For all the students, not only the black and brown. There are thise who have led us all to this point, "functionally illiterate." I look back at my education, world history, nothing about how slavery was ended, what brave naval military men did to bring that trade of human beings to en end, who oed it, who backed them, stood with them, and why. Why? Why wpuld that be the case, they have been training those of us who are whte, to hate ourselves, we are evil, unworthy, while training the opposite to hate themselves bc they will "never get ahead" just bc they may have more melanin in their skin. Atrocious! Devastating to how mnay generations? Life must change, education must grow up and look in the mirror. The elite who want to keep it all the same are your enemy, my enemy, the enemy of "the people", those of us who are the average unwashed "peasant" in their eyes.
@YusufG And what wonderful achievements have you accomplished in your life? Judging by your grammar and spelling, your achievements, if any, definitely weren’t in education!
@@YusufG121healthy criticism is fair. I wonder if your critical thinking is adequate to judge information honestly though? Could you name any positive contributions you’ve given to society?
The JP interview brought me here ...as an ex teacher and an Aussie I'm absolutely loving this interview...this amazing woman is impressive and reminds me of why I taught ..John Anderson is a brilliant interviewer
I had the pleasure of seeing this lady and her wonderful teachers on an ITV programme that was aired late on a Sunday evening - what Katherine is doing is nothing short of fantastic. To achieve zero bullying the kids move from lesson to lesson without speaking - just this small thing has had an amazingly positive impact on the kids wellbeing. The teachers lead the lessons, the parents are involved ( they have to be ) and her results tell their own story. My goodness, if we had just one school like Katherine’s in every town and city what a force to be reckoned with we’d become!
We have some. In my state (very liberal) we have seen a lot of parents move their kids to private schools or homeschooling. The public school districts have lost thousands of students. We have a few charter schools but of course the public school establishment does their best to impede their growth.
A great interview of a brilliant person. She has the right attitude and the energy and drive to make a difference. If only our politically driven education establishment would come out of their cloud and row in the same direction. Katherine Birbalsingh is a hero.
For the vey first time, I am so proud of being an educator and you confirmed to me that I am right, I have not been able to term my theory of education or what to call it, other teachers felt I was doing too much and noticed the curriculum is not wholesome, teaching is a calling not a dump site for the dum, I am a traditional educator 👍🤗, thanks for standing for what you believe, my supervisors were not nice, they tried to shut me in and kicked out but I saw me helping the children cos I saw my results. I would love to work with you.
What an amazing woman! I’ve worked in a school for 20 years and the lazy, insincere compassion shown by teachers towards so called challenging children is having a severe effect on society. We are failing our youngsters by allowing them to behave badly and giving rewards and excuses for terrible behaviour. We need more people with the good sense of Katharine Birbalsingh.
Very interesting. I'm from Hungary. Our schools are very conservative. But I think in a different way. In state schools children hate everything they have to learn and become like zombies,because they are not tought to think independently and they are just required to sit and shut up all day. Teachers don't respect them and they don't respect teachers. Of course there are exceptions. I was teaching in an "alternative" school ( which is considered the liberal school here) and it was the opposite. Children were happy,there was no issue with discipline, there was community, no bullying. Very much like what she's talking about.
Katherine Birbalsingh is practical, not ideological. She is on the 'coal face' of the 'culture wars'. She is objective, impartial and eloquent. A National Treasure.
❤❤❤ OUR WORLD NEEDS HER❤❤❤ Kudos you Madame Katherine B. Keep it up🎉🎉🎉 We Love you😊 Weeeeee NEED YOU DESPERATELY ! GOD BLESS YOU 🙌 NO.1 FAN HERE IN CANADA 🇨🇦
Katherine Birbalsingh, you are, as Peterson said: A force of nature! I love you! I wish I could have gone to your school when I was a child. All the power to you Katherine Birbalsingh!
I have heard about Katharina for some time and it is beyond me why she is not frequently in the main stream media. She is fantastic and stating the obvious - discipline, respect and a solid education based on STEM will set you up for life. She is a legend.
As an American teenager in the 1960s, I attended school for 2 years in a small outback Australian town, followed by 1 year in California, 3 years in England and a final year in Scotland before returning to the US at age 19 to complete my college education. Since then as a parent and grandparent, I have witnessed progressive changes in the U.S. education system. Looking back I realize now that I had gained a perspective on school systems unmatched by few, if any, graduates from today's teacher colleges. In Australia in particular, I saw very strict but fair teachers insure that every child attained satisfactory performance, even if it meant using break times and after school time to do so. This is not to say that performance differences weren't recognized. Every quarter seating arrangements changed based on scholastic rank with the lowest in the left front seat and the highest in the right rearmost seat. Discipline works. Repetition works. Every time. Every student.
