Postman, Neil (1995). The End of Education: redefining the value of school. New York: Vintage Books, Random House

Preface

"Without a transcendent and honorable purpose schooling must reach its finish, and the sooner we are done with it, the better. With such a purpose, schooling becomes the central institution through which the young may find reasons for continuing to educate themselves." (pp x-xi)

I think this probably sums up the book. -Susan

(Help! Write here, I don't think I understood it well. -Susan)

1. The Necessity of Gods

• "To put it simply, there is no surer way to bring an end to schooling than for it to have no end." I think this is the main point of the first chapter, but I don't see evidence for it. -Susan

• The purposes of education have been obscured/rendered silent. Unpack them and they don't stand up to scrutiny. -Andrea

2. Some Gods That Fail

Some Gods That May Serve

Postman Links:

Reviews:

• A short essay by Elizabeth Murphy (a lecturer from the Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland). Its beautifully clear exegesis is followed by a genteel discussion and some fascinating-looking links on the purpose of schools at the bottom. Moral: learning is more personal than Postman's "gods that may serve" could allow because the answer to "what are schools for?" depends on who you ask.

• A fairly positive book review by Ellen Rose (an educational technologist whose research interest is the public perception of the intersection of pedagogy and technology) on the idea that if you look at The End of Education in the context of Postman's other work "Ultimately, it is not the end of education that he is concerned about, but the demise of culture and 'civilité'." Moral: Postman is thinking important stuff.

• A funny and negative book review by Grant Horwood (whoever he is), he objects (as I do -Susan) to the lack of support Postman provides for his argument. Moral: the book is not as good as a bucket of penguin shit.

• A very positive book review by Scott London (a high-brow journalist) who nearly calls Postman a genius. Moral: Postman is right in thinking that decisions about how to do schooling should be saved for after it has been decided what schools are for.