Carol Kannisto:Chapter One

I totally agree that there is an over emphasis on teaching reading to prepare students for state-mandated testing. Students do have to read all sorts of subjects and books that are of little interest to them. Then we are forced to make them memorize all sorts of facts in order to pass the state tests. This obviously does not allow much time for evaluation, analization or comprehension. I think one of the biggest challenges for our seniors will be analizing information and actually thinking. Most of them want to memorize and regurgitate facts because that is what we have taught them over their school careers. This leaves them totally unprepared for a world where the ability to think and solve problems is a necessity for getting and keeping a job. Off-shoring and outsourcing have taken so many of the jobs that require simple memorization. This means that domestic jobs will require students who can analize and think "outside the box". We are not doing a very good job of preparing them for this.