Teaching for Mastery, Not Test Scores

I find it disheartening to hear students tell me that they hate school or that their classes are boring.  It seems that education in America has moved away from teaching content with teachers who have a passion for the subjects that they teach.  When excellent teachers are forced to teach a prescribed volume of concepts from pre-approved textbooks within very specific parameters, these excellent teachers often become disenchanted as they go through the motions to deliver the material.  I’m talking about AP classes, again – sorry! 

When students have to memorize facts and master a certain writing style in order to receive high scores at the end of the school year, it kills curiosity and mastery.  Because of time constraints and required AP courses, students no longer learn how to write research papers.  ARGH! By writing comprehensive research papers, the students delve deep into a subject that they’re interested in and become utmost experts on the topics by the time they’re done crafting their many drafts.  They also learn how to decipher valuable references from unsubstantiated junk by reading volumes of reference books and articles. 

In this era where just about anything can be found instantaneously, it’s vital that students have the opportunity to actually delve deep into subjects.  It seems many young people get their news from Twitter and Facebook, which makes them the Jack of all Trades, Master of None.  So rather than focus on pre-set curriculum to pass pre-determined year-end exams, I’d like to see students given the opportunity to master skills and become experts in something.  I blogged about how top colleges have announced that they are looking for students who follow their passions and that they will no longer place value on taking 15 AP classes.

Let’s get our youth to do some introspection to find their unique gifts.  If we give them the time to explore and engage in interesting subject matter instead of brainwashing them with memorizing facts, we’ll see a new generation of students who will change the world.