CURRICULUM DECISIONS

Three Basic Questions...

WHAT AM I TRYING TO TEACH RIGHT NOW ?

WHAT'S IT GOOD FOR ?

SEZ WHO ?

TAPE THIS PAPER TO YOUR DESK AT SCHOOL.

IF NOTHING ELSE, THE QUESTIONS WILL BEGIN TO MAKE YOU UNEASY ABOUT SHILLING FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND MIGHT WEAKEN YOUR INTEREST IN "FOLLOWING THE SYLLABUS".

YOU MAY EVEN, AFTER A WHILE, BECOME NAUSEOUS AT THE PROSPECT OF TEACHING THINGS WHICH HAVE A SPECIOUS VALUE OR FOR WHICH THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT YOUR ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES DO, IN FACT, OCCUR.

AT THEIR BEST, THE QUESTIONS WILL CHALLENGE YOUR . . .

PRINCIPAL . . .
TEXTBOOKS . . .
SYLLABUS . . .
GRADING SYSTEM . . .
OWN EDUCATION . . .
AND SO ON.

IN THE END, IT ALL MAY COST YOUR JOB OR LEAD YOU TO SEEK ANOTHER POSITION, OR DRIVE YOU OUT OF TEACHING ALTOGETHER.

SUBVERSION IS A RISKY BUSINESS ...
AS RISKY FOR ITS AGENT ...
AS FOR ITS TARGET.

FROM: TEACHING AS A SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY --- POSTMAN & WEINGARTNER --- pp. 193-94

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