W Kenneth Richmond – författare

In the early 1970s the crisis in schools, particularly in urban areas, had escalated. At the same time a number of writers had advocated either the abolition or the recasting of the school system as a whole. The late Kenneth Richmond saw these phenomena as symptoms of a struggle towards a much-needed new theory and practice of education. Increasingly, he felt, it is realised that a schooled society is not synonymous with an educative society, and that learning which stops at the age of sixteen and which makes the learner the submissive receiver of instruction and training is simply inadequate in an age of technology.

The ’generative theory’ of education outlined in this book, originally published in 1975, would conceive of the learner as the controlling agent in a network of educational resources, and of education as a lifelong process. Learning can no longer be confined within the frames and classifications imposed upon it by traditional pedagogy. Recent research evidence indicates that the importance attached to formal schooling is greatly exaggerated and that the financial and other resources devoted to the expansion of so-called educational services are largely wasted.

There is a need, the author stresses, for a much wider definition of education – one that would recognise the validity of the numerous skills acquired outside the classroom (at home, in the peer group, at the work-place) and would deliberately foster a ‘school without walls’ policy, whereby community institutions and organizations could be used as learning environments. Only by taking steps in this direction, he believes, can we overcome the apparently intractable problems of the schools today.

In the early 1970s the crisis in schools, particularly in urban areas, had escalated. At the same time a number of writers had advocated either the abolition or the recasting of the school system as a whole. The late Kenneth Richmond saw these phenomena as symptoms of a struggle towards a much-needed new theory and practice of education. Increasingly, he felt, it is realised that a schooled society is not synonymous with an educative society, and that learning which stops at the age of sixteen and which makes the learner the submissive receiver of instruction and training is simply inadequate in an age of technology.

The ’generative theory’ of education outlined in this book, originally published in 1975, would conceive of the learner as the controlling agent in a network of educational resources, and of education as a lifelong process. Learning can no longer be confined within the frames and classifications imposed upon it by traditional pedagogy. Recent research evidence indicates that the importance attached to formal schooling is greatly exaggerated and that the financial and other resources devoted to the expansion of so-called educational services are largely wasted.

There is a need, the author stresses, for a much wider definition of education – one that would recognise the validity of the numerous skills acquired outside the classroom (at home, in the peer group, at the work-place) and would deliberately foster a ‘school without walls’ policy, whereby community institutions and organizations could be used as learning environments. Only by taking steps in this direction, he believes, can we overcome the apparently intractable problems of the schools today.

Original blurb: "The volume of writing on educational topics has increased so prodigiously in recent years that the student is likely to lose himself in a sea of print. This may lead him to opt for the first book that comes to hand, or waste time rifling through half a dozen when a thorough grasp of one key text is all that is needed. Reading lists commonly look impressive, not to say daunting. In fact, the multifarious titles conceal an enormous amount of duplication, an endless raking over of other people’s research findings. ‘It is a safe bet’, writes W. Kenneth Richmond, ‘that less than 5 percent of the contents of any new book on education will be in any way original’."

This critical bibliography, originally published in 1972, is concerned with the noteworthy books and major official reports that had appeared in the English language during the twenty-five years prior to publication. In his introduction and in the commentaries prefacing each section the author explains the background to the genuinely new departures of the period and describes successive changes in the climate of educational opinion.

Original blurb: "The volume of writing on educational topics has increased so prodigiously in recent years that the student is likely to lose himself in a sea of print. This may lead him to opt for the first book that comes to hand, or waste time rifling through half a dozen when a thorough grasp of one key text is all that is needed. Reading lists commonly look impressive, not to say daunting. In fact, the multifarious titles conceal an enormous amount of duplication, an endless raking over of other people’s research findings. ‘It is a safe bet’, writes W. Kenneth Richmond, ‘that less than 5 percent of the contents of any new book on education will be in any way original’."

This critical bibliography, originally published in 1972, is concerned with the noteworthy books and major official reports that had appeared in the English language during the twenty-five years prior to publication. In his introduction and in the commentaries prefacing each section the author explains the background to the genuinely new departures of the period and describes successive changes in the climate of educational opinion.

