Redesigning a System

Does the US have a process or a method to redesign the US Education System? I was remembering that the old Goals 2000 program in which there was a new corporation set up to manage the Research and Development process for ‘new schools.’ There was a lot of fanfare and proposals were submitted for funding (heck, my colleagues and I even submitted a proposal). These proposals were for funding ‘experiments’ that could then be tested – and possibly scaled up – to help the rest of the system.

That seemed like a good idea at the time. That was 1992.

I just looked to see if that corporation was around. The New American Schools Development Corporation has merged with the American Institutes for Research (which means it is no longer around). I couldn’t find any thing about them. Maybe it’s there I just didn’t see it.

So what is the US doing to insure that young people are prepared and can thrive in the 21st Century? No Child Left Behind! Get young people to pass high stakes tests every few years and other kinds of tests every year and walla! Presto, Chango! Magic happens and a new system emerges!

I get more concerned every day about the state of the education system in the US. Here is a few comments that give me hope – but I can say, even though people might know what to do, actually doing it is a lot harder (especially within the system as it currently exists).

We have to not think of education as the sole province of schools, but, rather, begin to create what we at the institute call smart education systems. And I want to make it clear I didn’t say smart school systems. We need to develop a range of cognitive abilities, social skills, and communication skills. There’s considerable work that students have to do inside the schools, but they also have to have support in applying that knowledge to real-world problems.

Which means they have to do a considerable amount of engaged learning in their family and community settings. We have to think about how to build a smart education system that integrates the assets of municipal agencies such as housing departments, parks and recreation departments, or cultural-affairs departments so that, particularly in disadvantaged communities, students and their families begin to get the supports they need to hone higher-level skills.

You can read the whole article here if you have interest: Apostle of Change

Drill and Practice becomes Drill and Test