The Hidden Agenda Behind 21st Century Learning
From Psychology Today:
The Hidden Agenda Behind 21st Century Learning
Public-private partnership is strangling our education system.
Victoria L. Dunckley M.D.
Sep 30, 2015
Excerpt
How has our public education system gotten so off track?
High-stakes testing, obsessive data collection, and lofty promises of technology”s potential to “revolutionize” education are contributing to ever-increasing amounts of school-based screen-time. The invasion is occuring with complete disregard for what it taking away from in terms of basic developmental needs, as well as for screentime’s negative influence on nervous system health. Health and development risks aside, research suggests computer use in schools drags down test scores (link is external).
Why collect copious amounts of data if the process of data collection itself negatively impacts student performance? Or the ability to acquire real-life skills? Not surprisingly, when education policies are ineffective and impractical but continue to move forward like a freight train, what”s typically greasing the wheels is–you guessed it–money.
This month’s post is by Tara Ehrcke (link is external), a high school math teacher and public education advocate in British Columbia. I highly recommend reading the more complete article found here (link is external), as Ms Ehrcke manages to paint a disturbing but clear picture of the complex public-private relationship that”s placing a stranglehold on public education in the US and Canada. Below are snippets of her insightful commentary:
Read the full article with links here
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