5 Letting Change Happen
The Funnel
Education can be seen as a funnel. At the narrow end, students with the least ability have limited potential to improve. As ability increases, the potential for education expands. This idea applies to all kinds of education, whether it's sports, music, or academics. However, there has been a long-standing belief that we can significantly improve reading and math skills for low-ability students, even though only small improvements are realistic at the bottom of the funnel. To change this mindset, it is important to rely on evidence rather than just beliefs.
One suggestion is to connect standardized tests, like the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), to students' natural abilities. By testing young children’s language and math skills early on and then looking at their future scores on reading and math tests, we can see if schools are actually helping them improve. If it turns out that schools cannot raise the scores of low-ability students significantly, it would suggest that we need to focus on more practical ways to teach rather than setting unrealistic goals.
Establish the Limits of the Possible
The focus is on the potential for improving education among low-ability students through a large-scale, long-term study. This study would target children with IQs between 80 and 95 and involve a substantial number of participants to ensure reliable results. The objective is to provide these students with the best possible education, which could include high-quality preschool programs followed by exceptional elementary schooling.
The study should measure the success of these students against peers with similar backgrounds and abilities. It would allow the use of any teaching methods and resources, without worrying about future affordability, to ensure optimal educational strategies are applied. It is crucial for the organization conducting the study to remain independent from those selecting and testing the participants, and the design must avoid biases associated with teaching to the test.
Predictions indicate modest gains in interpersonal skills but significant improvements in factual knowledge. However, advancements in reading and math might reduce over time. This extensive project aims to test the limits of current educational practices and explore innovative teaching methods, regardless of the cost or time involved, underscoring the importance of basing educational policies on solid evidence rather than idealistic views.
Find Out What Each Child’s Abilities Are
To effectively educate students, schools must understand each child's abilities and challenges. While some assessment occurs informally, it can lead to errors, especially with students who have learning disabilities or emotional issues. It is recommended that all children receive professional assessments in first grade, as this is when cognitive abilities stabilize. Standard IQ tests, such as the Woodcock-Johnson, Wechsler, and Stanford-Binet tests, can help identify strengths and learning disabilities. This investment in assessments, although costly, is crucial for tailoring education to individual needs and avoiding educational neglect.
Give a Safe and Orderly Classroom to Every Student Who Is Trying to Learn, No Matter What
Inner-city schools often struggle with serious issues, making learning very difficult for students who want to succeed. Many classrooms are chaotic due to disruptive behavior, and some teachers are ineffective, leading to a harmful environment. To improve these schools, strict rules must be enforced: disruptive students should be removed from classes immediately, those who frequently disrupt should be suspended, and students who threaten teachers should be expelled. Although this may result in many students being on the streets, most are already disengaged and learning very little. The priority should be to create a safe space for those who want to learn, ensuring their education is not sacrificed for the sake of others who refuse to engage.
Teach the Core Knowledge Curriculum to Every Student
A well-designed curriculum for American elementary and middle schools already exists, specifically the K-8 curriculum from the Core Knowledge Foundation. This curriculum, along with others like the one from K12 Inc., can greatly improve education without needing extra money, facilities, or special training. The main issue is that many public schools use less effective, progressive curricula. By adopting these effective alternatives, public schools can provide an education comparable to that found in private schools.
Let Gifted Children Go as Fast as They Can
Gifted children who enjoy learning and face challenges positively by the end of middle school show that the education system has succeeded. If they dislike school and feel contempt for assignments, it risks damaging their potential. To help them thrive, gifted students should be allowed to progress at their own pace. This means providing advanced material suitable for their abilities, like offering sixth-grade reading and math to third-graders who can handle it. Gifted kids perform better in an engaging and challenging curriculum and benefit from being with peers who share their interests.
There are questions regarding whether students should skip grades or receive advanced materials while remaining with their age group, which can vary for each child. Open communication between parents and schools is essential for appropriately placing students in advanced classes without altering the course's standard. It's also important to understand that children are aware of their differences in abilities, and performing poorly may not be their biggest worry compared to other social issues. Failing to nurture gifted students would be unethical, just like withholding training for talents in athletics or music.
