Comments on: Book Report: Teaching as a Subversive Activity by Neil Postman

By: Mr Achievement’s Top Positions – Week of April 18, 2008

Mr Achievement’s Top Positions – Week of April 18, 2008 — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:31:54 +0000

[...] Book Review – Teaching As A Subversive Activity [...]

By: tbrooks

tbrooks — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:50:18 +0000

Have you read Postman’s book, Amusing Ourselves to Death?

You will not be disappointed.

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:16:47 +0000

Yo, thanks for the summary and recommendation. Just ordered it from Amazon.

By: Nicole Price

Nicole Price — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:32:24 +0000

As a parent i am always agonizing whether a good education is being given to my child, which not only teaches her stuff but teaches her to think. Your post has raised some very valid points and made me think.

By: Raffy Banks

Raffy Banks — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:46:46 +0000

Part of the problem is that the educational system in this country is not setup for change. Everyone may know and believe in what needs to be done, but it is a feudal system with several layers of ignorance.

Brit is right: “but it would require tossing some holy grailsâ€”merit-based pay, testing, etc.â€”out the window.”

By: MrAchievement.com (Stanley Bronstein)

MrAchievement.com (Stanley Bronstein) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:59:07 +0000

I’ll sum it up in one sentence:

Are teachers teaching their students how to think for themselves?

Unfortunately, the answer is all too often, no.

Stanley F. Bronstein
Mr Achievement
Attorney, CPA, Author & Professional Motivational Speaker

By: Britt

Britt — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:50:04 +0000

You’ve highlighted many points that were the very issues that tormented me during my public education. I knew by middle school that the odds of me ever being challenged in a traditional classroom were nil, so I devoured every book I could get my hands on, creating my own curriculum.

While I see the value of having a public education system, I think our opportunity to change schools and education is hindered by it being a public commodity. The players involved—school districts, teacher unions, parents, federal government, and students—aren’t necessarily working towards the same goals. If the parties actually focused on the things you’ve discussed in your review, I think true reform might be possible, but it would require tossing some holy grails—merit-based pay, testing, etc.—out the window. Thank you for sharing.