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A review by jacki_f
Free Schools by David Gillespie
5.0
This is a book about the Australian school system, so if you don't live in Australia, you're unlikely to be terribly interested in it. Nevertheless the author presents a lot of information about global best practice in education and the things that don't matter a jot, much of which is applicable to other countries.
For example, if you were choosing a school for your child - and assuming that you could afford it - would you not be attracted to a single sex school with high fees but offering gorgeous grounds, fantastic facilities, small class sizes, substantial homework and great exam results? The author argues that NONE of these things will deliver a better education for your child than they could have got elsewhere. Moreover, he has a substantial amount of research from all over the world to support his opinion.
The things that do make a difference are the teacher and the principal. The school needs to have a teaching culture of continuous learning and a leader who can get the best from the teachers. Other smaller influences that help your child's performance are a music program, tuition in a second language and the inclusion of parents in the educational loop. Gillespie offers lots of advice in how to spot the schools that are doing the important things right.
I found this book utterly fascinating. Gillespie presents a lot of information in a way that's never dry and often has a touch of humour. It's tremendously thought provoking.
For example, if you were choosing a school for your child - and assuming that you could afford it - would you not be attracted to a single sex school with high fees but offering gorgeous grounds, fantastic facilities, small class sizes, substantial homework and great exam results? The author argues that NONE of these things will deliver a better education for your child than they could have got elsewhere. Moreover, he has a substantial amount of research from all over the world to support his opinion.
The things that do make a difference are the teacher and the principal. The school needs to have a teaching culture of continuous learning and a leader who can get the best from the teachers. Other smaller influences that help your child's performance are a music program, tuition in a second language and the inclusion of parents in the educational loop. Gillespie offers lots of advice in how to spot the schools that are doing the important things right.
I found this book utterly fascinating. Gillespie presents a lot of information in a way that's never dry and often has a touch of humour. It's tremendously thought provoking.