Ken Kay Discussion: Every Student Deserves World Class Knowledge and World Class Skills

[IAmSmokingDank]

THESE PEOPLE ARE LIARS AND MONEY HUNGRY DOUCHEBAGS. DO NOT TRUST WHAT THEY SAY. FOR MORE INFO ON THIS LYING SCUMBAG PLEASE TYPE IN "Fornits WWASP" on google, they run this abusive program known as World Wide Association of Specialty Programs, a program that is infamous for brainwashing parents into wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars.They hide behind a label while stuffing their pockets with your hard earned money. They care more about your money than they do the welfare of your children.

[maestrolaw]

Good sales pitch but adopted statements by legislatures or governors do not translate into classroom practice. Comments on Iowa seemed inaccurate. Benchmarks and standards are already in place and to add nebulous additional activities into the mix stretches the resources and time of teachers beyond reason. Where are the ARTS!!!??? also, why is Massachusetts fighting so hard against your proposals?

[ThomasVizza]

Can you direct me to more info on how Mass is fighting against these proposals? What particular proposals? Who in Mass particularly?

[dbw8m]

I don't think anyone is arguing about "skills vs. content." Everyone agrees that both are important. The argument is about whether the Partnership for 21st Century Skills offers a credible plan to deliver both. I encourage viewers to read the documents on the Partnership's website and read the criticism at Common Core website (and elsewhere) and see what you think.

[RPondiscio]

It's easy to say "world class content" and "world class skills" but if you look at the examples of what P21 proposes teachers do in the classroom, you see a lot of activities driven by creating things like movie trailers and commercial jingles, even claymation movies that demand only a superficial relationship with the subject matter. Activities that don't deepen understanding will not build the skills Mr. Kay wants our children to have.

[Aesshen]

Thanks, Ken, for shedding light on the false choice between content and skills. The separation between them was never real, but recent accountability demands have inadvertently at times prioritized content over critical thinking, creativity, self-directed learning, and the social and emotional development of young people. I appreciate your reminding us all of the indissoluble link between these essential strands of education.

[dfranken6]

Ken

Thank you for answering the recent questions and clarifying the marriage between content and 21st century skills. Unfortunately, you failed to include the ARTS in your discussion of the content areas as you outlined in your original document. Quality arts education programs embedded more of the 21st century skills than any other discipline long before you named them. You mentioned a conversation with science educators. May I suggest one with arts educators?  Arts programs are being cut!