This visual (infographic) post was inspired by two quotes said directly to me by teachers this week. They both highlighted how high schools need to change.
- “It’s ok, there’s always kids that will never get it.”
Teachers are to ready to accept that the “raw material” that arrives at school is sometimes unworkable. - “The senior students have waited 7 years to sit on and ‘own’ the deck area at lunchtime”
If high school (I work in a school that gets good grades) fails to inspire children so much that while getting good grades, 18 year-olds are taking lunchtime seating as a priority, then we have significant changes to make to high school education.
Note: I appreciate it’s not a dichotomy but traditional schooling has primarily been one of a ‘carpentry’ approach and my evidence shows a need to start with a gardening approach and add elements of ‘carpentry’ where needed.
Here’s my infographic post on the matter as I see it and the theme was inspired by Alison Gopnik, author of The Gardener and Carpenter.