The teachers colleges are a mess. The entrance and exit standards were lowered some time ago. The National Association of Scholars has published on this topic.
Katharine Birbalsingh, thank you for somewhat restoring my faith in the profession of education. You're such an inspiring personality. I wish I had you teaching my children. I think you should be the minister of education.
Thank you. I see this all the time, when my students fail to meet my standards, then I am the one who is asked to "adjust" my standards so that my students pass. When I refused, it was I who was "not a team player," being "unfair", not being "accommodating."
Thanks for the privilege of listening to Ms Birbalsingh. At 81 she has brought me back to my mother's teachings and 1950s school days attending Instituto Nacional Chile. By the by, at ten mom gave me the poem "IF" which still is on the wall trying to keep me out of trouble! Kind regards from Comox Valley, somewhere in Canada.
KB is an absolute hero, a woman of astonishing bravery and integrity. Her methods should be implemented across the whole of the education system, but the authorities and the progressives will never allow that. Thus will millions upon millions of children be betrayed..
I came to know her because some controversy happening at her school. but she is doing very great things to society. don't let her loose for vocal minorities. be with her support her. Thanks to this interviewer bringing her into light.
OMG ... she is wonderful and so smart. She said what I've been saying for years. The analogy about crossing the road and children needing to be habituated is so true and makes sense on so many levels.
Sounds to me like old time schooling Germany 1970 or thereabouts. You were expected to do homework every day. Your mum or dad had to check it every day and sign it. Next day your teacher would ask the class to tell and read to the class their homework or do what they had to practice (poetry or similar) and then the teacher would collect the books to check if homework was done and correct everything. Next day the books were given back to the students. This was done to make us succeed. Of course there were things one didn't like, but we learned. Today I see my own children being half as bright and knowledgeable and my grandchildren even less again. We need to reverse this dumbing down process. So good on Michaela. 😊
Brilliant! How clarity washes away all he confusion ! Who would take this school, to high court? In whose interest are politicians working? Hurrah to this lady and thank you for this interview..
I had early learning disabilities due to complications at birth, but early learning disabilities doesn't mean lifetime learning disabilities. I was held same standard as everyone else and wouldn't want it any other way. My best teachers were those that inspired with the desire to learn. I failed the 2nd grade but had the opportunity to try again and passed. I wasn't able to complete high school when family abandoned me, so I took the GED and passed. My math and science were high enough to offset my poor vocabulary. After I carried around a pocket dictionary, began reading more, and have done a daily newspaper crossword puzzle almost daily. Last vocabulary test I was told it ranked among the best. I agree with this lady. I am 70 years old and still learning. Schools need to get back to the basics.
John, this is a stellar interview. A model of how to come armed with your own knowledge and experience, and then get out of the way expertly, to allow lengthy replies to pertinent questions. My respect.
Oh my goodness!! I love this young lady! If embraced and given a chance, so many kids will have a chance to be…..to soar! THANK GOD!! I can hear her saying to her students….” When you fall, don’t you dare sit there, curl up and cry or die!! Get up and try, try, TRY! Way to go, Lady!❤
i wish i went to this school. i came out of school communicatitively illiterate, unable to secure jobs, form relationships etc. its only now after a lot of work done on my own part, over the past 10 years, I'm starting to be able to do be effectively literate.
This describes the average International IB school in Asia, but it's a mixture of fantastic progressive, energetic, passionate teachers with high expectations, teaching students who are respectful, engaged and ready to learn. In my time in such schools, poor achievement was very rare, because the society and host culture put a high value on education. I loved every minute of it.
A wonderful discussion. My husband and I are expecting our first and already thinking about schools. Our country (New Zealand) is becoming more and more useless when it comes to education (among other things). This interview was very helpful for assessing schools and teachers in terms of functionality. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the great interview. Miss Birbalsingh is a wonderful exemplar of what can be achieved in a poor area with the right school culture. I was a governor of a primary school in a poor part of Essex, where the children were not helped by the lack of ambition of the staff, governors and some parents. I hold myself partially responsible for not tackling the soft attitudes of the school community. How do we prevent future generations of children in our great country from being let down by ‘progressive teaching methods; how do we clear out these attitudes and methods from our teaching training establishments?
As with any person there are (rare) occasions where this wonderful woman might say some small thing that I will demur on but she is a shining force of nature that we need thousands more of!
Excellent interview! Love that lady. Speaks so clearly and loudly (unusual for John Anderson's podcasts ;), in every sense of the words, hope her school continues to thrive and inspire others
What a hurricane of reason, common sense, vision and wonder. The more educationalists who hear and hopefully will be inspired by this interview, the better our society will be. It is what we should be but what we are alas, mostly not.
i don't know if she has already, but Katharine Birbalsingh needs to speak here in the United States where woke has destroyed so many schools; both public as well as private institutions. She's wonderful!
