Hello again - As the Blunket speech and booklet becomes available ( maybe
today on the net) - thanks Roger - we must wait a little to get as much of
the meat as possible before deeper comment. But some points seem to be
getting clear as the "Guardian" news writes today.
The point Tracy makes is quite significant here. Blunket wants this (summer
camp where adventure and the outdoors are used) scheme to be available for
all but this for all is worded in terms of a child-centred approach. That is
the young person ( between 11 and 19 years of age) should follow her or his
own "enthusiasms". Now this will, thinks the government people, see problems
of "slow-learners" and it is especially to this that summer camps must
address. Summer camps will be evaluated as a quality-value according to
whether or not these slow learners can get faster in terms of "maturity" and
maths, reading and writing !!!!! In other words an accelerated learning
scheme attached to the national standards FOR ALL is really at work here and
the slow-time and the friendship-time of the "outdoors" will and must be
lost to fast-time programming. I suggest that here we have a huge debate on
our hands unless we are to fall into the traps that the protesters at WTO
have already warned us about through their actions. People today may not be
happy to be used ( or tohave the outdoors "used") as fast-time-things when
that may be a big part of a global problem. What is more is that this
Blunket scheme is a mere management-training programme for youth and any
critical awareness and any experiential education through learning and
development will be lost.
While it is too soon to say more I can say here and now that I am very
suspicious indeed.
What is the "hidden curriculum" at work here?
best wishes
steve bowles
Tracey J Dickson wrote:
> Apart from the "quality of the experience" provided being critical
> another aspect that may be also critical is the RELEVANCE and
> APPROPRIATENESS of that form of experience to all young people.
>
> I hope we do not ever suggest that Outdoor Ed is the best thing for all
> people, regardless of age, gender, culture, physical ability, interests
> etc etc ..... (However it would be great if it was !!)
>
> Sounds like a fabulous opportunity for the UK folks tho'. Best of luck!
>
> Regards
>
> Tracey Dickson
>
> Steve Lenartowicz wrote:
>
> > We (the outdoor education/training world in the UK) need to keep a
> > careful eye on this and respond as necessary. For me the crucial
> > message is to welcome the announcement but to state clearly that the
> > quality of the experience provided is critical. This means that the
> > quality of staffing / leadership is critical. This could be our big
> > chance to show the value of outdoor education, and to distinguish it
> > from recreation. We must be careful that this chance is not blown by
> > cowboy provision.
> >
> > There is already a lot of media interest. There have been several
> > articles in the national press, even before the speech. I was
> > interviewed on local radio this morning (the angle was their concern
> > about the impact on areas like the Lake District of 500,000 you people
> > per year). Let us all use whatever opportunities we have to influence
> > these proposals.
> >
> > Happy New Year to all!
> > Regards
> > Steve
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