Teach the Forgotten Half How to Make a Living
The term “forgotten half” refers to high school students who are more focused on entering the workforce rather than pursuing college. Many students perceive that grades are not essential for getting a job, which leads them to lack motivation in school. Employers often prioritize qualities like dependability and a good attitude over grades when hiring, but schools do not emphasize these traits. As a result, students often arrive at job interviews unprepared, presenting themselves poorly.
Guidance counselors mostly encourage all students to go to college, avoiding honest discussions about the alternatives. They seldom inform students about skilled trades or technical jobs that could provide good salaries. Instead of supporting work-bound students, the education system pressures them to remain in an academic track that may not suit their skills or interests.
There are existing career and technical education (CTE) programs that could enhance students' employability, but these resources are underutilized. Many students who do not plan to attend college are placed in the academic track, which fails to address their needs. The education system should focus more on supporting work-bound students and respect their career choices.
Expand Choice
School choice is a critical topic in improving K-12 education. While many good changes could happen in individual schools, large public school systems often struggle to implement them due to political challenges. Parents and teachers generally want safe and organized schools, along with personalized assessments for students. Despite these desires, progress is often stalled in centralized systems. However, the school choice movement is gaining traction, with an increasing number of private schools, charter schools, and home-schooling options available. Since the first charter laws were introduced in the early 1990s, the number of charter schools has grown significantly, and home-schooling has also increased, with many parents now using available resources to make it easier.
The school choice movement is seen as vital for enhancing K-12 education. While some advocates focus on improving test scores, the real advantage of school choice lies in offering diverse educational approaches that may not be captured by standard assessments. However, many low-income families in urban areas still lack real choices in education. Although politicians are increasingly recognizing the need for school choice, challenges remain for those who may resist changes that would benefit disadvantaged families. The hope is that these issues will be addressed for a better educational future.
Use Certification to Undermine the BA
The current system of higher education, particularly the focus on bachelor’s degrees (BAs), presents challenges for young people who either do not want to participate in traditional four-year colleges or cannot afford them. While earning a BA can be beneficial for certain individuals, it often creates an unfair barrier for those who may be equally capable but come from different educational backgrounds. The BA functions as a signaling tool to employers; when graduates from prestigious schools like Cornell enter the job market, their degrees send clear messages about their intelligence, work ethic, and skills. In contrast, degrees from less well-known institutions provide weaker signals, and online degrees can be viewed even less favorably.
Employers tend to place value on the institution where candidates earned their degrees, which can disadvantage those who studied at less prestigious schools or online programs, even if they possess similar abilities. This situation highlights a need for a different way to assess qualifications. Instead of relying solely on degrees, a system of certifications could better showcase what a candidate knows and can do.
Certifications, such as those in fields like accounting (like the CPA exam), provide a more standardized measure of competence. They can allow individuals from various educational backgrounds to demonstrate their skills on a level playing field. For example, a student who studied at a community college could compete for a position against someone from a prestigious university based on their certification scores. This could help diminish the importance of the BA, particularly in fields that do not require advanced degrees.
Furthermore, certifications could benefit young people by providing them with clear and trusted measures of their abilities, which could resonate more strongly with employers than degrees do. This shift would encourage a more equitable job market, where skills and knowledge are the main focus, rather than where one earned their degree.
In this proposed system, vocational training and community colleges would gain more recognition, allowing students to hone specific skills without the outdated goal of obtaining a BA. Many students might find that they enjoy the learning process more when the objective is mastering a subject to achieve high certification scores, rather than just getting a degree. This approach may inspire them to explore additional interests and subjects beyond their main area of study.
