They Behave For Me What is genericism, and why is it so important? With Christine Councsell
Jul 18, 2025
Christine Councsell, Director of Opening Worlds and former Cambridge education leader, dives into the pressing issue of genericism in education. She shares insights from her journey in reinventing curriculum and emphasizes the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all teaching methods, particularly in history and science. The conversation expands to the decline of intellectual discourse in education and how innovative curricula can address this stagnation. Finally, Councsell discusses the 'Changing Histories' project, aimed at enriching history education with diverse narratives.
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Genericism Distracts From Subject
- Genericism arises when subject teachers are distracted by imposed extraneous pedagogy frameworks. - This leads to neglect of the actual substance and distinctiveness of what is taught in the subject.
Observation Misunderstood Science Answers
- Adam Boxer shares an experience of being observed where a general student answer was deemed too vague. - This illustrates misunderstandings of subject-specific progress and the imposition of generic assessment expectations.
Risks of 'Knowledge-Rich Gone Wrong'
- Excessive focus on pedagogy can create a new form of genericism dubbed 'knowledge-rich gone wrong.' - Lessons are wrongly reduced to procedural steps or propositions, ignoring the subject's complex knowledge and reasoning demands.
