SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Upside-Down in More Ways Than One

Here's an item from Australia that touches on a number of recent themes.

It describes what is happening in a desperately-poor Aboriginal community where the teachers have started using Direct Instruction. Achievement has soared, behaviour is transformed, and the community is electrified. The bad news is that the program is very expensive, but the good news is that the revolution has been brought about by "stock standard Education Queensland" teachers and with "the cautious support of the Queensland Education department".