Overall, a system that embraces certification over traditional degrees could lead to a more flexible, cost-effective, and equitable educational landscape. It could provide diverse paths for students while emphasizing tangible skills over merely formal education. With fewer jobs requiring a BA for consideration, the stigma around not having a degree would lessen as more capable individuals find opportunities based on their demonstrated knowledge and abilities, ultimately creating a fairer job market.
The Challenge: Liberal Education Redux
The postsecondary education system for gifted students has significant flaws, leaving many of them unprepared and unaware of their weaknesses. Many academically gifted students graduate without essential skills, including effective communication and critical thinking. Parents, typically affluent and well-educated, often prioritize prestige over educational quality when choosing colleges. This obsession with prestigious institutions is unlikely to change, leading to a competitive environment where colleges can raise tuition without losing applicants.
Today's college faculties show little inclination to return to traditional values, often favoring trendy perspectives that minimize the classics. College administrators focus on attracting applicants, making rigorous core curriculums less appealing. Additionally, gifted students are often not prepared to make good choices when faced with a wide range of courses.
However, there are reasons for hope in improving liberal education. First, the subject matter of a liberal education is inherently enriching, with a consensus on the importance of works by great thinkers and artists throughout history. Second, professors desire to demonstrate their intelligence, which can promote a return to meaningful scholarly pursuits. Third, students naturally grapple with profound questions about life, and exposing them to foundational works in philosophy and literature can guide their inquiries. Lastly, gifted students may find fulfillment in honing their talents, as true personal satisfaction often arises from striving for excellence. While significant change may take time, raising awareness of these issues is a valuable first step.
Taking Responsibility
The educational system has many problems, mainly caused by politicians and the education system in elementary and secondary education, while parents are more responsible for issues in postsecondary education. To make things better, parents need to choose the right schools for their kids, and teachers should understand that students want to learn useful skills for their future. Adults must take responsibility for helping children, sometimes by encouraging them and other times by providing criticism when their goals are unrealistic. Education should not just be about getting degrees or high-paying jobs. Instead, it should help children find what they enjoy doing and help them do it well, allowing every child to reach their full potential, no matter their abilities.
The Funnel
Education can be seen as a funnel. At the narrow end, students with the least ability have limited potential to improve. As ability increases, the potential for education expands. This idea applies to all kinds of education, whether it's sports, music, or academics. However, there has been a long-standing belief that we can significantly improve reading and math skills for low-ability students, even though only small improvements are realistic at the bottom of the funnel. To change this mindset, it is important to rely on evidence rather than just beliefs.
One suggestion is to connect standardized tests, like the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), to students' natural abilities. By testing young children’s language and math skills early on and then looking at their future scores on reading and math tests, we can see if schools are actually helping them improve. If it turns out that schools cannot raise the scores of low-ability students significantly, it would suggest that we need to focus on more practical ways to teach rather than setting unrealistic goals.
Establish the Limits of the Possible
The focus is on the potential for improving education among low-ability students through a large-scale, long-term study. This study would target children with IQs between 80 and 95 and involve a substantial number of participants to ensure reliable results. The objective is to provide these students with the best possible education, which could include high-quality preschool programs followed by exceptional elementary schooling.
The study should measure the success of these students against peers with similar backgrounds and abilities. It would allow the use of any teaching methods and resources, without worrying about future affordability, to ensure optimal educational strategies are applied. It is crucial for the organization conducting the study to remain independent from those selecting and testing the participants, and the design must avoid biases associated with teaching to the test.
Predictions indicate modest gains in interpersonal skills but significant improvements in factual knowledge. However, advancements in reading and math might reduce over time. This extensive project aims to test the limits of current educational practices and explore innovative teaching methods, regardless of the cost or time involved, underscoring the importance of basing educational policies on solid evidence rather than idealistic views.
Find Out What Each Child’s Abilities Are
To effectively educate students, schools must understand each child's abilities and challenges. While some assessment occurs informally, it can lead to errors, especially with students who have learning disabilities or emotional issues. It is recommended that all children receive professional assessments in first grade, as this is when cognitive abilities stabilize. Standard IQ tests, such as the Woodcock-Johnson, Wechsler, and Stanford-Binet tests, can help identify strengths and learning disabilities. This investment in assessments, although costly, is crucial for tailoring education to individual needs and avoiding educational neglect.
