The episode discusses the historical context of New Zealand's education system and critiques modern educational ideologies.
In this episode, Michael speaks with Professor Elizabeth Rata about the history of New Zealand's school system. The conversation challenges the contemporary narrative of 19th-century schools as authoritarian and oppressive. They discuss ways in which teaching was knowledge-rich and aligned with what we now understand from the science of learning before late 20th-century ideological shifts reshaped education, sidelining knowledge and teacher expertise.
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The New Zealand Initiative podcast page.