My pennyworth... Children, quite young children, are fully capable of appreciating subtlety, and different interpretations. Sadly, we. adults fail to appreciate this very often and over-simplify, so, like Tim, I will read the study materials with interest.
Education is a pressure cooker these days with crowded content and OFSTED looming. The other issue is that funding is really very tight, a juggling act to stay in the black all too often. Then there are the risk assessments required for any activity: no wonder there are fewer trips these days.
It takes a good head and brave staff to buck the trend and say, 'Let's just make time for that visit, or for reflection and critical discussion.' Such heads, staff and schools do exist, and thrive, as their pupils in fact do well in the measurements required by HM Gov.
There are approaches in schools these days that support better thinking, and they are catching on in my experience. I meet thoughtful and articulate children in schools who are a privilege to listen to.
The contributions to this thread are, in many cases, reflective of the children we once were; sensitive to the offer the world made to us. Well, so are the vast majority of kids today, given the chance. So all power to the Broads as 'Outside Classroom' and I hope the adults involved do it right.
If you are interested, check out www.Sapere.org.uk, or NACE.co.uk, or Thinking Schools International for a sample of some of the opportunities going these days.