Give a Safe and Orderly Classroom to Every Student Who Is Trying to Learn, No Matter What
Inner-city schools often struggle with serious issues, making learning very difficult for students who want to succeed. Many classrooms are chaotic due to disruptive behavior, and some teachers are ineffective, leading to a harmful environment. To improve these schools, strict rules must be enforced: disruptive students should be removed from classes immediately, those who frequently disrupt should be suspended, and students who threaten teachers should be expelled. Although this may result in many students being on the streets, most are already disengaged and learning very little. The priority should be to create a safe space for those who want to learn, ensuring their education is not sacrificed for the sake of others who refuse to engage.
Teach the Core Knowledge Curriculum to Every Student
A well-designed curriculum for American elementary and middle schools already exists, specifically the K-8 curriculum from the Core Knowledge Foundation. This curriculum, along with others like the one from K12 Inc., can greatly improve education without needing extra money, facilities, or special training. The main issue is that many public schools use less effective, progressive curricula. By adopting these effective alternatives, public schools can provide an education comparable to that found in private schools.
Let Gifted Children Go as Fast as They Can
Gifted children who enjoy learning and face challenges positively by the end of middle school show that the education system has succeeded. If they dislike school and feel contempt for assignments, it risks damaging their potential. To help them thrive, gifted students should be allowed to progress at their own pace. This means providing advanced material suitable for their abilities, like offering sixth-grade reading and math to third-graders who can handle it. Gifted kids perform better in an engaging and challenging curriculum and benefit from being with peers who share their interests.
There are questions regarding whether students should skip grades or receive advanced materials while remaining with their age group, which can vary for each child. Open communication between parents and schools is essential for appropriately placing students in advanced classes without altering the course's standard. It's also important to understand that children are aware of their differences in abilities, and performing poorly may not be their biggest worry compared to other social issues. Failing to nurture gifted students would be unethical, just like withholding training for talents in athletics or music.
Teach the Forgotten Half How to Make a Living
The term “forgotten half” refers to high school students who are more focused on entering the workforce rather than pursuing college. Many students perceive that grades are not essential for getting a job, which leads them to lack motivation in school. Employers often prioritize qualities like dependability and a good attitude over grades when hiring, but schools do not emphasize these traits. As a result, students often arrive at job interviews unprepared, presenting themselves poorly.
Guidance counselors mostly encourage all students to go to college, avoiding honest discussions about the alternatives. They seldom inform students about skilled trades or technical jobs that could provide good salaries. Instead of supporting work-bound students, the education system pressures them to remain in an academic track that may not suit their skills or interests.
There are existing career and technical education (CTE) programs that could enhance students' employability, but these resources are underutilized. Many students who do not plan to attend college are placed in the academic track, which fails to address their needs. The education system should focus more on supporting work-bound students and respect their career choices.
Expand Choice
School choice is a critical topic in improving K-12 education. While many good changes could happen in individual schools, large public school systems often struggle to implement them due to political challenges. Parents and teachers generally want safe and organized schools, along with personalized assessments for students. Despite these desires, progress is often stalled in centralized systems. However, the school choice movement is gaining traction, with an increasing number of private schools, charter schools, and home-schooling options available. Since the first charter laws were introduced in the early 1990s, the number of charter schools has grown significantly, and home-schooling has also increased, with many parents now using available resources to make it easier.
The school choice movement is seen as vital for enhancing K-12 education. While some advocates focus on improving test scores, the real advantage of school choice lies in offering diverse educational approaches that may not be captured by standard assessments. However, many low-income families in urban areas still lack real choices in education. Although politicians are increasingly recognizing the need for school choice, challenges remain for those who may resist changes that would benefit disadvantaged families. The hope is that these issues will be addressed for a better educational future.
