Anchored by the Classic Learning Test The Deeper Purpose of Learning | Robert Pondiscio
Dec 19, 2024
Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and K-12 education expert, dives into the deeper purpose of education. He challenges the notion of 'teaching how to think,' emphasizing that thinking skills are domain-specific and rely heavily on background knowledge. Pondiscio advocates for the importance of literacy and classical education, which fosters a richer understanding of what it means to be human. He also highlights how education should focus on citizenship rather than just job preparation, making it an essential conversation about the future of learning.
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Schooling Choices Are Reshaping Education
- The relationship between families and schools is shifting rapidly from neighborhood zoning to many choice options.
- Robert Pondiscio predicts up to half of American kids may attend non-zoned schools by the decade's end.
Teaching in the South Bronx Shaped His Mission
- Robert draws directly on his South Bronx teaching experience to shape his education priorities.
- He says his core mission remains making the system work more fairly for low-income kids of color.
Thinking Skills Depend On Knowledge
- Generic skills like 'how to think' are domain-specific and require background knowledge.
- Pondiscio emphasizes you cannot teach all-purpose critical thinking without filling students' heads with knowledge.