Time: Friend or Foe

Abstract

Using many years of experience in the UK's state primary schools, I consider that a limited understanding of time has damaging implications for both pupils and adults within the education system. The sector neglects the fact that time has much potential, many definitions and is a powerful influence on man. I share how education took clock-time and manipulated it to an extreme, leading to the rule clock-time now has over our schools. We are being held to account by time, and it has become our foe; however, I believe that it can become our friend. I explain why education should accept time's many facets and use them to help reshape its structure and practice. Time, in educational spaces, could be understood and experienced differently, taking in to account the human and all manner of other relevant things, for the greater good. This article began as a combined work of spoken word, poetry recital and research paper.