Play is a foundational element of a child’s life. Yet, how much is play embraced inside schools? My guests today, Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle, argue play is the fundamental energy of learning. And schools need to embrace play much more than they currently do to support child development.

For Pasi and William, screen time and the educational reform movement that emphasizes standardized tests have reduced the amount of time children are allowed to play in school.

Pasi Sahlberg is a professor of education policy at the Gonski Institute for Education of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He is a globally renowned educator, author, speaker, and scholar, and one of the world’s most respected authorities on educational improvement.

William Doyle is New York Times bestselling author and TV producer.  Since 2015 he has served as a Fulbright Scholar, a Scholar in Residence and lecturer on media and education at the University of Eastern Finland, and as advisor to the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland

Their new co-written book is called Let the Children Play, which was published by Oxford University Press earlier this year.

Citation: Doyle, William & Sahlberg, Pasi, interview with Will Brehm, FreshEd, 183, podcast audio, December 2, 2019. https://freshedpodcast.com/pasisahlberg-williamdoyle/