Common Sense Says Education is more than Academics
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We are at a crossroads in this nation regarding the direction that public education will take in the coming decades. Do we focus on a curriculum that concentrates on a few core subjects or do we gain an appreciation for how public education can develop all aspects of the child to the benefit of each of them as well as society in general?"
In Support of the Whole Child, Huffington Post Posted: 07/03/2012 4:02 pm
This is a joint posting by 13 Huffington Post Education, Parenting and Health bloggers: Martin J. Blank, Sam Chaltain, Peter DeWitt, John M. Eger, Larry Ferlazzo, Jenifer Fox, Shaun Johnson, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Jennifer Peck, Kate Quarfordt, Sean Slade, Dr. Jim Taylor, & Jill Vialet.
I agree with the concept of the whole child, but unless I'm missing something, I think the authors are putting the cart before the horse. Is the public education system responsible for making sure chidren are safe, secure, fed, etc.? I think that responsibility is a social or community one rather than something that is the responsibility of our schools. After creating an environment where children can learn, then, yes, a whole child approach is certainly better than the teach to the test system currently in place.
ReplyDeleteI think the authors want to highlight the fact that the debate has turned into an either or proposition. Academics vs. whole child.
ReplyDelete"What was pervasive throughout this debate has been a faulty assumption that our current education crisis boils down to a black-and-white choice between academic achievement or a holistic approach to teaching and learning."
Current education policy (NCLB) completely ignores any factors not related to academics and the value of test scores.
We have had this conversation before, I want my children to be in a school environment that prioritizes the development of character and a love of learning, not the ability to get good grades and score high on state assessments.
So yes, I do see this as the responsibility of public schools.