A book I ordered just came in the mail titled, No Excuses. Birbalsingh is echoing this sentiment exactly! Your voice, and I feel many others are now speaking out, is so refreshing to hear. (I am a retired music teacher who knows that good lesson planning and teacher driven student engagement is the only way children want to return to class.)
This woman is a hero as far as I'm concerned. It's still hard to fathom the level of hate she receives for helping the next generation flourish. Her reward will come soon. All the investment she is making in these children will not go unnoticed or unappreciated, especially by the children themselves and their families (present and future). And there will be a reversion back to the traditional education model when enough lives fall by the wayside of progressive education (i.e. narcissistic compassion).
I have two lady friends in their 70's who are from Chile. In Chile at the time the students where all taught proper table manners. When I was 9 my grandma taught me continental table etiquette before taking me to Spain in 1969. I thought I was just too cool. Imagine how anyone educated in Chile at this time could sit at any table anywhere with anyone and be comfortable if they so desired. THAT is social mobility! Now we have not taught drivers Ed in high school for years and it shows! I drive a lot on freeways and rural roads and I find areas with mostly early 20s-early 40s on the roads are what used to be the exception, but now the rule. Very aggressive, driving large, powerful trucks and SUVs. First it was the soccer mom's who were the only ones on the road ( I'm being sarcastic), then 10 years later it's young women, and men in trucks! WTH? Men in trucks were the courteous and mindful drivers a few decades ago. Now they are nuts. Bring back some of the essential courses and forget the crazy stuff. School is no longer socialization, more like antisocialization. Children need stability and they just don't have it now.
It is our duty to do BETTER than our parents, not use circumstances as an excuse. I was raised poor with my house and cars being multiple different colors, clothes that didn't fit and being ridiculed by kids who didn't have to shop at Salvation Army. I had to work two jobs to afford a car and pay for my way through college. Today, in addition to my solid Christian values, I have multiple degrees, I have multiple houses, 5 cars, vacation around the world and not only am I still on my FIRST marriage, but I have 3 kids that I adore and I have become a grandfather for the first time with plans for more on the way. It is not where you start, it is where you end!
Great work as usual John and thank you for your content. Katharine is a brilliant educator and a wonderful, kind and compassionate person God Bless her for taking care of England's children.
I love the Traditional way (myself schooled by catholic church led secular management where all were welcome) and am equally fascinated by progressive ways as well. Now, I wonder what would Sir Ken Robinson's conversation with BirbalSingh look like....🤔
Oh it is so inspiring to hear such positivity! I taught my eldest child to read well before she was at school. She was hungry for it and almost taught herself as far as starting and nudging me. I had plenty of time then so sadly, her following two siblings didn't get quite as good an introduction. But the truth of Katharine's philosophy is absolutely spot on. That was so encouraging. Thank you.
Couldn't agree with you more. Children need guidance and be to be coached. Definitely need the basics of life - which must be taught in controlled environment. Knowledge and skills must be taught. 100%.
The Charter School movement in the US continues to grow rapidly despite all the headwinds, or maybe BECAUSE of the headwinds. In Colorado, most Charter Schools are parent-run, decoupled from the massive (and distant) teacher unions. In “retirement” I taught for awhile in one, was hard work , but it was very very good for the kids. Average of +$100,000 in scholarships. And it IS NOT a rich-kids school. Lots of below poverty line, lots of “minorities.”
The schools that I went to in Rhodesia ,1941 (about) to 1953 ,had yearly clases by grades A B and some times a C if there were lots of children in that age. These children could be moved up or down a grade depending on how well OR poorly they were doing academicaly, If say one was ill for a long period/periods then you could be kept in that class for another year. Later as a teacher myself I found this an excellent system. Ever heard of that grade named REMOVE this was done at senior schools where froms 1 to 4 did more ore or less the same work However , the A stream wrote what was named Cambridge ONE in their fourth year, This they would follow ( if they wished) by two more years then write Cambridge TWO ,which if passed ,would give them enterance to a British and later to the University of Rhodesia. The B streem on their fifth year went into REMOVE to do an extra year proir to doing the two years of A level.
Amazing! I was so touched by "home life on education" as this is exactly what I did for my children when they were little... As nowadays you can hear all that "let them find themselves..." trying to make a social experiment on our children...
