Unconventional ideas for teaching and learning.

NOW, WOULD MOST CHILDREN, AND THE NATION, BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT SCHOOL?

By Bob Kay

THE SITUATION

“Teachers are doing the best they can in a system that’s no longer working. We’re getting such poor results because schools are organized in ways that PREVENT most kids from learning… and the current system is devastatingly bad for almost (sic) all our youngsters.” – Albert Shanker, late president of the American Federation of Teachers quoted in the NY TIMES, 5/29/88, 6/26/88, and 3/29/92

“To a very large degree, school is a place where children learn to be stupid.” – John Holt, HOW CHILREN FAIL

“Achievement tests deserve an ‘F’” – Richard Gibboney, author of THE STONE TRUMPET and Assistant Secretary of Education, PA quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/21/89

“The formal assessment of elementary-school children is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.” — Superintendent of Schools, speaking of-the-record, 1998

“There is no learning of any significance going on at any Philadelphia high school, public or private.” — Prof. Of Education, Univ. of PA, 2002

“I wouldn’t have the valedictorian of the senior class draw up a simple contract for my personal use on the day he graduates.” Dean, famous law school in MA, 1969. Quoted in “A Solution to the Fraud that is Higher Education” – by Herb Denenberg, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, 2/6/06

“Formal education has never been shown to be of greater value than what we can learn on our own or on the job.” — J.S. Armstrong, INTERFACES, 1983

THE RESULTS

After spending $800 billion per year, twice as much as any other country, at all levels virtually all subject matter learned in US schools is HAPPILY forgotten.

Fewer than one third of college seniors are proficient in reading and writing, down from 40 percent a decade ago. — National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2006

80 percent of kindergartners have high self-esteem; just 5% of high school seniors still really like themselves.” — Educator’s Newsletter, 1987

94 percent cannot name their congressman. In politically active and wealthy Switzerland, 77% leave school at age 14 for work or a training program.

BETTER SOLUTIONS

DESCHOOLING SOCIETY – Ivan Illich

THE CONTINUUM CONCEPT – Jean Liedloff

Turn schools and colleges into true educational institutions, not job training certificate programs, by attending to models such as:

www.invitationaleducation.net

www.edutopia.org

Cooperative learning

The School of Self-Determination in Moscow: www.734.com1.RU