Taylor's method in Education

The school system is quite simple

— especially since you've already seen Taylor's production method.

The problem

How to get students to learn at the same pace?

— so, just like Model T cars, they're ready to start (the next school year).

Steps

  1. Design the curriculum — same step as designing the Model T car.

    (Curriculum is provided by each state.)

  2. Central Planning plans
    • Plans a schedule of learning tasks for each subject and grade.
    • Designs mid-year inspections (tests).
A fixed schedule of lessons runs left to right, with a mid-year test inserted as a checkpoint.
A fixed schedule of lessons — with tests inserted as checkpoints.

3. Supervisors — teachers.

Teachers have two jobs:

  1. Teach lessons; and,
  2. Above all, make sure students follow the schedule — next lesson, no matter what — ready or not, behind or not, discouraged or not.
A teacher has two jobs: teach lessons, and make sure students follow the schedule.
The teacher's two jobs: teach lessons, and keep students on the schedule.

The stakes

If students learn following the schedule, then they will be ready for the next lessons.

But if students don't learn the lessons, they are likely to fall more behind.

Does the system succeed?

The nation's own report card — the National Assessment of Educational Progress — says no.

  • In 2024, about 40% of 4th graders scored below Basic in reading — the largest share since 2002.
  • Roughly one-third of 8th graders scored below Basic in reading — the largest share ever recorded.
  • In math, 39% of 8th graders and 45% of 12th graders could not reach even the Basic level.

Source: The Nation's Report Card (NAEP), 2024, National Assessment Governing Board.

This system cannot be made to work, so that all students learn at the same pace — because, unlike Model T cars, students are all different.

A call to action

“Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets.”

— a maxim often attributed to W. Edwards Deming

There is another system choice. The Lead Out Method →