The Future of K-12 Education
Project Manager:
This discussion guide invites us to explore the nature of K-12 education and learning by asking a number of key, foundational questions, including–
- What do we want education to achieve for individuals? And for society? Life skills, job skills and economic opportunities for individuals, economic growth & development for society, support and encourage morality/ethics, support democracy and good citizenship? And which of these might be most important and why?
- What skills or content knowledge should education focus on? Academic skills, creativity, discipline/maturity, learning to learn?
- What factors contribute most to achieving these goals and learning these skills and content? Parents/family, peers, teachers, individual genetics, funding, broader societal setting, school organization, teaching methods, etc.?
- How might public policy be used to affect positively these contributing factors?
- Who and how should we govern and administer K-12 education? Experts, parents, teachers, local, state, federal, citizens generally, etc.?
In response to these and other questions, thls discussion guide also offers five different paths, or policy possibilities, for our further discussion and exploration.
The five policy possibilities in this discussion guide:
- Back to Basics
- Aim Higher to Compete
- Coordinate Education Policy with Anti-Poverty Policy
- Free Individuals
- Real Public Education
Other Documents:
Download the 10-page “Short Version” of The Future of K-12 Education discussion guide (Sept. 2016).
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