Lawrence Stenhouse: an important figure every teacher-researcher should know about

The Chartered College of Teaching does not need a patron saint but if it did, Lawrence Stenhouse would be my choice. He is one of its founding fathers and guiding spirits, though he died over 30 years ago. He is mentioned once in the first issue of Impact as a ‘late great’ and his work also featured in a very brief reference in the first Third Space event, but his voice needs to be better known and his words better understood by the current generation of teacher-researchers. Stenhouse provides inspiration, insight and challenge – he was a truly wise man. This article introduces the man and his work, largely through his own memorable words (though I have to confess to taking one liberty by replacing in places his phrase ‘curriculum study’ with ‘evidence-informed practice’ or ‘teacher research’). I am sure he would have approved, given our current context. As you will see, Stenhouse would not have wanted veneration but, I have to confess, that there is a small elemen