Skills vs Content - No Contest

I was motivated to write this post by a student. She is a student I have never met, but many Americans have come to know in the past weeks. Her name is Emma Gonzalez and she is a charismatic student who recently survived the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School in Florida. In her impassioned plea to those in leadership positions in her state and country, Gonzalez put on display the multi-layered skill set that she possesses and that was nurtured and built upon by the amazing educators in her life.

She did not stand in front of that (HUGE) crowd and recite the first ten amendments and pat herself on her back for her amazing memory. She did not regurgitate the facts that her Government teacher had taught her about the balance of power or checks and balances, though she clearly has learned them. Rather, Gonzalez came as close as we could need in education to adding a new layer to Bloom’s Taxonomy. She transcended the skills and information she has learned as a student in our public school system.

She moved me. She moved many Americans, on both side of the issues to which she spoke. In a Country seemingly too distracted to be bothered to gather real information, synthesize it for themselves, develop opinions, and act, Gonzalez sounded a wake up call. She, and many of her classmates, made a mockery of those who generalize that this millennial generation are self serving, egocentric, and devoid of real thought. They applied all that they have been taught to the situation in front of them and showed the United States a glimpse of its future - and it is strong but troubled.

As school leaders, both administrators and teachers, we need to be emboldened or finally convinced, that these are the skills our kids need. These are the kinds of students we need to turn loose on the World. The skills based curriculum of CCSS, NGSS, C3, ACTFL and more are still pitted against a traditional content driven curriculum in many Secondary settings. The pendulum needs to swing in full measure and soon. There are many who need to take on the responsibility of ensuring that our public education system enables and empowers students to take on new and unforeseen tasks and issues and feel equipped and ready to tackle them.

School administrators need to get into those classrooms. We need to highlight the lessons and experiences our students are having that lead them to be independent thinkers and doers. School administrators need to have the tough conversations with teachers still leading classrooms focused on docile learners being enlightened by all the teacher knows or can do. Students need opportunities to explore and expand their capabilities while learning critical content. If put in a situation like Emma Gonzalez was, students who do not have the opportunities to explore their talents and develop these human skills will not know what to do with that microphone. We need more and more kids who can.

In my district we just rewrote our mission statement; however; that was not the original task. The original task was to develop a profile of a graduate from our district. Out of that work came the realization that that was, indeed, our mission. The Board of Education agreed. The profile of our graduate does not simply include a credit in Consumer Management, but we do strive to build awareness. The mission does not note the minimum requirements in Fine Arts or World Languages, but we do strive to have students think globally. These are just a couple of examples of how our new mission is intent on developing kids and not just teaching kids.

Now we have to set out to work with our teachers to live this mission. We have to seek out candidates who believe in this mission. We have to present at national conferences and to teacher prep programs so that we have shared this vision with others who can assist us in this process.

My mind goes back to Emma Gonzalez. My guess is that in May she will sit for the AP Government Exam and maybe take a final exam in her high school government class. All I can think is, please, if this kid has not, by engaging in this public dialogue, opted into the greatest assessment of her life that cuts across the curriculum and showcases her knowledge, skills, work ethic, and passion - then nobody has. I am inspired by this student and not because I agree or disagree with her positions, but because I know that behind her is a line of educators, family, and community members that, through tears, know that they’ve done great work here.