I recently completed Ken Wilson's and Bennett Davis's book on
Redesigning
Education. There are several insights that I gained. First, I was
struck with their use of technology as a metaphor for change. Even
though Wilson is a physicist, he consistently uses technology as
opposed
to science as the metaphor behind his ideas. Second, they do
suggest
that there is a new paradigm emerging for education. Reading
recovery is
consistently used as an example, along with others including work
from
the Lawrence Hall of Science. Finally, the authors do recommend
using our
understanding of educational change citing Michael Fullan's work
throughout the book.
I was somewhat disappointed in the abstract nature of the
discussion.
The authors did not convey a "feel" for classrooms and teachers.
They
were quite clear on the large picture, i.e., we should use the
engineering process of redesign to bring about the new paradigm in
education. They were less clear on the politics, economics, and
human
issues (such as local leadership) closer to schools and classrooms.
They
tended toward the "implement this curriculum" solution when we know
that
it will take much more. For example, readRichard Elmore's recent
article
on "Getting to Scale." It is in the spring 1996 issue of Harvard
Educational Review.
I would still recommend the book. It would be very insightful to
read it
along with Tinkering Toward Utopia by David Tyach and Larry Cuban.
Reading these should provide some insights into the dimensions and
dynamics of educational leadership in our age.
Rodger Bybee
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