Post to Discussion Board: Excellence and Equity

Due Monday

Stewart (2012) claims that, “Countries that excel in education set ambitious standards for their students” (p. 82). While it is important to set high standards for students, they must be centered on the skills necessary for success in the 21st century. However, the skills that are demanded in the 21st century are changing rapidly. How do we keep up?

Choose one of the following options for your initial discussion board post:

Option One:

Stewart (2012) poses the following question, “What are the skills that students need for an innovation-driven economy, and how do we organize schools to promote them” (p. 143)? He goes on to share that depending on whom is asked:

The list of proposed 21st century educational outcomes may be slightly different, they all include deeper content knowledge and critical thinking skills combined with soft skills as teamwork, collaboration, and communication. Critics object that these skills are not new to the 21st century and have always been part of a good education. (p. 143)

Taking into consideration these statements, and your weekly readings, post a four- to five-paragraph response to the critics. Do you agree or disagree? Defend your opinion.

Option Two:

I’m going to work and do everything that I can do to see that you get a good education. I don’t ever want you to forget that there are millions of God’s children who will not and cannot get a good education and I don’t want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr. (1968)

After reflecting on King’s quote and your weekly readings, post a four- to five-paragraph response to the question: To achieve equity, how might schools be reconfigured to better prepare students for success in the 21st century?

Support your statements with evidence from the Required Studies and your research. Cite and reference your sources in APA style.

Click here for information on course rubrics.

References

King Jr., M. L. (1968, January). Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968. Retrieved from http://www.ufppc.org/quotations-mainmenu-39/122-ma…

Stewart, V. (2012). A world-class education: Learning from international models of excellence and innovation. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.