Individuality, Family, And Community Are, By Definition,

We Could Encourage The Best Qualities Of Youthfulness - Curiosity, Adventure, Resilience, The Capacity For Surprising Insight Simply By Being More Flexible About Time, Texts, And Tests, By Introducing Kids Into Truly Competent Adults, And By Giving Each Student What Autonomy He Or She Needs In Order To Take A Risk Every Now And Then. But We Don't Do That.

I've Noticed A Fascinating Phenomenon In My Twenty-five Years Of Teaching - That Schools And Schooling Are Increasingly Irrelevant To The Great Enterprises Of The Planet. No One Believes Anymore That Scientists Are Trained In Science Classes Or Politicians In Civics Classes Or Poets In English Classes. The Truth Is That Schools Don't Really Teach Anything Except How To Obey Orders.

Our Cultural Dilemma Has Nothing To Do With Children Who Don't Read Very Well. It Lies Instead In The Difficulty Of Finding A Way To Restore Meaning And Purpose To Modern Life.

• As Society Rapidly Changes, Individuals Will Have To Be Able To Function Comfortably In A World That Is Always In Flux. Knowledge Will Continue To Increase At A Dizzying Rate. This Means That A Content-based Curriculum, With A Set Body Of Information To Be Imparted To Students, Is Entirely Inappropriate As A Means Of Preparing Children For Their Adult Roles.

Curiosity Has No Important Place In My Work, Only Conformity.