Chapter Five - Seth Gilmer

After reading the book Readicide it became apparent that the U.S. educational system needs to re-evaluate how we are doing business. Stuck in the “Paige Paradox” we have created a system that is destroying creative thinking and killing reading. The current way of business was summarized well on page 23 in chapter one when it stated, “Let’s see whether we have this straight: we immerse students in a curriculum that drives the love of reading out of them, prevents them from developing into deeper thinkers, ensures the achievement gap will remain, reduces their college readiness, and guarantees that the result will be that our schools will fail. We have lost our way. It is time to stop the madness.” Chapter five entitled “Ending Readicide” gave some practical advice on things that need to be done in the American educational system. Since the NCLB act became law in 2002 the system has created, “years of drilling and killing, worksheets, and teaching to shallow tests” (pg 112) that has taken away America’s edge. “Historically, there has been much more emphasis in developing creative thinkers in the United States, students who have been frequently encouraged to think outside the box. Our international edge has come from the cultivation of this creativity.” (pg 114) To end readicide we have to take a hard look at the current way of business which is shallow teaching to tests, and get back to instilling “creativity and innovative thinking among our citizens.” (pg 114) We have to emphasize reading and make it enjoyable. America needs to look at Finland’s approach which is, “eliminating standardized testing and emphasizing the importance of reading and critical thinking, by nurturing deeper thinking and creativity, and by leading their students away from the drill-and-kill instructional approach that is currently permeating American schools.” (pg 116) All of the suggestions in the chart on page 117 would be a great starting point for administrators and teachers, but as we understand in this business politics often trump the authentic.