I just came across this clip of Bill speaking at Limerick University in Ireland (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpnimKeQPS8
Bill Barton, some of the older people who read this column, may remember fronted a series of TV Programs on TVOne!! probably 20 years ago. I know I suggested to him, last time we met, that they should be re-aired, he was not so sure!!!
In this Keynote he talks about the need for all students to be competent and find maths pleasurable/enjoyable, not necessarily in the whole gamut of maths but in one small area.
He suggests that the Timms and Pisa Tests should be seen for what they are Longitudinal Studies of where we are NOT ranking systems
He also suggests we are not the problem with the academic success or not but our curriculm and lack of ongoing professional development as happens in nearly every other profession - During Work Time not at the weekends!!!
Above all we should be not allowing any students to fail-we need to change the curriculum- and we should not be using Mathematics as a Gatekeeper.
It is time we as teachers/educators took the power of driving school/national curricula back into our hands.
For those who know he mentions, in passing, the work of Jo Boaler!
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