I first wrote this ten years ago. The status quo…remains just that…
How did we get here? My little elementary students are supposed to understand differences and similarities between fairy tales and tall tales, remember various characters and plots, master complicated vocabulary and higher level English phonics, take a multitude of assessments and be ready to learn about ancient Asian civilizations and do it in their second language. We are not yet half way through the school year.
This is the definition of insanity. It violates any reasoned approach to education. It is counter-rational to theories of multiple learning styles and intelligences. It crushes the motivation and educational enthusiasm of my students and in the end we have taught everything and nothing.
We remain a mile wide and an inch deep.
690 Saint Paul 