Speak Up!!! Your Students Need You.

This much content?  What about Life Skills?

I have personally made a strong effort to connect with hundreds of community members, businesses, teachers, and administrators and "picked their brain" for what they thought our students would need to be successful at the next level (whether this is a job, college, or life).  I have never heard anybody say to me anything about specific content.  Of course we have to have a general concept of how things work.....content is important.  I would actually argue that "concepts" are more important than specific content.  For instance, knowing how plants grow, why they are important, and how  they impact the environment and food web is more important than knowing that the enzyme NADPH is created which drives the Calvin Cycle.





What about all of the things that are "real".  Everyone will have to communicate via many different forms.  Almost everyone will have to collaborate in some form or another.  We think critically and problem solve on a daily basis.  These and hundreds of other "21st Century Skills" seem as if they should be the FOUNDATION of education.  Instead, I feel that they are neglected.  They are not required.  Our standards require that the content is taught, but does not come close to touching the complexity of these 21st Century Skills.

Is this why customer service is disappearing from the earth?  Is this why over 50% of students who enter college drop out?  Is this why we have major unemployment issues?

If the vast majority believes that these skills are so important, than why aren't we speaking up more an DEMANDING that they receive a stronger emphasis.  I feel as if the politicians and universities have shackles on K-12 schools, and that they use K-12 teachers and administrators as the scapegoats in this downfall.  Comments such as "Students are coming into college unprepared" and "we need to hold our teachers accountable by evaluating standardized tests", etc... are ridiculous.

Our students are disengaged.  I don't blame them.   As Seth Godin said, "If your audience isn't listening, it isn't their fault, it is yours."  The trend will only continue in the wrong direction unless enough people speak up and demand change.  Will you please be one of those people?

This is just my 2-cents

Oliver Schinkten
oliver.schinkten@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
Twitter:  @schink10