tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post2603455896821006319..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: Creativity in Education - Heather DyerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-58322247457522816892013-12-04T19:17:06.178+00:002013-12-04T19:17:06.178+00:00Thanks Jean - lovely to hear from you! Yes, still ...Thanks Jean - lovely to hear from you! Yes, still teaching but up in Aberystwyth now...<br /><br />Hope your writing is going well. Heather Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663116147353986746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-62909414819529179742013-12-04T17:53:00.148+00:002013-12-04T17:53:00.148+00:00Glad to hear that you are still teaching, Heather....Glad to hear that you are still teaching, Heather. You inspired me on the Bristol Uni Writing for Children course.jeanpwebsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020381468422277792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-61622912133368202322013-12-03T19:00:11.267+00:002013-12-03T19:00:11.267+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Heather Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663116147353986746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-92215046103485629852013-12-03T18:58:58.623+00:002013-12-03T18:58:58.623+00:00Thanks for the comments, folks. And yes, of-course...Thanks for the comments, folks. And yes, of-course I am being rather 'down' on education here - we're lucky to be educated at all. And of-course we do need to learn to read and write - but we need a lot more besides! I feel that my time in school (even though I was an overachiever and usually top of the class) could have been used more productively. Eighteen years is a very long time. Why shouldn't we know how to manage our finances, drive, grow vegetables, cook, etc. etc. etc. by the time we're released into the world?<br /><br />Heather Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663116147353986746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-32129897266804725162013-12-03T18:52:15.938+00:002013-12-03T18:52:15.938+00:00I can;t help wondering whether the instruction to ...I can;t help wondering whether the instruction to Be Creative isn't as much part of the problem as the solution. If I go to a school and say come on everyone we're going to write ourselves an adventure story and we can do just as we like as long as it's fun, then it usually is. I think if I was a child and someone came along and said now dear we're all going to be Creative today I might just find myself pleading to do a nice straightforward sheet of long division.<br />julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-2170969315540676262013-12-03T17:28:22.412+00:002013-12-03T17:28:22.412+00:00I agree about literacy and maths, Emma, but feel s...I agree about literacy and maths, Emma, but feel schools need to offer a balance of practical activities, from painting & art - my grand-kids don't seem to do any at all in class! - through to hands on skills, if they are to take care of the kids for so many hours of their young lives. <br /><br />Some children learn through doing. I recall going to a school that ran a "Forest School" and the teachers were quite clear that often the roles of learners was reversed once they were out doing real world things, and different skills were being used. But I can recall a year one of my then-children had a teacher than seemed to teach little (in either area)and that is more than annoying. Maybe we neeed space for essays, not comments about this huge topic, imo? Good wishes to your course, Heather. Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-85958777124086638122013-12-03T17:04:48.149+00:002013-12-03T17:04:48.149+00:00Hmm. Have to admit, as a parent I don't want ...Hmm. Have to admit, as a parent I don't want schools to teach my child how to drive or invest in the stock market or fix taps or even grow vegetables. I'd rather they taught children how to read and write. Education for everyone has been hard won, and I must admit I get more upset about the large number of people who are still not literate after their schooling, than I do about the ones who don't know how to grow a carrot. Or the ones who get good qualifications but haven't found their true vocation yet.<br /><br />But I'm guessing I'm being a bit obtuse here and what you are advocating is a more creative, child-centred approach? I wonder what the best way is to attain that?Emma Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718171070716804800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-75922560581120323012013-12-03T10:56:45.381+00:002013-12-03T10:56:45.381+00:00I like the sound of that course you did... I like the sound of that course you did... Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-82071416430854649052013-12-03T10:41:28.992+00:002013-12-03T10:41:28.992+00:00Well, certainly we're moving back towards a pa...Well, certainly we're moving back towards a paradigm where reading, writing and arithmetic are presented as very nearly the only things that matter.<br /><br />But, Sue, I think you're missing the wider point of Heather's piece, which is that by and large school <i>doesn't</i> prepare us for life, or help us to find out who we are or what we're really good at. That was my experience, too, and I think it's the experience of many of us. For many people, school is where we "find out" what we <i>can't</i> do, and learn not to bother trying.<br /><br />I'm probably coming across as more cynical and one-sided on this than is actually the case, but I do think we need a national (and international) conversation on the purpose of schooling. Sadly, and ironically, what we get instead is politicians practicing the playground debating techniques of 5-year olds.John Doughertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937505376169411724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-17282381487880107832013-12-03T09:16:22.828+00:002013-12-03T09:16:22.828+00:00Heather, if you really think that those years at s...Heather, if you really think that those years at school teach kids nothing but reading and a bit of arithmetic, I am very sad for you.<br /><br />Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.com