[However, I am aware that most of the best work I have seen as a teacher has been produced outside of the classroom. This is partly due to the kind of open-ended task that can be set for homework. This is especially true of the high ability student who often finds this kind of task very stimulating. It also enables students in classes with an anti-school culture to work without peer group pressure being applied.]
I agree with John Simkin. From my experience, whenever the teachers make an effort to innovate and define stimulating tasks, the results are rather good. Both from high ability students and anti-school culture students. But I came to realise that the social evolution in Portugal and political inability to deal with education, have damaged younger generations. The devaluation of culture is a real problem here. Culture and education are not priorities in Portuguese society. And when governments go along with this...