My Quick Thoughts and Reflections on Why School by Will Richardson

This is my first post for 2013 and the 100th post since I started blogging. As we look at moving education forward  I thought that this was a most appropriate post to recognize these two milestones. I wrote this article for our weekly school newsletter.

I hope everyone had a chance to relax and rejuvenate a bit over the break. In addition to  relaxing I tried to catch up on some reading, and  I read a book by Will Richardson entitled Why School.

There has been much chatter over Twitter about this book, and, as a progressive, “out-of-the box” educator, this buzz got my attention and I am certainly glad I was able to find time to read this book. While I may not agree with everything Will Richardson writes, it definitely left an impression on me.  . I would like to share some memorable quotes from the book that are relevant to the  students, teachers and parents of OCA.

“Stephen Downes(a Canadian education researcher) says, “We have to stop thinking of an education as something that is delivered to us and instead see it as something we create for ourselves”

“A recent IBM survey of CEO’s asked them to name the most crucial factors for future success, and their answers had nothing to do with SAT scores or AP tests. Instead they cited creativity and managing the growing complexity of the world”

“In this new narrative, learning ceases to focus on consuming information and knowledge that’s no longer scarce (The author does believe knowing basic facts and the building blocks of reading and writing are critical). Instead it is about asking questions, working with others to find the answers…It’s about developing the kinds of habits and disposition that deep, lifelong learners need to succeed…”

“Tony Wagner recently said. “There’s no competitive advantage to knowing more than the person sitting next to you….What the world cares about is what can you do with what you know…” “And I’d add the world cares that you keep learning”

“ I believe there remains a great deal of value in the idea of school as a placed our kids go to learn with others, inspired by caring adults to pursue mastery and expertise……What doesn’t work is our educations system’s stubborn focus on delivering a curriculum that’s growing increasingly irrelevant and outdated…”

“Remaking assessments starts with this: Stop asking questions on tests that can be answered by a Google search”

“Herbert Gerjuoy predicts that the illiterate of the 21^st Century will not be those that cannot reads and write. The illiterate will be those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

 “We have to stop delivering the curriculum to the kids. We have to start discovering it with them.”

“…The adults in the room need to be learners first and teachers second”

“In the end the “Why school” question comes down to somewhat of a larger one of what we want for our kids….. I ask parents this all the time and not surprisingly the first answer on their lips is not “I want them to be good test takers”. Nor is it “I want them to know a lot of stuff”. What I hear instead are things like this: “I want them to love learning, I want them to be able to solve real problems, and I want them to be independent thinkers”

The ideas and concerns brought up in this book is a conversation that may revolutionize Jewish education, and needs to be discussed openly among our educators and parents. Therefore I would propose that OCA  establish a Parent Action Committee that provides a forum in a constructive manner to discuss new educational and school related issues. More details as to the role of such a committee and appropriate guidelines to follow.

Secondly, it would be fun to model innovative learning to our children.  What better way then by establishing a monthly Parent Book Club – details to follow as well.

Please email me if you are interested in helping establish a monthly book club or a Parent Action Committee

Shabbat Shalom  

Akevy