A bad day for education

Posted on | March 14, 2008 | Comments Off

A sad day for a great teacher, and an even sadder day for the children in his class – the miniLegends. A bad decision resulting from paranoia, a head-in-the-sand attitude to the protection of children, and a fundamentally anti-education mindset amongst those who are supposed to be leaders in education.

Al Upton is, without doubt, one of the most committed educators I have ever met – his focus, every time I meet him, is entirely on the children in his class. He is also one of the least egotistical people I have ever met – all his energy, whenever I talk to him, is focused on the quality and relevance of the learning that his pupils can experience through his help and care and hard work. He is a total believer in the transformational and liberating effects of education.

What does a decision such as this, therefore, tell a diligent, passionate and caring teacher such as Al about all the efforts he has put in on behalf of children over the years? I simply cannot imagine.

Sad indeed.

Postscript – it is heartening to see the number and tenor of the comments that are already starting to flow in support of Al’s work, and the real hostility to this bad decision.

Technorati Tags: al upton, minilegends, paranoia, anti-education