What Should Everyone Know?

22nd Mar 2010; 18:00

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The RSA Events team asked some friends and famous faces 'What Should Everyone Know?' Here's what they think....

RSA Debate

What should every member of our society know? What is the knowledge we feel is worth teaching all young people during their time at school, and what is that knowledge for?

Far from resolving questions of what a national entitlement for learning should entail, the introduction of the National Curriculum has ensured that they remain hotly contested. While some argue passionately for the importance of abstract and content-rich knowledge, and the profound intellectual heritage this implies, others campaign for the value of life-skills, methodology, practical capabilities and know-how. Many, however, find the distinction increasingly unhelpful, and seek a new debate that asks more profound questions about what knowledge is most important and why.

A panel of individuals from outside the normal realms of academic education discourse will gather to share their thoughts on the role of different kinds of knowledge in their world, and what they feel entitlement to knowledge should entail in 21st century Britain.

Panellists: Sir Ken MacDonald QC, Matrix Chambers and former Director of Public Prosecutions; Natalie Haynes writer, stand-up comedian, and regular panellist on TV and radio; Matt Bell, director of education and external affairs, CABE; Chris Mottershead, Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation), Kings College and former Global Advisor on Energy Security and Climate Change, BP; Tom Wilson; TUC Unionlearn Director

Chair: Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, RSA.

Join the debate on the Education blog and have your say.

 

Suggested hashtag for Twitter users: #rsaknowledge

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