Dr. Harley completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy specializing in analytical philosophy and philosophy of mind as well as a Master’s degree in History specializing in early 20th century intellectual history. He completed a Ph.D. degree in Education at the University of Toronto specializing in educational theory in general and the educational theory and practice of the noted British philosopher Bertrand Russell in specific. His thesis research employed the assistance of Bertrand Russell’s daughter to track down ex-teachers and ex-students from his experimental school Beacon Hill. He was awarded a Canada Council Doctoral Award as well as a Canada Council Post Doctoral Award. He has over 30 years of direct experience as an educational consultant, principal, school administrator and researcher.
The purpose of his blog is to present various opinions, articles and book reviews related to the current state of education and the changing challenges presented to students, teachers and parents.
The views presented do not necessarily reflect the views of Robert Land Academy and are the sole responsibility of the author.
Dr. David Harley In the course of my professional interaction with parents, I have frequently been confronted with accounts of children’s behavior and attitudes that they find difficult to process. Parents are often threatened by the looming age of sixteen, the age at which a child becomes imbued with all...
I recently saw a poster depicting a diverse group of happy teenagers with the caption “Every Student has the Right to Success”. The statement was made without qualification or explanation because it was assumed to be a simple matter of fact. But like so much in ‘progressive’ education today, it...
Some time ago while going through a box of books, I came across the volume under present consideration and began to browse through the pages. I was struck by numerous passages that make reference to what in today’s language would be referred to as mental health issues. Given that it...
Horace begins elementary school and enters Grade 1. He is an intelligent, curious and active boy in a class of 28 children of both sexes. The teacher Miss Stump struggles to control the class and deliver the required lessons and often feels that she is on the verge of losing...
The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men. Christina Hoff Sommers. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. 251 pages. Dr. David Harley I came upon this book by accident but found it to be not only very interesting but also thought-provoking on a number of fronts. ...
Can Boys Do Better? Robert Bray, Christopher Gardner, Nigel Parsons, Peter Downes, Geoff Hannan, KIng’s Wood, Bristol, 1997, 53 pages. A much repeated fact in many of the books reviewed in this blog is the fact that males are disproportionately represented in the numbers of those with learning disabilities, behavioural...