1. I totally agree that teaching and education aren't not just doing something with the kids. There are theories and scientific evidence on what are effective teaching (approaches that actually promote learning). Unfortunately, people treat teaching and education like babysitting because they don't know what it is but they are fine believing it's nothing. Not everyone understands how medicine works, how comes people don't believe anyone can practice medicine? 2. I also agree educators should not lower expectations on students based on their background and competence. Teachers should individualize teaching to help all students learn and achieve to similar levels. HOWEVER, most teachers aren't capable of doing it because they are either not well trained or they are put in situations that make individualized instructions not possible. (I would say most of them are just not well trained; but of course they think they are). 3. Using technology, exploring selves, student-centered learning can co-exist with "traditional" expectations of learning - being able to read, write, and do math (plus all the academic knowledge and skills). 4. The mindset of "working hard is everything" needs to stop. Kids need to actually be able to do it (whatever it is), not just working hard. Working hard is the basic requirement which should not even have grades allocated to. 5. I always think it's so evil when educators believe we need to lower expectations for the students based on who they are (except for some of those who need special ed), they are just giving excuses for their incompetence, laziness, and poor performance. 6. I don't know what would be the most appropriate age to do so, but I do think kids need to learn about how some people are more privileged than others. Not to give excuses for low achievements, but to make sure kids understand why some of their peers succeed faster and some other take more time and need more support. Kids should not grow into adults who aren't willing to share resources to those who are disadvantaged. 7. Thank you for pointing out the importance of preschool education. Parents, if you don't want to teach your kids, send them to a childcare program that provides education (not just babysitting). Two-parent families are only better when the parents are spending time teaching and learning about their kids. Most kids are capable of identifying simple vocabulary by 3 if the parents intentionally teach them alphabets and read with them. Unfortunately, nowaday it's normal that many first graders in public schools can't identify simple words...
Further to Ms. Birbalsingh's comment on 5 year old's knowing how to read, it can be done. With the book "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" I taught my two kids to read, with no prior teaching experience. Written in the 1980's by PhD's and tested. #1 book in Amazon "Parent School Age-Children". The book itself says it is for some 3 year old's, most 4 year old's or all 5 year old's.
"The soft racism of low expectations " Exactly right
Only there is nothing soft about it... unless you mean soft like quicksand & tar pits, forever trapping its victims.
For all the students, not only the black and brown. There are thise who have led us all to this point, "functionally illiterate." I look back at my education, world history, nothing about how slavery was ended, what brave naval military men did to bring that trade of human beings to en end, who oed it, who backed them, stood with them, and why. Why? Why wpuld that be the case, they have been training those of us who are whte, to hate ourselves, we are evil, unworthy, while training the opposite to hate themselves bc they will "never get ahead" just bc they may have more melanin in their skin. Atrocious! Devastating to how mnay generations? Life must change, education must grow up and look in the mirror. The elite who want to keep it all the same are your enemy, my enemy, the enemy of "the people", those of us who are the average unwashed "peasant" in their eyes.
I am 66 and enthused by this woman, how could a child not also be enthused by her.
why do we have to go searching for this person on the internet? Why is she not featured on mainstream TV? She has achieved something remarkable.
She has been on GB News and Talk TV. The only UK news shows doing their job these days.
In the USA the teacher's union would demonize this woman. It challenges their power.
Because sheep are run by the status quo state and are fools that cannot think for themselves.
Pick yourself up!
@@Blackgrass1 I agree with your attitude 100%, I'm observing her being intentionally ignored and I believe this to be very revealing.
What a state my beloved Britain is in where people dare not show open support for this remarkable teacher
Who excludes a student for practicing their religion seriously the teacher is a biggot
@YusufG
And what wonderful achievements have you accomplished in your life? Judging by your grammar and spelling, your achievements, if any, definitely weren’t in education!
@@YusufG121healthy criticism is fair. I wonder if your critical thinking is adequate to judge information honestly though? Could you name any positive contributions you’ve given to society?
@@YusufG121 so that is your take out? You may have missed the point.
agreed.... cowards
The JP interview brought me here ...as an ex teacher and an Aussie I'm absolutely loving this interview...this amazing woman is impressive and reminds me of why I taught ..John Anderson is a brilliant interviewer
I had the pleasure of seeing this lady and her wonderful teachers on an ITV programme that was aired late on a Sunday evening - what Katherine is doing is nothing short of fantastic. To achieve zero bullying the kids move from lesson to lesson without speaking - just this small thing has had an amazingly positive impact on the kids wellbeing. The teachers lead the lessons, the parents are involved ( they have to be ) and her results tell their own story. My goodness, if we had just one school like Katherine’s in every town and city what a force to be reckoned with we’d become!
We have some. In my state (very liberal) we have seen a lot of parents move their kids to private schools or homeschooling. The public school districts have lost thousands of students. We have a few charter schools but of course the public school establishment does their best to impede their growth.
