then I left public education. I joined a private classical Catholic school. I am so happy, more than I have ever been in my teaching career. We barely use tech. I love it! Thank God for classical education.
I’ll go look for your book at Barnes and Noble.
No matter how wonderful something may be, I will not share my pennies with Jeff Bezos.
Neither will I. My local bookstore needs the money. Bezos doesn’t.
I so wish that I could bring you with me when I meet with the staff of my child's iPad-obsessed school. You nail the absurdness perfectly.
Superb distillation. As someone from the corporate world, point #4 (Data-Driven, Soul-Deprived) resonates deeply. We have seen exactly how 'dashboards replacing judgment' plays out in industry—if it can't be measured, it doesn’t exist on the KPI board. It is sobering to see the same 'tyranny of metrics' hollowing out education and replacing wisdom with spreadsheets.
A fine skewering.
Can't thank you enough for this. And am delighted by your marketing stroke of genius. Carry on! Resistance to intellectual and emotional imbecility cannot succeed by Haidt (and his confreres) alone.
Just ordered this through my local bookstore.
Thank you, Pam!
On the mark. They all probably "write themselves."
Beautifully done. Absolutely 100% real.
Very clever. I began thinking that in two days I’ve only made it to Chapter 3 of your book. Whew!
I was so excited to read these books I searched for them on Amazon only later to get the reveal at the end of your article. Now I will order your book. Is it divided into these specific topics?
"astonishing discovery that children already possess all necessary wisdom and that the teacher’s primary role is to “facilitate” its emergence" That's a common motif from Socrates (who thought of himself as a midwife) to Russeau (and his excellent Emile) to Papert (and his excellent Mindstorms) in our times.
Create the propaganda you want people to read. Tell the people it’s banned. Watch them read it. Mission accomplished.