WRONG PROBLEM
How to get THE-MANY students to learn at the SAME PACE?
We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem.
Russell L. Ackoff, Redesigning the future, 1974
Because it is trying to solve the WRONG PROBLEM
today's school district
CANNOT get the TWO RESULTS we all want.
The TWO RESULTS we all want:
1. EDUCATED
Ready for REAL-LIFE independence.
2. LEARNED
Mastered the official curriculum.
How SCHOOL DISTRICTS are managed today.
Video: 3 minutes, 44 seconds
- Why scientific breakthroughs are required.
- Results have been static for decades.
- Exactly how SCHOOL DISTRICTS are managed today.
Today's school district makes it impossible for all students to learn.
How?
By attempting to solve this IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM:
How to get UNIQUE students to learn at the SAME PACE?
Until now, this was the best problem to solve.
How today's school district functions.
There is a classroom, a teacher.
The teacher TEACHES a lesson; MOVES ON to subsequent lessons.
That does NOT mean ALL students have learned the previous lessons.
Some are READY and do learn. Some are AHEAD. Those BEHIND tend to fall more and more behind.
There is a test every once in a while.
After the test, NEXT LESSON, ready or not, behind or not, discouraged or not.
Central planning
Ahead of time, a central planning department designs the teaching schedule for each subject and each grade along with the mid-year tests.
LOOK FAMILIAR?
Attempting to solve the WRONG PROBLEM
makes it impossible to achieve
the TWO RESULTS we all want.
1. EDUCATED: Ready for real-life independence.
Today's school district prevents students from practicing "growing up", from practicing the use of more and more autonomy. Students are controlled, told what and when to learn.
Without practice using naturally emerging independence, it is no surprise too many students leave high school unready for real-life independence.
2. LEARNED: Mastered the official curriculum.
It is impossible to solve this problem: How to get UNIQUE students to learn at the SAME PACE?
This has not been solved — is not being solved — can never be solved.
Students are ALL DIFFERENT.
The NATURE of the ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
Don't start with a solution!
First, identify the RIGHT PROBLEM.
WHAT PROBLEM if addressed would get the RESULTS we want?
Answer that, and only then start developing a solution.