The Future of Education

This week I attended an event called "The Future of Education" at my son's school.

I have long been concerned about the emphasis on standardized testing in my kid's educational experiences. My son is in the 9th grade, and I fear that every decision he makes—what classes to take, what extra curriculars to pursue, what clubs to join—is driven by the looming college application process, which he witnessed his older brother go through.

The kids are getting a mixed message. Be diverse! Show you are multi-talented! Get straight A's! Be a leader! Give back to your community! Play an instrument! Letter in a sport! Do interesting and unique summer programs!

At the same time they are told to stand out by "following their passion." Find the one thing that is their personal genius and will make them flag the attention of the bleary eyed 20-something recently hired admission officer, who is working at 2 am in a mobile office that has been added to the campus in order to help process the 30,000 applications that they have received that year.

How can kids have the broadest resume possible AND be defined by a single unique passion. And more importantly, how can they learn the deep and reflective thinking that will truly teach them to think on a higher order if they are always cramming to perform well on the same multiple choice test that a million and a half other kids are taking simultaneously?