Education Jargon Information
Dr. Bob Kizlik

Updated May 21, 2008

There is seemingly an inexhaustible need to invent education terms, and the words and phrases we in education choose to describe what we do are never at rest. It seems as though every day new ways of expressing old ideas are formulated and added to the bewildering, bubbling stew known by such unflattering names as eduspeak, pedagogese, edutalk, and so on. There is no end to it, and I think new and future teachers need to be clear about the technical language of their profession. Whether dealing with parents, students, other teachers, or administrators,  or the public, the need for specificity has never been greater.

In my years of education, I have heard many expressions that at first I thought were very perceptive and useful. However, upon reflection, I now know I was wrong. An example:

Many of you reading this have probably heard an expression that goes something like this: "This program allows the child to learn at his own pace." What in the world does THAT mean? Think about it. At what other pace can a child learn but his own? Yet that phrase has been used in countless promotions for educational programs and materials, as if it were some sort of endorsement or validation. A truly worthless expression. What we really want to accomplish is to help children increase the pace at which they learn, thereby making learning more efficient.

Another is, "We take the child from where he is......" Well, great. Where else is the child than where he is? Such language adds little to efforts to improve communication or clarify meaning.

I scoured the Internet to find descriptions of words and expressions that are commonly used in education. If you go to the links below, you will find commentary and a sometimes bewildering array of phrases and their descriptions. In some cases, they are humorous, in others, bewildering. 

Hiding Behind Education Jargon
Special Education Jargon
Say What?
Education Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary
COLLEGESPEAK - jargon in higher education

"Anything not understood in more than one way is not understood at all."

Okay, now for something to read that might give you a chill or two....click here for my novel, What Waits Within

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Bob Kizlik