A tribute to David Whitehead

DAVID'S ENERGY AND COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE CREATED NOT ONLY A FLOW OF NEWLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS BUT ALSO A SERIES OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES THAT DID MUCH TO INFORM AND SUPPORT ECONOMICS TEACHERS IN THE UK, EUROPE AND BEYOND

David Whitehead died on January 14, aged 58. He had been ill with cancer for several years. Typically, when he learned of his own condition, he phoned his friends and acquaintances and urged them to take good care of themselves and make sure that they were checked out regularly.

In the 1970s and 1980s in particular, when economics education in the UK was thriving in 0 level and A level classes (and their equivalents) the length and breadth of Britain, David was in the vanguard of educationalists who were actively supporting its growth and development.

As Senior Lecturer in Education (Economics) at London University's Institute of Education, David's energy and commitment to the cause created not only a flow of enthusiastic, well-trained newly qualified teachers but also a series of books, and many articles, that did much to inform and support economics teachers in the UK, Europe, and beyond.

The EBEA was just one of many vehicles that he deployed for campaigning and evangelising.

He was particularly successful at finding ways and means of promoting ideas in print; his Handbooks for Economics Teachers were best-sellers.

David was a man of intellect.

In areas of life that really mattered to him (and there were many of those) he had his position thought through, and was well able to articulate it. He believed in the power of argument, and many people can testify to his readiness to engage in debate. His innate courtesy more or less guaranteed one a hearing. Finding and harnessing the arguments to shift his stance or dent his conviction always remained something of a challenge.

His former students well recall David during his many years in teacher-training. Celia Flynn tells of his 'enthusiasm, his generosity with his time, and his caring concern'. Des Monk recalls how well organised David was, and has fond memories of David's sense of humour, and particularly of the absurd. Jenny Wales speaks of David's capacity to give wide-ranging advice without making it sound or feel like criticism. All of them talk of his willingness and ability to support and encourage. As a visiting lecturer on David's postgraduate course, Robert Wilson recalls the warmth of the welcome received, and the easy rapport and mutual respect between David and his postgraduate students.

David was a talent scout, recruitment officer, and promoter rolled into one. He cast his net wide. If he spotted, or heard of, people with promise, he made it his business to approach them, encourage them, and convert their ideas into talks to his students or conference presentations and, ultimately, print.

Steve Hodkinson tells how 'former students were cajoled and flattered into producing short pieces' for inclusion in one or other of David's many publications on teaching economics.

Being briefed by David on one's expected contribution to one of his publishing projects was an awesome experience. He knew exactly what he wanted by way of content, approach, length, and deadline, and folklore informed one about the price paid for inadequacy or late delivery. Steve Hodkinson recalls how David was 'painstaking in the detail and firm in his own judgement of value in an author's worle. Jenny Wales remembers her deep apprehension when she handed back to him her first commission from him, knowing that his comments would be pithy, pointed and pertinent. Peter Maunder recalls David's TES reviews of other authors' efforts, and how some of them must have opened the TES with considerable trepidation. All of us knew, however, that the standards he expected, and teased out, from others were the same standards that he demanded of himself.

David believed strongly in the value of research. Steve Hurd comments on how David 'established strong research links with economics-education researchers in the US and elsewhere, and did pioneering work in creating a research community in the UK. By establishing the first taught Masters course in Economics Education, with a strong dissertation element, David greatly expanded the volume of research output within the UK'.

Steve Hodkinson regards his own 1986 experience of working with David to edit for the EBEA and Longman the Research of Curriculum Development in Economics Education as 'the highpoint of my links with him.' Peter Maunder reminds us of how David came back from his time spent working in Australia and warned us against being complacent - there was a great deal going on 'out there' and we ignored it at our peril.

David was active within the EBEA in ways that made best use of his talents. In 1967, whilst teaching in Newcastle, he set up the North East Branch of what was then the Economics Association. He led it with vigour, and many valuable members emerged from its ranks. In 1976 David became General Editor of Economics, the Association's quarterly journal, and served with distinction for four years.

Editing was a task for which he was singularly well equipped. He had a way with words, both written and spoken, and was incisive and direct. He 'brought on' many young authors.

David liked active purposedriven working groups, and particularly those that he led, but he was no lover of committees. Robert Wilson recalls the wry grin he received whenever he enquired of David if we would be seeing him, as Journal editor, at Executive or Council. 'Heavens, no!' would be David's reply.'Tell them I've the next edition to work on!'

David Whitehead was well known beyond our shores.

Members of AEEE recall him with fondness. He was founding editor of the European journal Economia, which provided a vehicle for sharing good practice across the EU, and he took part in several collaborations across Europe. A prominent US economics education researcher said of David in the 1980s that he was one of just a few British people to have made a significant mark in economics education internationally.

A man of high principle and firm conviction, David found some of the educational developments of the late 1980s and the 1990s hard to accept and difficult to accommodate.

Paul Clarke writes 'David had an 'other-worldliness' about him which made me wonder sometimes just how much he really enjoyed the ICT businessmix which was rapidly replacing economics in London's schools.

But then to see him talking avidly with pupils in an East End classroom made me think again.'

Finding himself not wholly in sympathy with contemporary politicians' ideas on what ingredients constitute a model, affordable, national curriculum based around the notion of 'entitlemenf, David retired from the Institute early, and put his energies into his many other pursuits: his family, his love of music, his enthusiasm for playing pianos and harpsichords, going to concerts and opera, and for repairing pianolas. It is tragic that he was granted so few years to walk along these inviting paths.

Everyone who has written in about David has commented on how engaging they found him.

With his impeccable manners, immaculate grooming and a fine range of bow ties, David was a case of 'once met, never forgotten'. Peter Maunder recalls the enthusiastic greetings; Steve Hodkinson remembers David as soft in speech, outwardly gentle, but with inner steel; for Paul Clarke, David was 'a civilised man with a calming presence'. Jenny Wales confirms that David did things 'with style' - not for him or his visiting lecturers a parting polystyrene cuppa by way of a thankyou. Many will recall how a review with him of some shared experience in economics education would mellow over a glass of wine into a discussion of the relative merits of various concert pianists or an amusing anecdote on the latest on-stage disaster for an opera diva, or an invitation to take him on at tennis.

Peter Maunder takes the view that David had an influence on the work of fellow economics teachers that was considerably greater than he himself realised.

That is almost certainly true. David's own attitudes, values and beliefs were so clearly articulated that it forced one to think more astutely about one's own. It was not necessary to agree with him in order to learn a great deal from him. He will be sorely missed.

David Whitehead died as this edition of the Journal was going to press.

The Editor is grateful to Paul Clarke, Celia Flynn, Steve Hodkinson, Steve Hurd, Peter Maunder, Des Monk, Jenny Wales, and Robert Wilson for so readily and rapidly contributing to this appreciation of David's work.

Copyright Economics and Business Education Association Spring 2002
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