The real issue at hand today is that the educational system
continues to use the one size fits all for their approach to learning. What
happens when you are someone that has anxiety attacks when you take any type of
test? I have memories of friends that had to give presentations for both
entry-level classes to defending their doctoral dissertation that would break
out in hives because of their nervous tension. The difficult reality today is
that a person who is very qualified for a position can be passed over because
they don’t fit into the one-size fits all categories.
One of the determining factors in someone being able to
succeed in life is their ability to read and write! Yes, this is rather old
fashion but the truth is that communication skills determine where you can go
in life! I have a few friends who are functional illiterates that are not
capable of filling out an online application for neither work nor pass a
written driving exam to get their license. The sad fact is that these are all
great people both teens, adult and seniors. What has to happen for our approach
to learning to shift from the standardized model to a more multi-faceted model
that gives more opportunities for individuals who struggle with being able to
sit still for more than fifteen minutes at a time or needs someone to read the
test to them to better understand it?
It’s a fascinating study to see that most of the movers and
shakers in the scientific arena would have failed miserably if they had stayed
in the typical college or grad school setting. Imagine what would have happened
if the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerburgs of the world had been forced
to stay in school, get their degrees and be ‘beaten up’ for thinking outside
the box? I wouldn’t be using my 12-inch MacBook to write this post.
One of the more fascinating professors I had in grad school
purposely taught outside the box. His goal wasn’t to strive for a test grade
but for a working understanding of philosophy and religious studies. He was a
firm believer that too often tests don’t really show the working competence
level of most. He taught us how to think critically and how to express that
critical thinking in verbal and written form. Most of our tests were a
discussion in a small group. His passion was to teach us how to think, interact
with others and then be able to write. What’s amazing was that this was in the
early 80’s before computers; power point, the Internet and social media
existed.
So is it possible that sometimes an F could be an A and an A
could be an F? What happened to the merging of both brain smarts and also
common sense smarts? I have always been fascinated to watch someone that hasn’t
graduated from High School tear apart my car engine and resurrect it from the
dead. If my friend were asked to write down everything he did it would be in
broken English without much grammar. Yet, my engine didn’t need a grammatically
gifted spokesperson but a hands on type that wasn’t afraid to fail in order to
learn.
What happens when your family that has multiple kids all
have different aptitudes and learning curves? Do you force all of them to fit
into your box or do you become creative and allow each kid to learn in his or
her own context at their own speed? Fortunately today there are more options
with different types of schools that range from STEM, culinary, mechanics, art
and literature. I’m thrilled that job
corps are now nation wide to help those that are great at doing hands on type
of work but would struggle or fail in the traditional school setting.
I have to admit that I too often push for people to fit into
by box or way of thinking and slowly have come to the awareness that what makes
life so exciting, different and meaningful is the fact that we’re all
different!
I’m so glad that one size doesn’t fit everyone!!
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