Comments on: Beware outside consultants? – Part 1, Willard Daggett http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JJ http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-42529 JJ Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:51:18 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-42529 I would love to respond to LC First of all, LC does not sound like a teacher who is currently in practice. LC sounds like an educational consultant who gives no suggestions except for "use technology" and "don't teach the way you learned". Sorry LC (loser consultant?), I had some amazing teachers in my time and I hope I can bring some of what they brought to me to my own students. As for the technology part, horrible teachers can use technology, good teachers can use it too, and good teachers don't need technology to do their jobs. It puts money into the hands of companies selling the technology, and not all of it is good or useful. Its nice to make things easier, but its not the end all. Its been a nice buzz word however. My solutions? Yes. We know that each student has his or her own gifts and talents. That's Howard Gardener from Harvard..multiple intelligences. Instead of streamlinging schools with a one size fits all approach (force every 8th grader to do Algebra I, force physics for all), help students identify what they are good at and what they are passionate about and offer a curriculum that meets their needs. One size does not fit all, one size fits NONE. When you yell "GO BACK AND TEACH LIKE YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE"..well then...what are you saying? We know how to teach kids but we are sitting around doing nothing? Really?! REALLY?! Who could it be to make you say such a stament? Hmmm?! Who could it be, who could it be, I just can't imagine who? Could be beeeeeeeeee....... DAGGERT!?!!!!!!!!! (Dane Carvey does it much better than I do) Loser consultant, go back to the classroom and get a real job. Then again, my guess is that you couldn't hack it in the classroom and that is why you are now a consultant. I would love to respond to LC First of all, LC does not sound like a teacher who is currently in practice. LC sounds like an educational consultant who gives no suggestions except for “use technology” and “don’t teach the way you learned”. Sorry LC (loser consultant?), I had some amazing teachers in my time and I hope I can bring some of what they brought to me to my own students. As for the technology part, horrible teachers can use technology, good teachers can use it too, and good teachers don’t need technology to do their jobs. It puts money into the hands of companies selling the technology, and not all of it is good or useful. Its nice to make things easier, but its not the end all. Its been a nice buzz word however. My solutions? Yes. We know that each student has his or her own gifts and talents. That’s Howard Gardener from Harvard..multiple intelligences. Instead of streamlinging schools with a one size fits all approach (force every 8th grader to do Algebra I, force physics for all), help students identify what they are good at and what they are passionate about and offer a curriculum that meets their needs. One size does not fit all, one size fits NONE. When you yell “GO BACK AND TEACH LIKE YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE”..well then…what are you saying? We know how to teach kids but we are sitting around doing nothing? Really?! REALLY?!
Who could it be to make you say such a stament? Hmmm?! Who could it be, who could it be, I just can’t imagine who? Could be beeeeeeeeee…….

DAGGERT!?!!!!!!!!! (Dane Carvey does it much better than I do)

Loser consultant, go back to the classroom and get a real job. Then again, my guess is that you couldn’t hack it in the classroom and that is why you are now a consultant.

]]> By: Your Input Appreciated… | Reflections on Teaching http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-24110 Your Input Appreciated… | Reflections on Teaching Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:11:05 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-24110 [...] Matrix, and the International Center for Leadership in Education Yes, I’ve already read Scott McLeod’s (and Gerald Bracey’s) pieces on Mr. Daggett, I’m looking for folks who have actually [...] [...] Matrix, and the International Center for Leadership in Education Yes, I’ve already read Scott McLeod’s (and Gerald Bracey’s) pieces on Mr. Daggett, I’m looking for folks who have actually [...]

]]> By: Iowa Core: Model Core, Part 2 | Education in Iowa http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-21259 Iowa Core: Model Core, Part 2 | Education in Iowa Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:46:44 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-21259 [...] is used throughout the Iowa Core documents.  (Dangerously Irrelevant has a post on Dr. Daggett here.) To recap, the premise of rigor and relevance says high schools can no longer get by teaching a [...] [...] is used throughout the Iowa Core documents.  (Dangerously Irrelevant has a post on Dr. Daggett here.) To recap, the premise of rigor and relevance says high schools can no longer get by teaching a [...]

