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 21st Century Skills: Education’s New ClichéPosted on Dec 8, 2009
By Mike Rose In all the current talk about school reform, there is one phrase that you will hear in every proposal, whether it comes from the president or the local school board. That phrase is 21st century skills. Provide students with 21st century skills for a 21st century economy. The label is a powerful one, heralding a new era, high-tech and prosperous. But like so much in education reform, an idea that has some merit can quickly get reduced to a cliché. In one document I read, the phrase 21st century skills was repeated 25 times in less than two pages. And once you make your way through the cant, the 21st-century-skills approach has some troubling implications for education. What are these skills? There are a number of definitions and lists, some running up to nine pages. Here’s a summary drawn from the Southern Regional Education Board. Twenty-first century skills include the ability to use a range of electronic technologies to access, synthesize and apply information. The ability to think critically and creatively and evaluate the products of one’s thinking. The ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with others, particularly in diverse and multicultural settings. The range of skills is admirable, as is the intention that they apply to all students—an equity imperative. But what’s new about them? They sound like the skills one would have gotten from a good 20th century education—or from a lot further back than that. You’ll find discussion of evaluating evidence or communicating effectively in Aristotle. The exception would be the emphasis on electronic media, but even here the underlying competencies—evaluating sources, synthesizing information—are good old-fashioned ones. Advertisement The characterization of these skills as new implies that they haven’t been taught before. And this characterization plays into the inaccurate claim—popular in some conservative reform circles—that America’s schools have failed on a grand scale. This dangerous claim keeps us from drawing on what we already do well, and creates a false separation between one educational era and another. The rhetoric of the new plays into our easy dichotomizing of “old is bad / new is good” and our fetish for the next big thing—the examination of which ought to be a 21st century skill. Of broader concern is the philosophy of education embodied in this reform. As extensive as some of the lists of 21st century skills are, there are topics you won’t find: aesthetics, intellectual play, imagination, the pleasure of a subject, wonder. The focus of the lists—even when creativity is mentioned—is overwhelmingly on utility and workplace productivity. The irony is that a rich engagement with the subjects that are central to this skills-based reform—mathematics, science, electronic technology—involves for many young enthusiasts (not to mention experts) these same imaginative and aesthetic qualities. But the utilitarian concentration of the lists on production precludes these less tangible, but intellectually important, aspects of a good education. The 21st-century-skills philosophy of education is an economic one. The primary goal is to create efficient and effective workers. Twenty-first century skills for the 21st century organization man and woman. The economic motive has always figured in the spread of mass education in the United States, but recently it has predominated, edging out all the other reasons we send kids to school: civic, social, ethical, developmental. Even those 21st century skills that do deal with the civic, such as cross-cultural understanding, are expressed in terms of workplace effectiveness. Take, for example, these items drawn from the advocacy group Partnership for 21st Century Skills:
These are worthy, and we certainly could benefit from their spirit of cooperation. But the focus is very much on getting something done in the workplace. There are other important educational and civic goals related to interacting with others of different backgrounds and beliefs. For starters, there is knowledge of cultural practices—of the very notion of culture—along with the appreciation of our common humanity. There might be nothing immediately “leveraged” from such understanding, but it has great civic and personal value. This is a promising time for education. Reform is a priority in a number of states, and the federal government is about to infuse an unprecedented amount of money into the schools. All this is happening at a time of great anxiety about the economy, so a focus on the workplace has understandable appeal. But we need to be careful to not let that anxiety narrow the purpose of education in America, regardless of what century we are in. Mike Rose is on the faculty of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and author of “Why School?: Reclaiming Education for All of Us.” CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
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By Virginia777, December 10, 2009 at 8:12 pm #
I say, lets fund public education as much as it needs to be, this is the hope for our future. Stop with the criticisms of bogus “test score” standards.
I love public education, I support public education.
Report thisBy dihey, December 10, 2009 at 9:55 am #
The only true “skill” which we humans have needed and will continue to need for eons is thinking which cannot be replaced with gadgets. Regrettably many educators place their bets on gadgets and mantras.
Report thisBy Richard, December 10, 2009 at 6:09 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
As someone who works trying to improve learning in schools in Australia the
Report thisargument in this article seems the opposite of the situation I see. The schools I
work with are based on factory norms of conformity, impersonality and mass
organisation. They make very few demands on the learner other than to sit still,
be quiet and copy down the notes or fill in worksheets - stressing low order
thinking skills. There is no attempt to link the material to the action. As such they
ignore developments in pedagogy and brain science about learning. 21st Century
skills are a way of discussing the changes that need to be made to make schools
more credible to student, as well as equipping them with personal skills to be able
to contribute to the community.
The distance of this article from the truth in my field makes me question the
credibility of articles
By Cliff Ferry, December 9, 2009 at 11:48 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Mike Rose’s “21st Century Skills: Education’s New Cliché” is true and fresh.
After “No President Left Behind,” we now have U.S. secretary of education Arnie Duncan’s “Race to the Top,” as if public education is akin to the Olympics, golfer of the year, or the salaries of Wall Street brokers/bankers.
