Freedom to learn

Bruce Macfarlane

Why I looked at this book

We are always hearing about the importance of education, and how more resources should be directed towards it. But I feel that instead of promoting lifelong learning, this has simply extended the years of schooling, and that the justification for this is very shaky. I'm hoping that this book will tell of how learning for its own sake has been replaced more and more by education as a product to be delivered.

First impressions

Macfarlane paints a worrying picture in which attempts to increase student engagement in their education, by promoting 'active' rather than 'passive' education, have led to a culture where students are expected to 'put on an act'. For instance attendance at classes is made compulsory whilst reading is seen as passive. So far its a persuasive argument and I'm looking forward to the rest of the book.