They said what now? – Teachwire’s Quotes of the Week

1. Sir Michael Wilshaw

“An apprenticeship isn’t endless tea-making, shelf-stacking or envelope-stuffing. It is not an induction course or a 6 week in-house training scheme.”

In a speech given to the British Chambers of Commerce this week

2. Nick Gibb MP

“If you’re trying to reform things like teaching methods and pedagogy, that’s not a criticism of the teaching profession; it’s a self-criticism of what we’re doing as a country and the way we approach certain issues.

“We perhaps need to be more careful in the language that we use when explaining why we’re introducing policies – just as it would be better if the teaching unions didn’t continually talk down the profession in order to make the points that they’re making. Together, I think we can do more to improve our language.”

His response to a question at Tuesday’s Education Committee session on teacher recruitment, about the possible causes of low morale within the teaching profession (skip to 11.36.32)

3. Tim Cook

“‘Teaching to the test, to me, is too much about memorization. In a world where you’ve got all the information you’ve got right here,’ Cook gestured to my iPhone, ‘your ability to memorize what year a war was won and all this kind of stuff isn’t very relevant.’

“‘The classroom of the future is problem-solving and creating and learning how to express yourself,’ said Cook.”

Quote given to Masable Editor-At-Large, Lance Ulanoff, during a surprise visit by Apple’s CEO to an Hour of Code session held at the company’s Upper East Side retail store in New York.

4. Chris Keates

“The Government’s introduction of excessive pay flexibilities and discretions for schools have led to pay chaos and uncertainty akin to the Wild West.”

Comment by NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates on the union’s latest survey on teacher’s pay

5. Toby Young

“If teachers are prohibited from promoting Christian values, that will make it even easier for agents of the Islamic State to recruit vulnerable, disaffected youths.”

Writing in a column for The Sun, on the recent publication of a report by the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life