My English Diary: How to escape education's death valley

Ken Robinson spoke about the dropout and american's wrong method to try to improve education.
For Robinson, America spends enough money for education. The trouble is that this money is spent in the wrong way.

American education is based on conformity, not diversity, but all the human beings are different and diverse.

A real education has to give equal weight for all subjects (arts, science, math or physical education). Furthermore human beings curious, curiosity is the natural way to learn.

"Curiosity is the engine of achievement "

Most important is the role of the teacher. Great teachers are not only a teachers, but also mentors and stimulators. The task of a teacher is to facilitate learning.

Another big trouble is that the dominant culture of education has come to focus on not teaching and learning but testing.
Children and teachers are encouraged to follow routine algorithms rather than excite the imagination and curiosity.

The solutions for a good education are:

• individualize teaching and learning. The educational system has to engage the students, their curiosity, their individuality and their creativity;
• Attribute a very high status to the teaching profession. Investing in professional development is not a cost;
• Delegate responsability at the school level. The education happens in classrooms and schools between teachers and students, not in committee rooms in legislative buildings;

Link: How to escape education's death valley