Orthodoxy, Cultural Compatibility, and Universals in Education.

Are western psychological and educational theory and practice truly applicable to a range of diverse settings around the world? We demonstrate that there is a globally dominant pedagogical orthodoxy—not exclusively western—for which there is little supportive theory nor evidence of efficacy. There is an alternative—Standards for Effective Pedagogy—that aspires directly and by design toward universalism. We describe this pedagogical system’s nearly forty‐year developmental history, as well as its methods, disciplines, and evidence for efficacy. Examples and prospects for application in a variety of cultures are discussed, as well as the political and philosophical limits of a universalist approach.