The current national commentary on American education is
split by a major paradox.
On the one hand, nearly all the experts are convinced
that our schools must find a way to effectively and consistently teach the
values and skills of innovation and initiative.
If we fail in this, everyone
seems to agree, the competitiveness of U.S. workers and the economy will
continue to fall behind other nations.
One the other hand, many of the top education
decision-makers seem committed to only making changes when there is a consensus
among educators, parents, experts and administrators.
They adamantly criticize
any who take bold, innovative initiate to improve the situation.
In the meantime,
they wait timidly, albeit noisily, for a consensus which never materializes.
Because of this view, the innovative success of many parents
in home schools, teachers in small private schools and other non-traditional
educational offerings go unnoticed or undervalued by the national press.
The reality is, as Orrin Woodward put it:
"If everyone
agrees with what you're doing, it isn't innovative."
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