E-School News – Thomas E. Perez and Arne Duncan
“If you have school-age children like we do, you’ve probably heard the following question after a particularly challenging homework assignment or classroom project: When am I going to use this in the real world? Every parent understands that what kids learn in the classroom will help them in later life. But sometimes it’s hard — even for us as the nation’s secretaries of labor and education — to explain how abstract concepts relate to practical applications. Why? For one thing, we have a 21st century economy, but much of our K-12 education system remains stuck in the 20th century. What kids learn at school isn’t always aligned with the skills they’ll need as adult professionals.”(more)