If you believe that a traditional classroom and teacher are no longer required for education, then pull your child out of school, buy a load of software and homeschool them today. It’s as simple as that.
In this review of “Authority and the Teacher”, Spiked successfully capture the essence of William Kitchen’s breakdown of attitudes towards modern teaching. The idea of the teacher as a facilitator to knowledge-gathering – in essence, little more than a bystander – is not purely technological. It’s based on the modern liberal resentment and disdain of meritocracy and authority.
The role of the educator in facilitating education through observation, consolation and consideration was drummed into me thoroughly when I studied ECE. Even at the time – when I was the quintessential blank slate – I felt instinctively concerned and uncomfortable with the idea. I would’ve struggled to explain why at that time, but as I look back I can see why: I knew it was at least partially politically motivated and it did not coincide with my own experience of school and good teachers.
Now thanks to William Kitchen, the fault with the system have been articulated and laid out. The faults of it will cost us all if we don’t change.
Of course technology is a revolution in education, of course roles will change, but we are yet to experience the quantum leap to a place where a group of youngsters can educate, supervise, consult, model behavior and act precociously to the point where some form of teacher is unnecessary.
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