Meaningful Learning
The topic from the reading that I agree with the most is the idea that the education system for K-12 is set up to teach kids how to take the standardized tests and what material will be on those tests which in turn limits students' ability to work with their fellow students. This form of single form teaching that the United States has so readily adopted to keep government funding has led to a whole generation of students graduating from high school with having learned nothing that truly applies to their lives. By making the whole education system about the individual students scores on the standardized tests that seem to keep increasing in length and frequency for the young scholars of this country we are robbing their young minds of the creativity and meaningful learning that can take place both in group settings and when a child is allowed to find topics that they want to learn about and have the chance to explore and find information and knowledge out for themselves about a topic that applies to their lives. When a child is able to learn about things that interest them and a teacher has the freedom in their curriculum to teach those topics and connect other topics to the selected topic it leads to much more meaningful learning as well as fostering a deep desire in the student to continue searching for information and different ways to link it to their lives.
I agree that our school systems are teaching our K-12 students simply for the purpose of passing a standardized test or meeting Adequate Yearly Progress standards that have been set. I too think that education should be more geared toward a child's intrinsic learning styles and what interests them the most. It is sad that the education system is so structured that teachers have little freedom to teach things that the children would find interesting, rather than just teaching them what will be on their next test.
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