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Education Quote by Malcolm Gladwell

“We have become obsessed with what is good about small classrooms and oblivious about what also can be good about large classes. It’s a strange thing isn't it, to have an educational philosophy that thinks of the other students in the classroom with your child as competitors for the attention of…” quote by Malcolm Gladwell
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““We have become obsessed with what is good about small classrooms and oblivious about what also can be good about large classes. It’s a strange thing isn't it, to have an educational philosophy that thinks of the other students in the classroom with your child as competitors for the attention of the teacher and not allies in the adventure of learning.””

Malcolm Gladwell

About This Quote

Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2021

People overvalue small classrooms and overlook benefits of large classes, treating other students as competitors rather than collaborators.

In simple terms: Small class bias ignores potential of larger groups.

Key Takeaway

Recognize collaborative learning in any class size.

Themes

education classroom dynamics learning philosophy collaboration competition

Mood

thoughtful optimistic analytical

Type

educational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • teacher training
  • school policy design
  • parental expectations

Key Concepts

Pedagogy social learning group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • What advantages might large classes offer?
  • How can teachers foster collaboration in any setting?
A Different Perspective

Large classes can foster diverse perspectives and peer learning.

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