Multiple Complicities: Reliving a Life in the Classroom

Abstract

In this teaching memoir, time with a group of Ugandan teachers becomes the ‘awakening’ or spur to leaf through memories of more than 40 years of life in the classroom. The moments chosen to relive afresh tell of practices which have largely been erased in curriculum discussion in Australia. Together they add up to an argument, more implicit than explicit, about the narrowing of school curriculum, the sidelining of teacher voice, student voice, community voice, and the resultant loss of creativity in our schools – all in the name of national standards, accountability and professionalism. The wary conclusion is that if we are not more thoughtful in our preparation of young people for adulthood, our democracy may well be at risk.

Keywords:

• Democracy
• professional development
• school and community
• local curriculum development
• standards-based reform

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to Sabina Primary Boarding School for their kind permission to reproduce the poster included as Figure 1.