Educational Innovation (A Call for Submissions)

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The American educational system is in distress. Unlike many smaller nations in the world, whose educational standards continue to rise, America’s numbers in recent years are showing a decline in the number of students graduating from high school, a decline in our national test scores and a decline in certain groups graduation rates from college.

The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress from the U.S. Department of Education show many high school seniors are graduating unable to read at grade level, and one in four cannot read at even the most basic level. In a nation where educational literacy is proving to be, now more than ever a necessary component of our future workforce, declining capacity in reading and math literacy are exactly the opposite of where the nation should be trending.

Our recent Education Special Interest Group discussed ideas on education, its origins, its standards, the nature of teaching and the challenges teachers are experiencing as they challenge the status quo to find new and innovative ways of reaching students and providing them with more than just the fundamentals of educational literacy.

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Parents we want to hear from you: What is your experience with the school system where you live? Do you find it more or less capable than when you were growing up? Do you see a reliance on technology as an improvement, or a crutch failing to improve student’s learning skills in the 21st century? Do you see school budgets as a reason for the challenges your schools are facing or is public policy at the local or national level (programs such as No Child Left Behind) causing your school to fail to innovate?

Teachers – tell us your stories: Do you know any teachers who are doing innovating despite the limits of the school system? Are they lauded or punished for working outside the box? How do you cope with the rising number of students and the ever-decreasing public funding? What are your tips and tricks you might share with teachers across the nation if you had a chance to reveal your secrets?

When you’re ready to submit, click the red box, below.

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Photo credit: Getty Images