Dear Mr. Hirsch,
I am a ten-year teacher who has recently read some of your writings. I was interested in them because I agree with some of the major goals that your Cultural Literacy movement is attempting to achieve. For example I, too, believe that acculturation, defined as the process of conditioning a child to the patterns of a culture, should be pursued as a key goal of education. The creation of better citizens is another objective that needs to be at the center of the curriculum in our schools. And who can disagree with the helping of the disadvantaged? It is an end that all decent educators should be for.
However, it is your prescription for the achievement of these laudable goals that I have some concern with. I cannot accept the premise that the pursuit of Cultural Literacy is the answer if Cultural Literacy predominately means the accumulation of a wide collection of specific, immovable facts. My own experience, as well as studies, show that that is hardly the most effective approach to learning. True learning occurs when it has meaning and relevance to the learner, and meaning and relevance are more liable to develop out of deep coverage of material rather than the shallow memorization of a vast amount of information.
While I believe that Cultural Literacy, which was intended as a remedy for success, has been an ineffective strategy for the improvement of America’s system of education in the past, it could be a recipe for failure in the future if it is adapted in the world of today. The forces of globalization have created a rapidly-changing world in which our children find themselves thrown into the competition of the global marketplace. Full-scale application of Cultural Literacy now may be a prescription for contributing to the decline of our American way of life. That is, major ingredients involved in the success of America have been creativity and innovation: we were the first in heavier-than-air flight, the first to walk on the moon, just to name a few examples. What has been the source of the supply of innovators in our country? I strongly believe it to be the classrooms that encourage critical-thinking, innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
If we go down the road that you advocate, we will become more like other nations that excel in rote learners, but have a deficit when it comes to flexible thinking. With everything else moving offshore, creativity is one resource we cannot afford to loose.
I know you have modified your views in recent years. Please look around at the world as it is today and consider moving more rapidly and further toward education that promotes innovation. It is our only hope.
Sincerely,
Norbert Herold
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3 comments:
Thank you for your insight, Mr. Herold. I have been taking into account this interest in the 'flattening' of our global society, and slightly revising my work in accordance. I do, however, believe that because anyone can work anywhere at anytime, it is even more essential for American students to have a core body of knowledge by which they literate. Because students in other countries can achieve the same educational excellence as those here at home, it is imperative that our students are held to high standards, tested for mastery, and retain the information they need to know in order to succeed.
I like how you talked about that learning is effective when it has meaning to the student. When a lesson is relevant to a student is when they are going to remember it.
Dear Mr. Herold,
I am glad to see that you are able to understand my concepts of acculturation and the economically disadvantaged. This group particularly need someone to speak for them and to get them the resources they need. Everyone is entitled to a high level of education. This a great reason for setting standards and expectations for our students.
The means to obtaining these educated students require our students to learn the concepts through repetition. This will ingrain the concepts that they will need in order to be successful. If they memorize and learn through repetition then we will not waste valuable time on reviewing what they already know. Our schools spend too much time on review and not enough time on new concepts. This is why our teachers feel overwhelmed getting through their curriculum.
I appreciate your comments. Hope that I was able to clarify some points for you.
Sincerely,
E.D. Hirsch
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