2008-04-30 12:46:00
Whenever two or more parties are convinced that they're on the side of absolute right holy wars pop up. I'm not just talking about the religious conflicts that we see every day, but also professional debates that are verging on religion.
Windows versus Linux versus Mac OS X. Emacs versus Vi versus Pico. Sendmail versus just about any decent email server. Japanese cars versus American cars versus European cars. Ketchup-on-your-steak versus Ketchup-lovers-should-die. Whatever, there's too much to even think of!
The field of education unfortunately is no different. Many people think that they know what's best for today's kids and thus philosophies about teaching vary greatly! For example, in December I wrote about the Het nieuwe leren versus Het oude leren crowds. The first think that the folks over at BON are decrepit relics from a time better forgotten. The latter think that the HNL crowd are nonsensical managers lusting for new and shiny toys. And neither side is willing to give in one inch, or to even concede that the other side has at least -some- merit.
Great.
One of the stories that's been recently snapped up by the BON-folks, is the story of Jan Verhoeven's family and their experiences with De Nieuwste School in Tilburg (The Newest School). While the Verhoevens are actually quite content in their role as chroniclers, the two battling sides grasp any chance to duke it out. The BON-ers ragged on the school on their fora, in their usual fashion. At the same time the DNS-folks grasp at any chance to portray themselves in an overly positive fashion, by grabbing media attention and by spawn camping the relevant Wikipedia pages. So instead of working on a real solution, both sides are just too fscking concerned with their little battles.
Very productive, que no?
Me, I'm just glad that the Verhoevens are alright and that their daughter's happy at her new school after getting out of De Nieuwste School
kilala.nl tags: school, annoying, studying,
View or add comments (curr. 8)
Posted by Edmond
I don't care if you're a sandal wearing hippy, muslem, jew, christian, baghwan, left wing blind fucker, right wing extremist, or some other fruitcake with a mission or message.
Leave the kids alone!
;-)
Posted by Thomas
Yeah, were it not that:
1. The .gov is backing the DNS school like crazy. They're absolutely behind the school and love what they're doing. Or so it seems.
2. The .gov has no ties with BON whatsoever. They are not subsidized, as they're just a group of concerned citizens.
Posted by Thomas
Right now I'm watching a splendid movie on Van Gogh's life. I'd seen it once before, a year or two back. It's called "Lust for life" (1956) -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049456/
Anywho... In the movie all the old school painters are clamoring and bickering about the new ones: the impressionists, the pointilists and so on. These madmen dared to change the rules of painting! How dared they?! There was no reasoning behind there techniques! No class! They were breaking all the rules!
That clamoring? That's BON... How dare -anyone- think that teaching could be done in any other way than the traditional way?!
Posted by Wi11ow (website)
Wow I just read that whole story by Jan Verhoeven... that is pathetic and it shouldn't be allowed to exist! Sadly there is apparently no independent institution which keeps an eye on all schools. I'm very glad my school was as brilliant as it was...
Posted by Thomas
Uhm, yes there is Willow: the Onderwijs Inspectie. They keep an eye on the quality of all schools in the Netherlands. And so far they're moderately happy with DNS.
Posted by Wi11ow (website)
Uhm, well, if they are moderately happy with -that-, they're far from independent.
All content, with exception of "borrowed" blogpost images, or unless otherwise indicated, is copyright of Tess Sluijter. The character Kilala the cat-demon is copyright of Rumiko Takahashi and used here without permission.
2008-04-30 17:17:00
Posted by Edmond
Cut both the subsidies for these powerhunger buttwipes. That'll teach them just about right.