Ryan Bridge: Old school is the best school

In education, old school is the best kind of school.  Secondary students will be forced to learn science, as well as maths and English, in the fifth form.  They'll be graded, not on merit or achieved or whatever, but A+ to E. So far so uncontroversial, I would have thought.  On top of that, exams will be compulsory in every subject.  Gone are the days of handing in pre-prepared essays drafted with the assistance of google.  Now, despite the fact 10,000 people provided feedback on the changes, there'll no doubt be union reps upset with change, because they normally are.  But old school practices are back in vogue, even in their beloved Scandinavia. Sweeden, for example, is going back to basics in order to get their reading levels back up. They're bringing back physical books and getting rid of iPads and laptops for certain classes. They're bringing back handwriting, not typing.  They'll have less time in front of screens.  Why are they doing this?  It's better for the kids' learning.  You're more likely to retain information if you've taken the time to write it out by hand. It imprints into your brain in a way not possible with a laptop or computer.  The BBC reports Sweeden's reading levels were top of the class in Europe in 2000 and then started to nosedive around the same time books were replaced by digital in classrooms.  So, when people complain about these changes being made, it might be prudent to ask whether there was anything wrong with the way we were doing things. And more to the point, what's happened to achievement since we made changes? Barnyard-style classrooms, more internal assessment, choice-your-own-adventure qualifications, fewer exams and laptops on every desk. These things make student life easier, I'm sure. But easier doesn't mean better, not in the long run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.