Entirely agree ❤
I bet the parents are learning from her too!!!!
A great interview of a brilliant person. She has the right attitude and the energy and drive to make a difference. If only our politically driven education establishment would come out of their cloud and row in the same direction. Katherine Birbalsingh is a hero.
Better than that, she's a heroine_she's certainly my heroine.
We need moreKatharines in our society.
Strict, yet wise, brave and intelligent: this is exactly what we need in every teacher🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I quit teaching but i would love it to see this school.
How fortunate the UK and the community is to have this super talented education professional working for them.
Where are they bar this teacher and a few others?
A great woman, we are so lucky to have her
Eight minutes in and I already love this woman. More educators like her is the right way forward.
For the vey first time, I am so proud of being an educator and you confirmed to me that I am right, I have not been able to term my theory of education or what to call it, other teachers felt I was doing too much and noticed the curriculum is not wholesome, teaching is a calling not a dump site for the dum, I am a traditional educator 👍🤗, thanks for standing for what you believe, my supervisors were not nice, they tried to shut me in and kicked out but I saw me helping the children cos I saw my results. I would love to work with you.
What an amazing woman! I’ve worked in a school for 20 years and the lazy, insincere compassion shown by teachers towards so called challenging children is having a severe effect on society. We are failing our youngsters by allowing them to behave badly and giving rewards and excuses for terrible behaviour. We need more people with the good sense of Katharine Birbalsingh.
Very interesting. I'm from Hungary. Our schools are very conservative. But I think in a different way. In state schools children hate everything they have to learn and become like zombies,because they are not tought to think independently and they are just required to sit and shut up all day. Teachers don't respect them and they don't respect teachers. Of course there are exceptions. I was teaching in an "alternative" school ( which is considered the liberal school here) and it was the opposite. Children were happy,there was no issue with discipline, there was community, no bullying. Very much like what she's talking about.
Thank you Katharine, for doing what is right. I can see it is in you.
The intro clip says it all. This woman knows what being Strong means!
Katherine Birbalsingh is practical, not ideological. She is on the 'coal face' of the 'culture wars'. She is objective, impartial and eloquent. A National Treasure.
❤❤❤ OUR WORLD NEEDS HER❤❤❤
Kudos you Madame Katherine B.
Keep it up🎉🎉🎉
We Love you😊
Weeeeee NEED YOU DESPERATELY !
GOD BLESS YOU 🙌
NO.1 FAN HERE IN CANADA 🇨🇦
Katherine Birbalsingh, you are, as Peterson said: A force of nature!
I love you! I wish I could have gone to your school when I was a child.
All the power to you Katherine Birbalsingh!
I have heard about Katharina for some time and it is beyond me why she is not frequently in the main stream media. She is fantastic and stating the obvious - discipline, respect and a solid education based on STEM will set you up for life. She is a legend.
As an American teenager in the 1960s, I attended school for 2 years in a small outback Australian town, followed by 1 year in California, 3 years in England and a final year in Scotland before returning to the US at age 19 to complete my college education. Since then as a parent and grandparent, I have witnessed progressive changes in the U.S. education system. Looking back I realize now that I had gained a perspective on school systems unmatched by few, if any, graduates from today's teacher colleges. In Australia in particular, I saw very strict but fair teachers insure that every child attained satisfactory performance, even if it meant using break times and after school time to do so. This is not to say that performance differences weren't recognized. Every quarter seating arrangements changed based on scholastic rank with the lowest in the left front seat and the highest in the right rearmost seat. Discipline works. Repetition works. Every time. Every student.
The teachers colleges are a mess. The entrance and exit standards were lowered some time ago. The National Association of Scholars has published on this topic.
Unfortunately this is no longer the case in Australia 😔 Hopefully change is coming…
The cane was our deterent even at 11 in Sydney ,but we had many races and l learnt in 70 years she is right.
Katharine Birbalsingh, thank you for somewhat restoring my faith in the profession of education. You're such an inspiring personality. I wish I had you teaching my children. I think you should be the minister of education.
Thank you. I see this all the time, when my students fail to meet my standards, then I am the one who is asked to "adjust" my standards so that my students pass. When I refused, it was I who was "not a team player," being "unfair", not being "accommodating."
This woman is 100% spot on!
Thanks for the privilege of listening to Ms Birbalsingh. At 81 she has brought me back to my mother's teachings and 1950s school days attending Instituto Nacional Chile. By the by, at ten mom gave me the poem "IF" which still is on the wall trying to keep me out of trouble! Kind regards from Comox Valley, somewhere in Canada.
