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I think we can all agree on the fact that the education of our children is one of the most important aspects of society. The conflict comes in considering how this can best be achieved.

Is academic freedom and teacher choice in curriculum in the best interests of the education system? This, as in any question of society, is multi-faceted and many dimensional. The answers depend on the School Board's and the Teacher's.

There must be a common well founded curriculum to ensure that every child can learn the basic blocks required to go on and make a life for themselves. This is not something that is currently achieved in my opinion. This core curriculum should be determined by the school board, although this depends upon the qualification of the school board to make these decisions. Teacher's should have some forum for input and the curriculum should be reviewed and evaluated by an independent body. I am not sure if this is the currently the case in the U.S or U.K.

There are dangers in allowing teacher choice in what is taught. The individual teacher varies greatly in both ability, education and specialization, just like their students. (not all US teachers are educating within their specialty. A teacher with a degree in math, who is teaching English, due to allocation and school requirements, may not be best placed to dictate the content of the lesson.) Teacher quality is also a factor. There are many great teacher's, but probably many more who fall short. Some may excel in their own knowledge, but not everyone who is knowledgeable in their own field can pass on that information adequately. This is not to denigrate the teaching profession, this is a tough job, caught between many layers of bureaucracy and stress. The fact remains. Not everyone can teach.

Some freedom should be allowed, however, when it comes to the methods of teaching. If the core curriculum is set, then allow the teachers freedom to express ideas and educate children through all the varied types of learning. The best teachers are those who recognize the futility in attempting to conform all their students, in limiting the learning styles to the traditional. While some learn through reading, others need to interact, or create. If they can teach using different methods, and recognize that everyone has different abilities and qualities, then they will have made a difference. The freedom in education needs to come in unbinding the hands of our teachers and allowing them to do their job without fear, of the children they teach, of the rules that confine them in our ridiculous society of political correctness and of the school board looming overhead ready to set upon them at the first sign of failure. Set the ground rules. Set the curriculum. Then educate our teacher's, allow them to teach what they know best, and give them the freedom to do it. Watch by all means. Test and review by all means. But give them the space and give them the knowledge, and give them the pay that they deserve. If we cannot afford to invest money in the future of our children, then what hope does that give us for the world.

Learn more about this author, Marc Nutton.
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