A man who is both a local councillor and schoolteacher has penned what may be a controversial book on education.

In his work entitled “A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning”, Michael Zwaagstra attempts to debunk various fads and ideas that have made their way into modern education.

“My book is trying to point out some of those things that don’t work in education, but also making a positive case for those things that do work.”

Zwaagstra's book will be available at the Hull's Bookstore in Steinbach in the coming weeks.

With chapter headings like “The Overhyped Promises of Technology” and “Tests Are Good For Students,” Zwaagstra takes a firm stand on many contemporary issues.

Among his chief arguments, is the notion that content knowledge and sequential learning are more important than the learning process itself.

“I strongly disagree with the 21st Century movement that says we need to focus more on the process of learning than the actual content, stresses Zwaagstra. “It is important for students to learn as much as possible in a logical, sequential way because knowledge is not obsolete, it is as important now as ever.”

Another focal point of Zwaagstra’s book is what he calls a falsified idea of individual learning styles.

“It is a myth that everyone has their own learning style,” states Zwaagstra. “This theory that some people are visual, auditory, or tactile-kinesthetic learners has been tested in multiple research studies and disproven every time.”

Though Zwaagstra takes a negative stance on targeting different groups of students based on their alleged learning styles, he speaks in favor of varying whole-class teaching strategies to address varying content.

Zwaagstra says his book is geared towards anyone who has an interest in Canadian schooling and will strike many people as simply common sense. However, he believes there will be some backlash.

“I would expect that a lot of professors of education aren’t going to like the book very much because it is contrary to what is generally being taught in education faculties.”

Ultimately, Zwaagstra feels the current societal pressure for teachers to be a "guide on the side" needs to be reevaluated. “A Sage on the Stage” attempts to do just that.

Zwaagstra’s book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.