I love reading blogs and articles about education. This one, by Peter Gray, discusses schools not as places of learning, but places to show off via grades and test scores. He makes a secondary point that I want to discuss further.
Efficiency. This is the enemy of schools, at both the administrative and classroom levels. I'm focusing on the classroom side here, because that's what I know firsthand.
Most people have no idea how much time teachers spend on classroom management. For the average person who is likely unaware of what "classroom management" entails, here is a loose definition: the routines, procedures, and methods a teacher uses to maintain order in the classroom. This involves things such as how to calmly enter the classroom, the signal to get quiet, and signs hung about the room that remind kids to "use their inside voices." Teachers spend hours upon hours just practicing routines and procedures with students. This certainly saves time in the long run because then teachers aren't trying to quiet the class for five minutes straight ten times a day for the rest of the year. However, what if such procedures and routines weren't even needed?
Not having routines and procedures would only work if there were few enough students; I'd say ten or less for younger grades and 15 - 20 for older grades, depending on how the classroom is structured. Imagine the time saved! Entire days could be used more efficiently, perhaps even for a field trip or guest presenter!
