Response to Michael's Thoughts

I don't think your "verbiage" is at all out of line. I think it is the kind of provocative projective thinking that will cause all of us to examine the expectations we may have and posit in our '"recommendations" in this plan.

I certainly agree that a transformation in our thinking about education as it morphs into the future is in order. Laura has brought to our attention the more ubiquitous nature of cyber learning in the educational sphere; which, by the way, is not restricted to the buildings we call schools. We must embrace cyberlearning as part of our transformed curriculum at North. As Tom Friedman has pointed out, the walls, ceilings and floors of schools are going away. Any person, any where, at any time can now take any course in the M.I.T. course curriculum on line. Talk about your "flat earth". Daniel Pink, in his book, "A Whole New Mind, Why Right-brainers Will Rule the Future", talks of the Agricultural Age (farmers), the Industrial Age (factory workers0, the Information Age (knowledge workers) and the Conceptual Age (creators and empathizers). He calls it High Concept, High Touch. He points out that graphic designers have increased ten fold in a decade and that they outnumber chemical engineers by four to one. He sees required aptitudes to be ingenuity, rapport and gut instinct. Are these aptitudes in any way fostered in to today's schools? He argues that we need to compliment our left brain directed reasoning by mastering six right brain directed aptitudes.

1. Not just function but also DESIGN
2. Not just argument but also STORY
3. Not just focus but also SYMPHONY
4. Not just logic but also EMPATHY
5. Not just seriousness but also PLAY
6. Not just accumulation but also MEANING

Note the article by Ian Jukes and Ted McCain, "Living on the Future Edge". It's a great read and further amplifies Michael's observations

I like your reference to team sports as a means of learning to be collaborative. Much of what is inherent in what we have been calling '21st century skills" fosters collaboration.

Fortes in Fide