The traditional Western notion of a school is that it is a place where a master (teacher) and a group of followers (learners) meet so that the learners can listen to the wisdom of the master.

Although many things changed during the Age of Enlightenment, teachers and teaching remained at the heart of schools. A successful school is still seen as a place where a teacher initiates and determines the entire teaching process, with little or no contribution being made by the learners. In fact, it is often seen as desirable that learners be passive recipients of knowledge.

Teachers who follow a learner-centred approach do not find this description of a school palatable; they will argue that the focus has to be shifted to learning (Nieuwenhuis 2007:72-3).

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In the learning school, interaction is focused on learning.

In the learning school, interaction is focused on learning, with the aim of achieving specific learning outcomes. The school environment supports, facilitates and promotes quality learning that ultimately feeds into quality education, resulting in the learning school being not so much about a set of methods and techniques for instruction, as it is about a values- based school climate that fosters fairness and respect for others (Nixon et al., 1996, in Nieuwenhuis 2007:73).

Reflect on the concepts of ‘traditional Western notion of a school’ and ‘a learning school’. Where would you place your school and yourself?


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