A Defence of Subject-based Education
3 December 2010
Members of the Institute of Ideas' Education Forum, which features Derby academic Professor Dennis Hayes, has sent an open letter and pamphlet to the Coalition Government, key stakeholders and other people interested in the future direction of education policy.
The pamphlet: 'A defence of subject-based education' consists of six short articles by members of the Institute of Ideas' Education Forum. They are intended to engage the Coalition and others in debate.
In the pamphlet, Dennis writes a section entitled: 'Education in an 'information age' where he writes: "We live in a society profoundly hostile to ideas and intellectual endeavour. This makes it difficult to make a persuasive argument for the value of subject-centred education.
Rather, saying that subject-centred education is a 'good thing' becomes a mere assertion, as arbitrary as any other educational fad or fashion. This reflects that the assumptions underpinning subject-centred education are no longer accepted by the wider society."
For more information about Information for Ideas, visit its website at: www.instituteofideas.com or request a pamphlet by emailing: education@instituteofideas.com
