Jay's comments about the possible origins of calls
for "back to basics", particularly about the dangers
of avoiding a concern with what the "market
demands" of students, particularly poor and working
class students, I think are worth heeding.
At the same time, it seems an irony of collaborative
and progressivist educational approaches that many
American corporations now are looking for people
who can cooperate well, are flexible, understand
the value of teamwork, communicate with one
another, et cetera. So that in a certain way,
"back to basics" right now points toward educa-
tional innovations that the whole movement seems
organized against.
But what I think is important in making sure poor
and working class students benefit from these changes, however, as
post-progressive educators (e.g. the genre movement in Australia) have
pointed out, is the need to explicitly note these activities/skills, reflect
on them, and make explicit links to thse
being activities with a certain "cultural capital"
in today's market. And there might be part of the
dissatisfaction that Jay points out with progressivist
approaches--one person's "basics" is another's learned
discourse.
Bill Penuel
____________________________
PreventionInventions
139 Holly Forest
Nashville, TN 37221
(615) 646-9682