Not my ordinary weekend read, but an inspiring book written in the same TED talk manner, that made this author famous among non-educators worldwide. While reading, I could almost hear his voice, his British accent, and laugh form the audience in some points of the book.
I have to admit, the idea of personalized education and welcoming school environment is something that I deeply believe in, especially after spending almost 12 years in a large industrial-like school where some of the administration showed "respect" to the students by bypassing them in canteen queue or having their coffee in nicer cups than everyone else in the room (not mentioning the headmaster who didn't care enough to come to her own science lessons). I was bored during most lessons, though I've always considered myself to be able to be interested in almost anything (the experience was almost surreal). When I actually succeeded in some things, I was never pushed further to see what else could be achieved. Ceilings where never raised, horizons didn't get pushed further. At some point, I just learned to get high grades, though that didn't have anything in common with my real abilities. It was such an opposite to after school art classes, where hours felt like minutes, or self-lead weekend study at home, where I've achieved much more than in a classroom (suddenly home-schooling didn't seem such a radical idea). Here, I'm a true example how personal the school experience is - after more than ten years, I still remember that large, crowded, and impersonal place (with few examples of truly wonderful teachers, who actually seemed to be outcasts themselves - ones that actually cared, or had time to care, drowning in the system too).
I'm sure everyone has a different experience, and this book actually emphasizes it should be different for everyone - education should be creative rather than standardized, welcoming and flexible, rather than industrialized (in mass-produced manner). Book includes few really good and encouraging examples of reforming concrete schools and even legislating successful policies in some places, but those good examples are just a glimpse into what could be done, though it is very far from a daily reality, so often failing the kids worldwide. I wish this book would be a plan into XXI century, but if so, my guess is that most of the world, even the most civilized parts of it, are yet very behind the schedule.
A must to all parents, teachers, headmasters, administrators, policy makers, and everyone involved in the educational process, especially when it comes to early or "alternative" education.
Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education by Ken Robinson