No Child Left Behind based on false goal
Why is student achievement in curriculum a false goal? To be more specific, why should student achievement in reading, writing and math, or any other discipline, not be the primary goal and purpose of public education? Several reasons. First, it calls forth unsolicited direct instruction, a kind of teaching that is counterproductive. Direct instruction that is not requested is like giving instruction in talking and walking before the child is ready. We don't usually give babies direct instruction in these things. When parents do it, it is in response to a demonstrated need on the part of the child. Children learn how to talk and walk, without formal instruction, when it is time for each one to do so.
Now what happens when a child starts school? It's time for direct instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic. This is usually done, not in response to a child's need, but in response to an adult's need for the child. Direct instruction is complicated by the fact that a few children start school already knowing how to read. They learned how to read the way everyone learns how to read they teach themselves the same way they learned how to talk and walk.
The second major reason why student achievement in curriculum should not be the major goal and purpose of education is that it diverts attention away from what should be the primary purpose: developing great human beings to be contributors not burdens to society. With this purpose teachers focus on developing a full range of human potential, not merely on reading, writing and arithmetic. They put more emphasis on the "why" and "what" of reading than they do on "how" to read because they know that reading, like talking, is a private matter that takes place in a child's brain and is controlled by the learner himself. There are many smart crooks in our jails who are skilled in reading, writing and arithmetic. Why have they not used these skills to contribute? Is it because our school system has failed to convey the true purpose of education?
Authentic reform of education can occur when we adopt a true, authentic goal and develop the attributes, skills and attitudes that make for contributive behavior. These can be characterized by seven dimensions of human greatness: identity, inquiry, interaction, imagination, initiative, intuition and integrity. We found that students achieve more in reading, writing and math when they are taught as tools of inquiry than when they are taught as ends in and of themselves.
Lynn Stoddard, of Farmington, is a retired public school teacher and administrator.
Recent comments
I totally disagree with this article. Too bad the vouchers didn't...
Resigned Teacher | Dec. 10, 2007 at 1:39 p.m.
From Anonymous 5:54 pm Dec 7 "So...if kids can teach themselves, what...
Rick | Dec. 8, 2007 at 1:03 p.m.
Apparently the cure for illiteracy was before our eyes all along!...
Anonymous | Dec. 7, 2007 at 6:12 p.m.
- Parks nominee is in hot water 9:30 p.m.
- Burris bows out of 2010 race 9:30 p.m.
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- Facebook sued on control of content 9:15 p.m.
- Poor more likely to leave California 9:13 p.m.
- Montana guv blasts GM 9:11 p.m.
- GM exits bankruptcy quickly 9:10 p.m.
- Death near Rockville suspicious 9:09 p.m.
- May trade deficit dropped to $26B 9:08 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
133 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
73
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
People living OUTSIDE of the US have NO protection of the constitution, ...
is dollar for dollar.
Everybody keeps saying Millsap is or isn't worth 8 to 9 million dollars a...
Not to worry, before the hammer falls on CA the federal government will bail...
Granite High was not only a school but it was a home away from home. ...
Utahns PAY for all that stuff, how Californians using that money? What...
Chris - Moon rock samples and personal testimonyies/witnesses aside, do...
time to get rid of both. we need Bosh from Toronto .....trade all 3 including...
Mary Coppins has a new slant these days. I am just so glad he has stopped...
Not one single "Jazz fan" has spelled the name Joel Przybilla correctly, in...


