The best Andy Hargreaves yet!, June 8, 2003
Andy
Hargreaves's new book is a best seller.
I
am always impressed by that uncommon trait of commonsense in Hargreaves's writing. In the
1990s writing on learning organisations was very topical. However at the turn of the century
learning communities and learning societies took precedence.
Pearls
of wisdom abound throughout the book:
In the Introduction Hargreaves draws the links between living in a knowledge economy and a
knowledge society.
The knowledge economy primarily serves the private good. The knowledge society also
encompasses the public good. Our school have to prepare young people for both of them
(Hargreaves, 2003, p.1)
Hargreaves also points out that the term "knowledge society" is a misnomer and argues that
a
more appropriate term is learning society (Hargreaves, 2003, p.3).
Hargreaves
describes teaching as a paradoxical profession where teachers are expected to
help create a knowledge society and at the same time right the wrongs that pervade modern
western communities. In a very quotable section Hargreaves discusses the different approaches
of his dentist and teachers towards professional development.
In
dealing with insecurity and Hargreaves notes that loyalty between the worker and the
company has been replaced with contracts.
Hargreaves's
warning that curriculum standards compromise teachers' options:
The micromanagement of standards-based reform has deleterious effects on teachers' teaching,
on teachers' students and on teachers' relationship to their work and with one another
(Hargreaves, 2003, p.90).
This
is a great book. It is well written and eloquent. Leaders should be readers, and Andy
Hargreaves's new book makes professional reading engaging and interesting. Well done Andy
Hargreaves.
Teachers
College Press is to be congratulated on adding Andy Hargreaves to their list of
authors. This book will help put TCP back into a field of educational excellence alongside
Jossey-Bass and Corwin Press.