KB is an absolute hero, a woman of astonishing bravery and integrity. Her methods should be implemented across the whole of the education system, but the authorities and the progressives will never allow that. Thus will millions upon millions of children be betrayed..
Extraordinary what the Lady said about 'The virtue of traditional education"!
Every parents should see her videos . Even the peoples whom has no kids yet . This is how the teaching should be. Big respect to her . ❤
Thank you for introducing us to this inspiring woman! I'm a veteran homeschooler and I find myself completely agreeing with everything she's about.
I came to know her because some controversy happening at her school. but she is doing very great things to society. don't let her loose for vocal minorities. be with her support her. Thanks to this interviewer bringing her into light.
So thrilled to hear her straight talk about progressive educatio.n. She's a fireball much needed! Thank you for this great interview.
The incredible wisdom of this inspiring lady is just jaw dropping. I could listen to her for hours. Chapeau bas :)
OMG ... she is wonderful and so smart. She said what I've been saying for years. The analogy about crossing the road and children needing to be habituated is so true and makes sense on so many levels.
Sometimes a child can't pick themselves up because they have been too damaged and they need help to pick themselves up.
Sounds to me like old time schooling Germany 1970 or thereabouts. You were expected to do homework every day. Your mum or dad had to check it every day and sign it. Next day your teacher would ask the class to tell and read to the class their homework or do what they had to practice (poetry or similar) and then the teacher would collect the books to check if homework was done and correct everything. Next day the books were given back to the students. This was done to make us succeed. Of course there were things one didn't like, but we learned. Today I see my own children being half as bright and knowledgeable and my grandchildren even less again. We need to reverse this dumbing down process. So good on Michaela. 😊
Brilliant! How clarity washes away all he confusion ! Who would take this school, to high court? In whose interest are politicians working? Hurrah to this lady and thank you for this interview..
I had early learning disabilities due to complications at birth, but early learning disabilities doesn't mean lifetime learning disabilities. I was held same standard as everyone else and wouldn't want it any other way. My best teachers were those that inspired with the desire to learn. I failed the 2nd grade but had the opportunity to try again and passed. I wasn't able to complete high school when family abandoned me, so I took the GED and passed. My math and science were high enough to offset my poor vocabulary. After I carried around a pocket dictionary, began reading more, and have done a daily newspaper crossword puzzle almost daily. Last vocabulary test I was told it ranked among the best. I agree with this lady. I am 70 years old and still learning. Schools need to get back to the basics.
Same ,l,m 70 ,loving the podcasts learning. So many spoilt individuals l cringe.
"Either you love them enough to follow through, or you love yourself and give into your own feeling bad" soooo insightful
This woman needs to be the minister of education.. or whatever you call it in the UK.
I'm so bloody glad you've interviewed her 🙏🙏
John, this is a stellar interview. A model of how to come armed with your own knowledge and experience, and then get out of the way expertly, to allow lengthy replies to pertinent questions. My respect.
Oh my goodness!! I love this young lady! If embraced and given a chance, so many kids will have a chance to be…..to soar! THANK GOD!!
I can hear her saying to her students….” When you fall, don’t you dare sit there, curl up and cry or die!! Get up and try, try, TRY! Way to go, Lady!❤
i wish i went to this school. i came out of school communicatitively illiterate, unable to secure jobs, form relationships etc. its only now after a lot of work done on my own part, over the past 10 years, I'm starting to be able to do be effectively literate.
This describes the average International IB school in Asia, but it's a mixture of fantastic progressive, energetic, passionate teachers with high expectations, teaching students who are respectful, engaged and ready to learn. In my time in such schools, poor achievement was very rare, because the society and host culture put a high value on education. I loved every minute of it.
Katherine Birbalsingh is awesome. May she inspire many others to continue on in the same way. Pass it forward!!
A wonderful discussion. My husband and I are expecting our first and already thinking about schools. Our country (New Zealand) is becoming more and more useless when it comes to education (among other things). This interview was very helpful for assessing schools and teachers in terms of functionality. Thank you!
When Katherine is waxing lyrical about English poetry and literary heritage, look at John's eyes: he is welling up. Beautiful.
Thank you so much, Mr. Anderson, for interviewing the brilliant and inspirational Mrs. Birbalsingh
Thank you so much for the great interview. Miss Birbalsingh is a wonderful exemplar of what can be achieved in a poor area with the right school culture. I was a governor of a primary school in a poor part of Essex, where the children were not helped by the lack of ambition of the staff, governors and some parents. I hold myself partially responsible for not tackling the soft attitudes of the school community.
How do we prevent future generations of children in our great country from being let down by ‘progressive teaching methods; how do we clear out these attitudes and methods from our teaching training establishments?
As with any person there are (rare) occasions where this wonderful woman might say some small thing that I will demur on but she is a shining force of nature that we need thousands more of!
