"The progress of evolution," noted historian Henry Adams, himself a direct descendant of two presidents, "from President Washington to President Grant was alone evidence to upset Darwin."
Today, witnessing the prospect of a presidential showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, perhaps that aphorism should be updated, substituting Ronald Reagan for Washington and both Trump and Clinton for Grant. Indeed, today's prospects are even dimmer than those facing nineteenth century voters. On the bright side, despite Adams' dyspeptic evaluation, the United States pulled through and prospered under President Grant, and assuredly will at least survive a Trump or Clinton presidency.
Review of "Seven Myths about Education," by Daisy Christodoulou (London: The Curriculum Centre, 2013; 978-0-9575919-0-5; available from Amazon in Hardcover, $147.25; Paperback, $23.24; and Kindle edition, $14.55).
In her first book, Daisy Christodoulou argues that much of what teachers are taught about education is wrong and that they are encouraged to teach in ineffective ways. Her arguments are based on her experience teaching English in a secondary school in London; on an examination of education research, especially in cognitive science; on education philosophy (e.g., Rousseau, Dewey, Freire); and on publications put out by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) to advise teachers. Her book is as relevant to an understanding of the educational issues currently roiling the U.S. as it is to current educational issues in England.