Use Certification to Undermine the BA
The current system of higher education, particularly the focus on bachelor’s degrees (BAs), presents challenges for young people who either do not want to participate in traditional four-year colleges or cannot afford them. While earning a BA can be beneficial for certain individuals, it often creates an unfair barrier for those who may be equally capable but come from different educational backgrounds. The BA functions as a signaling tool to employers; when graduates from prestigious schools like Cornell enter the job market, their degrees send clear messages about their intelligence, work ethic, and skills. In contrast, degrees from less well-known institutions provide weaker signals, and online degrees can be viewed even less favorably.
Employers tend to place value on the institution where candidates earned their degrees, which can disadvantage those who studied at less prestigious schools or online programs, even if they possess similar abilities. This situation highlights a need for a different way to assess qualifications. Instead of relying solely on degrees, a system of certifications could better showcase what a candidate knows and can do.
Certifications, such as those in fields like accounting (like the CPA exam), provide a more standardized measure of competence. They can allow individuals from various educational backgrounds to demonstrate their skills on a level playing field. For example, a student who studied at a community college could compete for a position against someone from a prestigious university based on their certification scores. This could help diminish the importance of the BA, particularly in fields that do not require advanced degrees.
Furthermore, certifications could benefit young people by providing them with clear and trusted measures of their abilities, which could resonate more strongly with employers than degrees do. This shift would encourage a more equitable job market, where skills and knowledge are the main focus, rather than where one earned their degree.
In this proposed system, vocational training and community colleges would gain more recognition, allowing students to hone specific skills without the outdated goal of obtaining a BA. Many students might find that they enjoy the learning process more when the objective is mastering a subject to achieve high certification scores, rather than just getting a degree. This approach may inspire them to explore additional interests and subjects beyond their main area of study.
Overall, a system that embraces certification over traditional degrees could lead to a more flexible, cost-effective, and equitable educational landscape. It could provide diverse paths for students while emphasizing tangible skills over merely formal education. With fewer jobs requiring a BA for consideration, the stigma around not having a degree would lessen as more capable individuals find opportunities based on their demonstrated knowledge and abilities, ultimately creating a fairer job market.
The Challenge: Liberal Education Redux
The postsecondary education system for gifted students has significant flaws, leaving many of them unprepared and unaware of their weaknesses. Many academically gifted students graduate without essential skills, including effective communication and critical thinking. Parents, typically affluent and well-educated, often prioritize prestige over educational quality when choosing colleges. This obsession with prestigious institutions is unlikely to change, leading to a competitive environment where colleges can raise tuition without losing applicants.
Today's college faculties show little inclination to return to traditional values, often favoring trendy perspectives that minimize the classics. College administrators focus on attracting applicants, making rigorous core curriculums less appealing. Additionally, gifted students are often not prepared to make good choices when faced with a wide range of courses.
However, there are reasons for hope in improving liberal education. First, the subject matter of a liberal education is inherently enriching, with a consensus on the importance of works by great thinkers and artists throughout history. Second, professors desire to demonstrate their intelligence, which can promote a return to meaningful scholarly pursuits. Third, students naturally grapple with profound questions about life, and exposing them to foundational works in philosophy and literature can guide their inquiries. Lastly, gifted students may find fulfillment in honing their talents, as true personal satisfaction often arises from striving for excellence. While significant change may take time, raising awareness of these issues is a valuable first step.
Taking Responsibility
The educational system has many problems, mainly caused by politicians and the education system in elementary and secondary education, while parents are more responsible for issues in postsecondary education. To make things better, parents need to choose the right schools for their kids, and teachers should understand that students want to learn useful skills for their future. Adults must take responsibility for helping children, sometimes by encouraging them and other times by providing criticism when their goals are unrealistic. Education should not just be about getting degrees or high-paying jobs. Instead, it should help children find what they enjoy doing and help them do it well, allowing every child to reach their full potential, no matter their abilities.