Prepare Our Kids for Life, Not Standardized Tests | Ted Dintersmith | TEDxFargo

Summary

The speaker recounts their journey from passive parent to education reform advocate, sparked by a school's ineffective life skills session. They critique the outdated, test-driven education system, originally designed for a manufacturing era, as ill-suited for today's innovation economy. Despite this, they find hope in innovative schools that foster creativity and critical thinking. The speaker's mission is to spread this vision through a documentary, 'Most Likely to Succeed,' urging a shift from standardized testing to an education focused on inspiration, engagement, and life preparation.

Takeaways

• 📧 The speaker's journey began with an intriguing email from their children's school about teaching important life skills.
• 🤔 The speaker pondered over what schools should be teaching children to prepare them for life, beyond just academic grades.
• 📋 They made a list of skills and traits they believe are essential for life, such as problem-solving, communication, and perseverance.
• 🏫 The school session turned out to be a monthly presentation by gym teachers focusing on deterrence through graphic content, which left the speaker unsatisfied.
• 📉 The speaker analyzed their children's education and found a stark contrast between school activities and real-life skills.
• 🚫 The realization that schools were teaching irrelevant skills led to a deeper concern about the future employability of students.
• 🌐 The speaker's background in innovation highlighted the rapid changes in the job market and the need for a new educational model.
• 🏭 Historical context was provided to understand how the current school system was designed for a manufacturing era, not the innovation era.
• 📉 The 1983 'A Nation at Risk' report indicated a failing education system that was outdated and not preparing students adequately.
• 🎥 The speaker's solution was to create a documentary showcasing innovative schools that prepare students for real life, not just standardized tests.
• 🌟 The film 'Most Likely to Succeed' aims to inspire change by showing what schools can be and should be doing to educate students for the future.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to attend the school session about teaching life skills to children?

The speaker was intrigued by the vague and concise message from the school about teaching children important life skills. This lack of detail led the speaker to wonder what specific skills would be taught, prompting attendance.

What kind of life skills did the speaker believe schools should focus on?

The speaker thought schools should focus on skills like inventive problem-solving, communication, teamwork, determination, perseverance, resourcefulness, and characteristics such as boldness, appreciating wonder, setting goals, and learning how to learn.

Why was the speaker dissatisfied after attending the session at the school?

The speaker was dissatisfied because the session only focused on 45-minute monthly presentations led by gym teachers, using scare tactics like showing gruesome videos to discourage behaviors like smoking. The approach seemed superficial and ineffective for developing meaningful life skills.

What realization did the speaker come to after reflecting on their children's education?

The speaker realized that the focus had always been on grades and homework, but not on how the content related to real life. After dividing tasks into columns of 'relevant to life' and 'irrelevant,' the speaker found that much of what was taught in school was irrelevant or even harmful to a child's future.

What concerns did the speaker have about the traditional education system's impact on children's future prospects?

The speaker was concerned that the traditional education system, which focused on following instructions and routine tasks, would leave children unprepared for an innovation-driven economy. This could result in mass unemployment or marginalization.

How does the speaker view the characteristics of young children, and why are they important in today's world?

The speaker sees young children as naturally inquisitive, bold, creative, and comfortable with risk and failure. These traits are crucial for success in today's rapidly changing, innovation-driven world, and the speaker believes that preserving these traits is essential for future success.

What historical context does the speaker provide about the design of the current education system?

The speaker explains that the current education system was designed around 1893 to prepare children for a manufacturing-based economy, where efficiency, routine, and error-free execution were prioritized over creativity and innovation. This system was highly effective for its time but is now outdated.

What was the response of policymakers and education reformers in the 1980s to the failing education model?

In response to the failing education model highlighted by the 1983 report 'A Nation at Risk,' policymakers doubled down on the existing system, increasing testing and measurements instead of rethinking the model to fit a world transitioning from manufacturing to innovation.

Why is the speaker not discouraged by the current state of education, despite its shortcomings?

The speaker remains hopeful because there are innovative schools that successfully prepare students for life through authentic engagement and creativity. These schools offer a glimpse of what education could look like if reformed more widely.

What action did the speaker take to spread awareness about innovative education practices?

The speaker funded and supported the creation of a documentary called 'Most Likely to Succeed,' which showcases schools that align education with real-life preparation. The film has been screened at film festivals and education conferences, aiming to inspire change in communities across the U.S.