]]> By: Gary S. Stager http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11481 Gary S. Stager Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11481 Thanks for sharing this. It's old news, but he keeps getting hired at high prices. Earlier this year, I sat in the audience for one of his performances. The stuff he was saying was so patently ridiculous that I was fact-checking on my iPhone and then passing it around the room. He's a pretty good entertainer. He gets soft and then real loud and scares you into thinking that there are non-Americans coming over the hills to destroy our way of life. Daggett also claims to be supported by the Gates Foundation. Is there any evidence to support this claim? The real question is why any conference, district or government agency would hire someone with this message at all? Even if 100% of his resumé and facts were true, the message is one of fearing foreigners, Ripley's Believe-it-or-not factoids and economic insecurity. How does that improve one teacher's practice or make one child's better? I hope we'll get a chance to debate the merits of "rigor, relevance and relationships" someday. -=Gary Thanks for sharing this. It’s old news, but he keeps getting hired at high prices.

Earlier this year, I sat in the audience for one of his performances. The stuff he was saying was so patently ridiculous that I was fact-checking on my iPhone and then passing it around the room.

He’s a pretty good entertainer. He gets soft and then real loud and scares you into thinking that there are non-Americans coming over the hills to destroy our way of life.

Daggett also claims to be supported by the Gates Foundation. Is there any evidence to support this claim?

The real question is why any conference, district or government agency would hire someone with this message at all? Even if 100% of his resumé and facts were true, the message is one of fearing foreigners, Ripley’s Believe-it-or-not factoids and economic insecurity.

How does that improve one teacher’s practice or make one child’s better?

I hope we’ll get a chance to debate the merits of “rigor, relevance and relationships” someday.

-=Gary

]]> By: Phil http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11482 Phil Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11482 Scott, At the beginning of this year we had the good Dr. speak in our district. Prior to the event each building was asked to give up the majority of our PD funds for THE YEAR to be able to bring him to the district. Whether or not he is factual was less a concern to the buildings than the extreme cost of his appearance. The harm done for this academic year was incalculable. Staff fact checked him, ridiculed the event in the follow up meetings, and left feeling there was no point as our future is too bleak to contemplate. Plus, did I mention we now have very little if any funds available for follow up PD. Roadshows like this are very entertaining but not pedagogically filling. Scott,

At the beginning of this year we had the good Dr. speak in our district. Prior to the event each building was asked to give up the majority of our PD funds for THE YEAR to be able to bring him to the district. Whether or not he is factual was less a concern to the buildings than the extreme cost of his appearance. The harm done for this academic year was incalculable. Staff fact checked him, ridiculed the event in the follow up meetings, and left feeling there was no point as our future is too bleak to contemplate. Plus, did I mention we now have very little if any funds available for follow up PD. Roadshows like this are very entertaining but not pedagogically filling.

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11483 Dean Shareski Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11483 I've heard him speak 3 times in the past 5 years. His message is essentially pretty standard and yes, he fires off a great deal of facts which I have to admit, readily accepted. I reread a blog post I did on him almost 4 years ago. (note Wes Fryer's comment) http://ideasandthoughts.org/2005/03/11/preparing-students-for-our-changing-world/ All of us use stories to help corroborate our beliefs and ideas. We just assume these are true and not fabricated. I would say in today's world of information literacy, he would do well to respond to these more than he has. I’ve heard him speak 3 times in the past 5 years. His message is essentially pretty standard and yes, he fires off a great deal of facts which I have to admit, readily accepted.

I reread a blog post I did on him almost 4 years ago. (note Wes Fryer’s comment)

http://ideasandthoughts.org/2005/03/11/preparing-students-for-our-changing-world/

All of us use stories to help corroborate our beliefs and ideas. We just assume these are true and not fabricated.

I would say in today’s world of information literacy, he would do well to respond to these more than he has.

