Category: progressive education

Michael Zwaagstra: Government Monopoly on Curriculum Limits School Choice

Commentary Suppose you lived in a neighbourhood with several different grocery stores. If you don’t like what one store has to offer, you can just shop elsewhere. At first glance, it sounds like you have many choices. But let’s also suppose that each grocery store is required by the government to have an identical layout…


Progressive Values, ‘White’ Guilt Stop Teachers From ‘Doing the Right Thing’: Britain’s Strictest Headmistress

A famous British headmistress known for her use of rigorous application of school rules said that progressive teaching is failing students as it misinterprets compassion as letting a child off easy while enforcing “white” guilt on teachers. Katharine Birbalsingh, who has been called “Britain’s meanest headmistress,” said in a speech at the Centre for Independent Studies…


From Western Traditions to Political Indoctrination: A Cultural History of Education

Commentary Parts 1 and 2 of this series can be read here and here. Over the 19th century, Enlightenment rationalism gradually diminished the influence of the Christian worldview. Separation of church and state led naturally to the development of public schools and the disconnection of education from traditional religious influence. This was especially the case in…


Doing the Math in the Alberta UCP Leadership Review

Commentary The ballots in the United Conservative Party’s leadership review are probably being counted right now to determine whether Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will remain the party’s leader. Should Kenney lose the vote, one can’t help wondering if triggering a UCP leadership race will only weaken the party’s chances of winning the next election. More than Kenney’s leadership…


Teachers, Not Students, Need to Be in Control of the Classroom

Commentary Suppose you walk into a Grade 8 classroom. There is one teacher and 25 students in the room. Who should be in charge? Hopefully, you said the teacher. Since the teacher is a trained professional who is held accountable for what happens in the classroom, it makes sense for the teacher to take charge….