Originally published in 1967, education had entered a period of fundamental change. The developments described in this book – team-teaching, audio-visual aids, programmed learning, curriculum reform projects, and the like – had tended to progress in isolation from each other, and only recently had it been realized how much they had in common. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1967, education had entered a period of fundamental change. The developments described in this book – team-teaching, audio-visual aids, programmed learning, curriculum reform projects, and the like – had tended to progress in isolation from each other, and only recently had it been realized how much they had in common. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1963, this remarkable book discusses the results of the ‘tests of culture’ devised by the author, two of which, when published in The Times Educational Supplement, evoked such wide interest that he was almost overwhelmed with unsolicited test scores and correspondence.

The late Kenneth Richmond was well aware that any attempt to ‘measure culture’ was open to ridicule. He makes it clear that he is concerned to measure it in its restricted sense of ‘academic or minority culture’ and he holds that there is a body of received opinion on the content of such culture, which in the contemporary world is represented by two areas, those of the scientists and of the literary intellectuals, and that it is possible to pose questions that will test a person’s acquaintance with each.

So the tests are no mere quizzes; the results, from Universities, Colleges, the Services and Sixth Forms, are often surprising, sometimes disquieting, in the light they throw on standards of general education at the time and on the ‘great divide’ between the scientist and the arts man.

Originally published in 1963, this remarkable book discusses the results of the ‘tests of culture’ devised by the author, two of which, when published in The Times Educational Supplement, evoked such wide interest that he was almost overwhelmed with unsolicited test scores and correspondence.

The late Kenneth Richmond was well aware that any attempt to ‘measure culture’ was open to ridicule. He makes it clear that he is concerned to measure it in its restricted sense of ‘academic or minority culture’ and he holds that there is a body of received opinion on the content of such culture, which in the contemporary world is represented by two areas, those of the scientists and of the literary intellectuals, and that it is possible to pose questions that will test a person’s acquaintance with each.

So the tests are no mere quizzes; the results, from Universities, Colleges, the Services and Sixth Forms, are often surprising, sometimes disquieting, in the light they throw on standards of general education at the time and on the ‘great divide’ between the scientist and the arts man.

Originally published in 1943, recognising the importance of early education, this title looked at a way forward for creating a "Common School" for all children. At a time when most attention was focused on secondary education, this title outlines a plan for primary state education, much of it suggested by experience in elementary schools, along with the author’s own research and reflection. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical perspective.

Originally published in 1943, recognising the importance of early education, this title looked at a way forward for creating a "Common School" for all children. At a time when most attention was focused on secondary education, this title outlines a plan for primary state education, much of it suggested by experience in elementary schools, along with the author’s own research and reflection. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical perspective.

Originally published in 1971. All education systems tend to be traditional and conservative. In times of rapid social change, the work of the schools becomes increasingly outdated by events. Continuous adaptation of the curriculum (which includes content, method and organization) can no longer be left to haphazard, piecemeal innovations-it must be managed. In a comparative study of the strategies adopted to date in the U.S.A., England, Scotland and France, this book points out that-although considerable reforms have been effected in these countries during the past ten to fifteen years-no adequate curriculum theory has yet been developed. The author also turns his attention to the phenomenon which he considered symptomatic of inherent failures in the education system: the drop-outs and hippies He concludes that notions about ''learning'' must be revised and rather than a place in which formal instruction is given, the school of the future should be conceived as a resources-for-learning centre.

Originally published in 1971. All education systems tend to be traditional and conservative. In times of rapid social change, the work of the schools becomes increasingly outdated by events. Continuous adaptation of the curriculum (which includes content, method and organization) can no longer be left to haphazard, piecemeal innovations-it must be managed. In a comparative study of the strategies adopted to date in the U.S.A., England, Scotland and France, this book points out that-although considerable reforms have been effected in these countries during the past ten to fifteen years-no adequate curriculum theory has yet been developed. The author also turns his attention to the phenomenon which he considered symptomatic of inherent failures in the education system: the drop-outs and hippies He concludes that notions about ''learning'' must be revised and rather than a place in which formal instruction is given, the school of the future should be conceived as a resources-for-learning centre.