In my book, Mr. Rose joins David Berliner (“The Manufactured Crisis”), Paul Houston (long-time exec director of the National Association of School Superintendents), Richard Allington (“Big Brother and the National Reading Curriculum”), Richard Rothstein (“Class and Schools), and Gerald Bracey (columnist for the “Kappan,” whom, sadly, we recently lost.
On the national scene, we know have a huge push for charter schools (competitive, enterprising, hard-working, bureaucracy-free, independent) up against, get this, a probable national curriculum (common core standards) with national testing to measure achievement on these standards.
Thank you,
Cliff Ferry (Retired h.s. English teacher, college professor, Job Corps administrator, community college administrator and, now, a member of a state board of education.
Report thisBy Ouroborus, December 9, 2009 at 11:31 pm #
Myles, December 9 at 11:31 am #
I’m not an expert, but that seems to make good sense,
that after (ideally) a well-rounded, mandatory public
education one can choose to get some training in a
specific field that related directly to job in his or
her area.
This seems to me different that public school preping
kids to be efficient economic peons.
============================================
It makes sense for corporations. And the only place
Report thisone is going to get a well rounded education is in a
private school. Even the majority of universities no
longer place any intrinsic value on a liberal arts
education. We’re churning out specialists with no
broad grasp of the world around them.
By scotttpot, December 9, 2009 at 5:58 pm #
People would benefit from more art, music ,and culture. Hobbies and interests in
Report thissubjects unrelated to commerce and job training should be taught in schools.
Unless the intention of the government is a nation of Television addicts.Television
addicts are wonderful for a consumer totalitarian system .
By Gordy, December 9, 2009 at 1:32 pm #
To provide a wholesome education would involve a leap
of faith that politicians are incapable of.
Learning is organic, and the benefits learning passes
on to society are organic, and therefore rather
unpredictable. Politicians won’t commit budgets to
anything unless their accountants can demonstrate
that it’s a safe financial bet. Even if the
predictions turn out to be wrong, as they often do,
it allows the politician to shrug and say that he
acted on the best information at the time.
Education should be a kind of rich abundance
Report thisthat can respond to the needs of the individual and
the needs of society. It should be a well, not a
mould for stamping out citizen-castes.
By mandinka, December 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm #
Schools no longer teach reading, writing and or arithmetic. Instead the days are wasted in multiculturalism, black history, sex education, elimination of sports. We are graduating an ever increasing group of pantywaists that are no longer competitive in the world economy
Report thisBy Myles, December 9, 2009 at 11:31 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
“In Oregon, the community college’s curriculum is geared to whatever local industry is near their location. “
Report thisI’m not an expert, but that seems to make good sense, that after (ideally) a well-rounded, mandatory public education one can choose to get some training in a specific field that related directly to job in his or her area.
This seems to me different that public school preping kids to be efficient economic peons.
By liecatcher, December 9, 2009 at 5:11 am #
21st Century Skills: Education’s New Cliché
Posted on Dec 8, 2009 By Mike Rose
If the masses were educated, the brainwashing
Report thisfascists controlling America would have to work
harder to numb & dumb them down.Enough has been said
about the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL CONSPIRACY &
unnecessary perpetual wars. I’m going to use the
MEDICAL INSURANCE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIAL
CONSPIRACY,MIPIC, as a platform to focus on how
ignorance has allowed the majority of America’s
population to become sick & dependent on “medicine”
to stay alive, sleep, eat, stay awake, prevent
gas,eliminate gas,depression,restless leg
syndrome,etc.,etc. One of the most preventable
problems is tooth decay which is unnecessary with the
proper oral hygiene & diet. However, that would limit
profits for those who practice drilling, filling, &
billing, as well as those miscreants selling flouride
for our water & mercury for our teeth.
The entire healthcare hoax has been perpetrated so
easily because the emphasis is on symptom management,
which means perpetual profits for MIPIC, rather than
on health & prevention of “disease”. Treating obese
onset diabetics for diabetes instead of the obesity,
or treating hemorrhoids instead of the constipation
are just two examples.
The Oligarchs have unlimited budgets to market whatever they want to foist onto the uneducated & undereducated unsuspecting masses, while education budgets are being cut & emphasis is placed on sports programs rather health education. The children “left behind” today are easy prey.
The biggest deficit in education is not teaching students how to learn. It’s a memorize “facts” & regurgitate on exams.
By Ouroborus, December 9, 2009 at 12:24 am #
Somewhere around 40 years ago Nader predicted post
Report thisprimary education and the subjects taught would
essentially be controlled or directed by corporations.
For those not able to afford the elite universities,
that would appear to be the case.
In Oregon, the community college’s curriculum is geared
to whatever local industry is near their location.
By DieDaily, December 9, 2009 at 12:09 am #
I think it might be a good idea to REGAIN all of the lost 18th, 19th and 20th century skills. Remember there are no teachers allowed now. They are curriculum delivery agents. If they dare to inspire their students (to form their OWN opinions) then they are sacked forthwith. They system is very sick, and as several commenters point out, their only remaining mandate is to produce dull, docile, uncritical, and fearful workbots. Multicultural environments is code for dividing us up at best. In my ideal world teachers would make more money than any other trade bar none and competition would drive the very best minds into the field. As it stands, the Education Department in your typical university is a safety net that catches fallen students.