]]> By: Charlie A. Roy http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11484 Charlie A. Roy Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11484 @ Scott Thanks for sharing the great post. Every two years our district hires one of these experts to come in for a day long assembly for all 43 elementary and 6 high schools in our district. I look forward to researching our coming speaker for next fall. I do have faith that our superintendent has done his research. Note our coming speaker is not Mr. Daggett. @ Scott
Thanks for sharing the great post. Every two years our district hires one of these experts to come in for a day long assembly for all 43 elementary and 6 high schools in our district. I look forward to researching our coming speaker for next fall. I do have faith that our superintendent has done his research. Note our coming speaker is not Mr. Daggett.

]]> By: Miguel Guhlin http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11485 Miguel Guhlin Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11485 One district I'm familiar with adopted his points of view, had everyone citing rigor and relevance and I even blogged a correlation between R&R and the LOTI (survival in the current climate was critical). Later, I read Bracey's critique (one of many) and other corroborated that on my initial blog entry. The problem is that top level superintendents are seeing this guy and hiring him. Why can't we do better in K-12 schools? The funny part is that if someone were to bring this up to the Daggett Disciples in a school district, there would be immediate repercussions...you have the wrong attitude, etc. How can we encourage different attitudes about these hucksters in our districts without the messengers being shot? Here's my link contrib to Daggett Deception: http://www.wpaag.org/CharacterEducationTowerArticle.htm Of course, is this any different than Marc Prensky's work and Jamie McKenzie's unveiling? http://mguhlin.net/archives/2007/10/entry_3749.htm Thanks for revisiting this topic, Miguel One district I’m familiar with adopted his points of view, had everyone citing rigor and relevance and I even blogged a correlation between R&R and the LOTI (survival in the current climate was critical). Later, I read Bracey’s critique (one of many) and other corroborated that on my initial blog entry.

The problem is that top level superintendents are seeing this guy and hiring him. Why can’t we do better in K-12 schools?

The funny part is that if someone were to bring this up to the Daggett Disciples in a school district, there would be immediate repercussions…you have the wrong attitude, etc. How can we encourage different attitudes about these hucksters in our districts without the messengers being shot?

Here’s my link contrib to Daggett Deception:
http://www.wpaag.org/CharacterEducationTowerArticle.htm

Of course, is this any different than Marc Prensky’s work and Jamie McKenzie’s unveiling?
http://mguhlin.net/archives/2007/10/entry_3749.htm

Thanks for revisiting this topic,
Miguel

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11486 Mark Ahlness Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11486 I remember seeing Daggett on videotape, shown around/in Seattle schools in the late 90's. And live, at least once. I can't believe his show is still on. Miguel brings up a couple of others. I recently heard Prensky at NCCE in Seattle. Ho hum. Had a beer with Jamie in the mid 90's and talked/dreamed about the future of the web in schools. He's still on point, for me. Thanks, Scott. I remember seeing Daggett on videotape, shown around/in Seattle schools in the late 90′s. And live, at least once. I can’t believe his show is still on.

Miguel brings up a couple of others. I recently heard Prensky at NCCE in Seattle. Ho hum. Had a beer with Jamie in the mid 90′s and talked/dreamed about the future of the web in schools. He’s still on point, for me. Thanks, Scott.

]]> By: JYB http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html/comment-page-1#comment-11487 JYB Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/12/beware-outside-consultants-part-1-willard-daggett.html#comment-11487 In CA here and have never heard of Daggett, but we had a Ruby Payne person come in and it sounds about the same. They have a charismatic person come in and tell personal anecdotes about how they changed lives. This was post-Katrina so the focus seems to be on taking in refugees from New Orleans and turning them into budding Rhodes scholars. If you've never heard of her, her essential message seems to be "poor kids need to be taught differently because they grow up in a culture of ignorance." I'm at a low SES school so of course the teachers lapped it up. "It's not us! It's the culture of poverty!" In CA here and have never heard of Daggett, but we had a Ruby Payne person come in and it sounds about the same. They have a charismatic person come in and tell personal anecdotes about how they changed lives. This was post-Katrina so the focus seems to be on taking in refugees from New Orleans and turning them into budding Rhodes scholars.

If you’ve never heard of her, her essential message seems to be “poor kids need to be taught differently because they grow up in a culture of ignorance.”

I’m at a low SES school so of course the teachers lapped it up. “It’s not us! It’s the culture of poverty!”

]]>