History

Member for

2 years 7 weeks

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profile

First name

Nigel

Last name

Newton

Organisation

New College, Swindon

Short profile

Lecturer and educational researcher

Longer profile

Our community, as well as the economy, depends on the talents of individuals not processes or technologies. People can be manipulated, their consent manufactured, their objectives in life decided for them, and their creativity, idiosyncrasy, and potential sidestepped for a long time. But the result is bad for everyone. Education should exist to ensure that at all ages and in all circumstances there are paths for people to become what they could be at their best. Here, I admit, education is about revolution and renaissance and reformation; it is about social vision. There is no neutral education, no non-political learning, those who believe there is are just passive supporters of the status quo. Lecturers, teachers, senior management, classroom assistants and everyone who works in college and school need to have a sense of educational purpose and professionalism. We must be able to defend education, advocate for it, promote and encourage it. The processes of bureaucratisation must be rejected, individual learner autonomy encouraged and the nanny-centre rejected. Only if we fulfil this role, will we be able to be of benefit to our society. Playing catch with Government and hide-and-seek with big business should be left for the weekend. When we are at work educators have more important things to do. There are no quick fixes, and often problems are best navigated with caution. However, schools, colleges and the students they serve should not have to settle for mediocrity. When things can be changed for the better, I believe it is our responsibility to have the willingness to lead change in a dynamic and constructive way.

Blog/Website

http://www.eword-policyunplugged.org/main/blog/93