This was such a fantastic interview. Thank you so much for giving us all this great gift ... Thank you to both of you.
Too few views and likes for such a fantastic interview . Katherine Birbalsingh is a very fascinating lady . We need a KB in every school here in AU .
Excellent interview! Love that lady. Speaks so clearly and loudly (unusual for John Anderson's podcasts ;), in every sense of the words, hope her school continues to thrive and inspire others
Love her intro !
Now for the conversation.
What a hurricane of reason, common sense, vision and wonder. The more educationalists who hear and hopefully will be inspired by this interview, the better our society will be. It is what we should be but what we are alas, mostly not.
Those kids are lucky to have this woman and the teachers under her.
Katherine's voice is a delight to be heard.
"Value of teaching the western cannon."
I didn't quite expect this, but I like it. Artillery school for everyone!
🤦♂
groan
What a wonderful philosophy and attitude toward education. Wish my kids could experience such an education.
Another hero added to my list, this lady is up there with Jordon Peterson.
Absolutely,❤
i don't know if she has already, but Katharine Birbalsingh needs to speak here in the United States where woke has destroyed so many schools; both public as well as private institutions. She's wonderful!
A book I ordered just came in the mail titled, No Excuses. Birbalsingh is echoing this sentiment exactly! Your voice, and I feel many others are now speaking out, is so refreshing to hear. (I am a retired music teacher who knows that good lesson planning and teacher driven student engagement is the only way children want to return to class.)
A woman who loves children enough to say No !
A woman who knows that it takes time for a child to learn to cross the road !
I could go on .......
@@kayleneemery8217 firm, but fair
Mothers have the most important role. Teachers are second to that.
This woman is a hero as far as I'm concerned. It's still hard to fathom the level of hate she receives for helping the next generation flourish. Her reward will come soon. All the investment she is making in these children will not go unnoticed or unappreciated, especially by the children themselves and their families (present and future). And there will be a reversion back to the traditional education model when enough lives fall by the wayside of progressive education (i.e. narcissistic compassion).
I have two lady friends in their 70's who are from Chile. In Chile at the time the students where all taught proper table manners. When I was 9 my grandma taught me continental table etiquette before taking me to Spain in 1969. I thought I was just too cool. Imagine how anyone educated in Chile at this time could sit at any table anywhere with anyone and be comfortable if they so desired. THAT is social mobility! Now we have not taught drivers Ed in high school for years and it shows! I drive a lot on freeways and rural roads and I find areas with mostly early 20s-early 40s on the roads are what used to be the exception, but now the rule. Very aggressive, driving large, powerful trucks and SUVs. First it was the soccer mom's who were the only ones on the road ( I'm being sarcastic), then 10 years later it's young women, and men in trucks! WTH? Men in trucks were the courteous and mindful drivers a few decades ago. Now they are nuts. Bring back some of the essential courses and forget the crazy stuff. School is no longer socialization, more like antisocialization. Children need stability and they just don't have it now.
Brilliant bits about parents teaching their children!!
This woman is amazing! And ever more so is that is she said make a perfect sense! 😊
Superb interview. If only there were more teachers like Katherine.
It is our duty to do BETTER than our parents, not use circumstances as an excuse. I was raised poor with my house and cars being multiple different colors, clothes that didn't fit and being ridiculed by kids who didn't have to shop at Salvation Army. I had to work two jobs to afford a car and pay for my way through college. Today, in addition to my solid Christian values, I have multiple degrees, I have multiple houses, 5 cars, vacation around the world and not only am I still on my FIRST marriage, but I have 3 kids that I adore and I have become a grandfather for the first time with plans for more on the way. It is not where you start, it is where you end!
Thank you John, brilliant interview with this inspirational teacher.
Great work as usual John and thank you for your content. Katharine is a brilliant educator and a wonderful, kind and compassionate person God Bless her for taking care of England's children.
I just love listening to her voice .its so beautiful 😍
I love the Traditional way (myself schooled by catholic church led secular management where all were welcome)
and am equally fascinated by progressive ways as well.
Now, I wonder what would Sir Ken Robinson's conversation with BirbalSingh look like....🤔
30 seconds in and already hit the like button. She is the best!
What a wonderful person... I wish we could hear more of her...just so admire her...
I agree with her I have been a teacher for over a decade, and I think she speaks so much truth
Brilliant
Why isn't this woman our Prime Minister? My God - She'd Be Wonderful!
Oh it is so inspiring to hear such positivity! I taught my eldest child to read well before she was at school. She was hungry for it and almost taught herself as far as starting and nudging me. I had plenty of time then so sadly, her following two siblings didn't get quite as good an introduction. But the truth of Katharine's philosophy is absolutely spot on. That was so encouraging. Thank you.
