They require a new approach. We must focus our education system on the fundamentals of organizational effectiveness. Fundamentals like high standards Fundamentals like annual assessment for results Fundamentals like accountability for results Fundamentals like flexibility and local controls, and Fundamentals like expanded parental choice These are fundamentals that work for businesses and individuals. Setting high standards is the first step. When we expect more from our children, we will get more.
Children know when they are being sold short.
We can't help our children by asking less of them, but we can help them by expecting more. Setting standards is important, but it does us no good if we aren't making sure that our kids are meeting them. Some people are frightened of the word 'test,' but testing can be a powerful and effective tool for teachers. Tests that are aligned with standards, objectives, and curriculum are our best tool for identifying where students and schools are succeeding. Tests are also the best way for us to identify failing schools and failing students.