First published in 1947, Poetry and the People presents a survey of English poetry from the earliest times till 1940s, viewed from an unusual angle. It is the author’s thesis that English Poetry is unpopular, in the sense that it is not loved by the people, because the sources of its inspiration, which were originally drawn from the soil, were diverted during the Renaissance into aristocratic and academic channels. Nevertheless, the emerging traditions, though driven underground, survived in the work of such men as Burns, Hogg and Clare and in folk song. This book is a must read for scholars and researchers of English poetry and English literature.

First published in 1947, Poetry and the People presents a survey of English poetry from the earliest times till 1940s, viewed from an unusual angle. It is the author’s thesis that English Poetry is unpopular, in the sense that it is not loved by the people, because the sources of its inspiration, which were originally drawn from the soil, were diverted during the Renaissance into aristocratic and academic channels. Nevertheless, the emerging traditions, though driven underground, survived in the work of such men as Burns, Hogg and Clare and in folk song. This book is a must read for scholars and researchers of English poetry and English literature.

First published in 1973, The Free School explores the roots of the educational malaise- sociological, historical, and psychological- and looks at what could be done and what is being done to free education from its rigid and hierarchical nineteenth-century organization. By placing schooling within its larger social context, the author illuminates many reasons behind the troubled situation in our secondary schools. Our mistake has been, he thinks, to confuse education (in its truest sense) with schooling. He concludes his analysis with a valuable account of the ways in which new educational ideas are being tried out in such places as Countesthorpe, Wyndham, the Parkway Program in Philadelphia, and the Open University. This book is a must read for schoolteachers and educationists.

First published in 1973, The Free School explores the roots of the educational malaise- sociological, historical, and psychological- and looks at what could be done and what is being done to free education from its rigid and hierarchical nineteenth-century organization. By placing schooling within its larger social context, the author illuminates many reasons behind the troubled situation in our secondary schools. Our mistake has been, he thinks, to confuse education (in its truest sense) with schooling. He concludes his analysis with a valuable account of the ways in which new educational ideas are being tried out in such places as Countesthorpe, Wyndham, the Parkway Program in Philadelphia, and the Open University. This book is a must read for schoolteachers and educationists.

Originally published 1978.This volume examines the purpose and the functioning of the present education system inthe UK and when it was originally published it was the first overall review of developments in British education since the 1944 Education Act. It discusses some of the most significant reforms which have stemmed from developments in the primary schools, in particular from the adoption of child-centred and progressive methods of teaching.

Originally published 1978.This volume examines the purpose and the functioning of the present education system inthe UK and when it was originally published it was the first overall review of developments in British education since the 1944 Education Act. It discusses some of the most significant reforms which have stemmed from developments in the primary schools, in particular from the adoption of child-centred and progressive methods of teaching.

In one sense, education was always a service industry. This book examines the quality as well as the quantity of contemporary education as it answers the following questions: Are we getting value for money? What makes a good teacher? What sort of education do we want? In the UK in the twentieth century education grew while national income did not. Britain devoted more of its resources to education than any other European nation and yet the UK had the largest proportion of children leaving school at 15 and spent more on each university place than the USA. The author argues that far too little attention was paid to cost-effectiveness analysis and planning. He examines Swedish and American examples and concludes that we must seek and employ the common features of modern management – network analysis, operational research and organizational theory. He also argues that traditional education has to come to terms with the mounting pressures of new curricula and new media.

In one sense, education was always a service industry. This book examines the quality as well as the quantity of contemporary education as it answers the following questions: Are we getting value for money? What makes a good teacher? What sort of education do we want? In the UK in the twentieth century education grew while national income did not. Britain devoted more of its resources to education than any other European nation and yet the UK had the largest proportion of children leaving school at 15 and spent more on each university place than the USA. The author argues that far too little attention was paid to cost-effectiveness analysis and planning. He examines Swedish and American examples and concludes that we must seek and employ the common features of modern management – network analysis, operational research and organizational theory. He also argues that traditional education has to come to terms with the mounting pressures of new curricula and new media.