Well, that was extremely impressive. I feel uplifted and frustrated at the same time. Cloning sounds good about now because she is a rare gem.
She is an inspiration. She just talks common sense, and her passion shines through.
Wow, what a great lady. Thank you for this interview. I found her take on education enlightening and inspiring. ❤
Couldn't agree with you more. Children need guidance and be to be coached. Definitely need the basics of life - which must be taught in controlled environment. Knowledge and skills must be taught. 100%.
This was a very, very good interview.
Katharine is an amazing lady
Always interesting and informative to listen to her
I regret I have only one thumbs-up to give to this video.
Most comforting words I have heard in so long!!!
The Charter School movement in the US continues to grow rapidly despite all the headwinds, or maybe BECAUSE of the headwinds. In Colorado, most Charter Schools are parent-run, decoupled from the massive (and distant) teacher unions. In “retirement” I taught for awhile in one, was hard work , but it was very very good for the kids. Average of +$100,000 in scholarships. And it IS NOT a rich-kids school. Lots of below poverty line, lots of “minorities.”
Very interesting discussion. Keep these interviews coming.
@8:30 that African American who's weird Anderson quote was Thomas Sowell.
Brilliant conservative economist from Stanford University
The schools that I went to in Rhodesia ,1941 (about) to 1953 ,had yearly clases by grades A B and some times a C if there were lots of children in that age. These children could be moved up or down a grade depending on how well OR poorly they were doing academicaly, If say one was ill for a long period/periods then you could be kept in that class for another year. Later as a teacher myself I found this an excellent system. Ever heard of that grade named REMOVE this was done at senior schools where froms 1 to 4 did more ore or less the same work However , the A stream wrote what was named Cambridge ONE in their fourth year, This they would follow ( if they wished) by two more years then write Cambridge TWO ,which if passed ,would give them enterance to a British and later to the University of Rhodesia. The B streem on their fifth year went into REMOVE to do an extra year proir to doing the two years of A level.
Great interview and guest.
Amazing! I was so touched by "home life on education" as this is exactly what I did for my children when they were little... As nowadays you can hear all that "let them find themselves..." trying to make a social experiment on our children...
I appreciate these conversations. Such clarity. Courage. Gives me hope
This woman is the bomb! Seriously.
1. I totally agree that teaching and education aren't not just doing something with the kids. There are theories and scientific evidence on what are effective teaching (approaches that actually promote learning). Unfortunately, people treat teaching and education like babysitting because they don't know what it is but they are fine believing it's nothing. Not everyone understands how medicine works, how comes people don't believe anyone can practice medicine?
2. I also agree educators should not lower expectations on students based on their background and competence. Teachers should individualize teaching to help all students learn and achieve to similar levels. HOWEVER, most teachers aren't capable of doing it because they are either not well trained or they are put in situations that make individualized instructions not possible. (I would say most of them are just not well trained; but of course they think they are).
3. Using technology, exploring selves, student-centered learning can co-exist with "traditional" expectations of learning - being able to read, write, and do math (plus all the academic knowledge and skills).
4. The mindset of "working hard is everything" needs to stop. Kids need to actually be able to do it (whatever it is), not just working hard. Working hard is the basic requirement which should not even have grades allocated to.
5. I always think it's so evil when educators believe we need to lower expectations for the students based on who they are (except for some of those who need special ed), they are just giving excuses for their incompetence, laziness, and poor performance.
6. I don't know what would be the most appropriate age to do so, but I do think kids need to learn about how some people are more privileged than others. Not to give excuses for low achievements, but to make sure kids understand why some of their peers succeed faster and some other take more time and need more support. Kids should not grow into adults who aren't willing to share resources to those who are disadvantaged.
7. Thank you for pointing out the importance of preschool education. Parents, if you don't want to teach your kids, send them to a childcare program that provides education (not just babysitting). Two-parent families are only better when the parents are spending time teaching and learning about their kids. Most kids are capable of identifying simple vocabulary by 3 if the parents intentionally teach them alphabets and read with them. Unfortunately, nowaday it's normal that many first graders in public schools can't identify simple words...
I'm a 31 year old American woman who doesn't intend to have kids and I just love this woman!! 😊
Further to Ms. Birbalsingh's comment on 5 year old's knowing how to read, it can be done. With the book "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" I taught my two kids to read, with no prior teaching experience. Written in the 1980's by PhD's and tested. #1 book in Amazon "Parent School Age-Children". The book itself says it is for some 3 year old's, most 4 year old's or all 5 year old's.
Love this lady! What an inspiration!
I love her, I love her, I love her!!!