Donnelly is provocative, and while I would not endorse all his ideas, I do think that generally speaking he comes out ahead in the debate.  Worth considering thoughtfully - GS 

 

http://www.duffyandsnellgrove.com.au/titles/schools.htm

 

Why Our Schools Are Failing

by Kevin Donnelly

ISBN 0 9751921 0 8

$22.00

Publication date: May 2004

 

How successful are Australian schools? Judged by what politicians, bureaucrats and teacher academics tell us, all is well and parents have nothing to worry about. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Whether measured by staff morale, student absenteeism and lack of interest, the exodus of parents from the government system, falling standards or the politically correct nature of the curriculum, the reality is that our education system is in crisis.

 

In this book Kevin Donnelly, a former teacher and leading education consultant and commentator, explains the bankrupt ideas, from outcomes-based education to whole language and fuzzy maths, that are doing so much damage to our schools.

 

While teacher unions blame everything on a lack of resources, Donnelly identifies the persistence of failed education fads as the real problem. This carefully documented book will empower parents to understand the issues and fight back. Thanks to its Glossary of Edubabble you will be able to understand your child’s teacher – possibly for the first time!

 

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