Report thisBy Dar, December 8, 2009 at 9:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
“The 21st-century-skills philosophy of education is an economic one. The primary goal is to create efficient and effective workers. Twenty-first century skills for the 21st century organization man and woman.”
That’s Marxism for you.
Everything and everyone reduced to the economy and work-force.
Report thisBy julesb, December 8, 2009 at 5:16 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I agree completely with Mr. Rose. The speech of education reform is often geared towards the needs of corporations and our economic system rather than the needs of individual children as learners. Just today in the New York Times David Brooks, in the context of education reform, refers to students as “human capital.” Such language reduces learners to mere economic inputs, which is no doubt is how he sees them. It focuses on the value of educational outcomes rather the value inherent in the process of learning. Creativity, inquiry, critical thinking, self-motivation, and the cultivation of the individual imagination have no worth outside of economic utility. This fixation solely on educational ends teaches kids that they have have every incentive to cheat, lie, steal as the most efficient means by which to get ahead in school, college, and ultimately business. The journey no longer matters, only the little pot of gold at the end of the corporate rainbow.
Report thisBy NYCartist, December 8, 2009 at 4:10 pm #
Anarcissie:I just found your Dec.3 comment on the tv show in England. (I had the article bookmarked.)
Report thisAm surprised you don’t say whether man or woman, as a “personal characteristic”. My comment about sex with disabled woman (not person) as prevention of AIDS by some men. Rape is about power,not sex. Yes. I just added it to my comment because it seemed to fit.
It’s a subject I have sad familiarity with.
Finally, I like your comment re the article here re advertising.
By Virginia777, December 8, 2009 at 3:27 pm #
actually, Truthdig, please delete the previous comment and just forward Ouroborus’ comment over the the Hedges article.
it says it “all”
Report thisBy Virginia777, December 8, 2009 at 3:24 pm #
to Ouroborus: “Fuck public education”??
F___ you
Report thisBy Ouroborus, December 8, 2009 at 12:40 pm #
Addendum;
Report thisFuck public education! My parents did!
Now, I don’t accept public bullshit!
By Ouroborus, December 8, 2009 at 12:38 pm #
Paul_GA, December 8 at 12:27 pm #
Well; I’d have put it differently;
Teach your children critical thinking in your home
Report thisevery day. Fuck public education!
By John K, December 8, 2009 at 12:27 pm #
Public education was created to teach the masses three things:
1. Adhere to a schedule
2. Perform repetitive tasks
3. Obey a hierarchy
Our public education systems serve the people run them - not the students. The last thing our masters want is a population engaged in critical thinking. So we pretend to be concerned, wringing our hands, effectively keeping the issue of Education in committee forever. If you want to know what education methods work, ask someone who is home schooling their kid. I’m serious.
Report thisBy Paul_GA, December 8, 2009 at 12:27 pm #
I didn’t learn to think really critically until I discovered the Internet in my 41st year; that’s when I changed from a disillusioned former conservative Repub into an independent who tends to vote Libertarian. So if one wishes for one’s children to learn critical thinking, one must inculcate it outside the taxpayer-funded schools; all the State wants them to turn out are reliable mice who do as they’re told when the State orders them around.
Report thisBy Ouroborus, December 8, 2009 at 11:19 am #
By NYCartist, December 8 at 9:30 am #
Report thisCritical thinking as a skill seems to be left out.
=============================================
Yes! And without the ability to think critically; all
is lost.
But then America has moved on from those pesky
subjects; too much thinking isn’t good for a
government that wants conformists who won’t rock the
ship of state and rattle the halls of the Oligarchy.
I live in a country that has never encouraged
critical thinking; in my classes it became an obvious
impediment to imagination and creativity.
America is in a state of regression. We’re way behind
the 60’s (that’s the 1960’s).
By Anarcissie, December 8, 2009 at 10:06 am #
It looks like typical advertising to me, and I imagine to most other people awash in 21st-century propaganda. I think you have to go some as a professional sucker to make more of it than that.
Report thisBy Howie Bledsoe, December 8, 2009 at 9:55 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
“Understand, negotiate and balance diverse views and beliefs to reach workable solutions, particularly in multicultural environments.”
Sounds like the Obama administration could use these 21st century skills in the middle east, no?
:D
Report thisBy NYCartist, December 8, 2009 at 9:30 am #
Critical thinking as a skill seems to be left out.
I think some of the new jargon is wrapped up in the propaganda for privatization, which I vehemently oppose. President Obama’s first education mistake is thinking charter schools for profit is good and appointing Arne Duncan…read Greg Palast on Duncan. http://www.gregpalast.com
DemocracyNow has had some good segments on education, http://www.democracynow.org
Some of the best education/school articles are on http://www.blackagendareport.com Look at the back pages listed on the bottom of the home page. There have been several in recent weeks/months.
Report thisBy bachu, December 8, 2009 at 8:00 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The most important of 21st century skills is copy and paste. This will stand them in good stead at all times.
Report this