"The death of the teenager?"

It is quite an amazing experience when you read reflections of your own passionate views by other people... it's like a beacon of hope! Yes, there is someone else out there who understands completely! Woohoo! Read the article!

This is my favorite part, because if you've read my little rants in "Blather" you'll know this is pretty much exactly what I think:

T Dot, Canada: The only truth I have come to accept after 30 years in education is that the current education system fails many students: the structural model, the curriculum components, and measurements of success conspire against young minds, inducing boredom and alienation, instead of stimulating and engaging them.

However, nothing will change without the participation of larger social forces, specifically the economic forces.

Yes, legislation would be needed and policies amended, but the real impetus should come from the business world in terms of taking responsibility for the development of a skilled labour force. Now there is a significant disconnect and a culture of blame.

In comparison to many other developed nations, Canadian budgets for R & D fall short, and in the long run we will suffer for it.

Instead of expecting highly refined and specific skills to walk in the doorway with new hires, all organizations should have training and internship programs in partnership with educational institution.

Practical application and problem solving demand on-the- spot learning; motivation determines accomplishment, which in terms drives self- esteem (yes - the real thing). Students would have to become accountable in real world terms - to themselves and to others.

Dr. Epstein: I agree completely and recently published a long article in Education Week spelling out my views.

Our current education system was modelled after the factories of the industrial revolution, with young people placed on assembly lines - as if they are all the same, like widgets - and all ready to learn and be molded in preparation for a lifetime of labour. What nonsense!

The assembly line is fine for cars but not for people. The main thing we teach young people in school is to hate learning.

Effective education - as you and all other teachers know - must be personalized and individualized, because people have different learning styles and learn at different rates.

YES! I'm going to have to buy this guy's book. I believe he also wrote a very good article for Scientific American about this issue, which really excited me. Ah... good stuff!

EDIT: Oh wait, you can actually read his Scientific American article from his book's website here.