Dr. Rudy Crew, President
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The New York Times
Friday, February 19, 2010
“Room for Debate” – A Running Commentary on the News
A Welcome New Architecture
Despite all the talk about globalization in our 21st-century world economy, the connections between most high school curricula and the demands facing students in the global economy are woefully inconsistent.
The National Center for Education and the Economy’s two-year program is an admirable effort to provide an honest assessment for students and their parents of their preparation for college and careers. More importantly, this program can boost the relevance of high school during a time in which many believe a high school diploma is meaningless.
One of the biggest gaps in education is the transition from high school to college or career. Whether it’s a student who suffers from “senioritis” or one who lacks motivation, a challenge for any school leader is engaging these students.
In Miami-Dade, I developed the Secondary School Reform initiative which provided greater rigor and relevance and engaged students through a more personalized experience, allowing them to apply their learning in real world settings. The goal was to arm students not only with an academic competency, but with occupational, civic, and personal competencies as well.
All students, especially those at risk of dropping out, were able to identify future careers opportunities and understand the connection to classroom learning. They developed a civic competency reflected in the capacity to participate in a local and global community and in their sense of responsibility to take part. And above all, they developed an understanding of their own capabilities and their value as human beings.
Like the Secondary School Reform initiative, the N.C.E.E. program provides what is needed most — a new architecture. It enhances current programs and gives students the opportunity to expand their horizons. Yet, we must acknowledge that school leaders are faced with a multitude of reform initiatives from which to choose and all reforms are not created equal. There are those that change nothing but the artifacts around us; others that are proclamations meant to inspire more than change.
At the end of the day this is about connecting students to their post-secondary and career dreams. As a nation, we need to create a system of schools whose architecture is no longer aimed at a traditional high school diploma, but focused on multiple exits that can lead down career, military, vocational or collegiate paths. In a globally-connected century, this is what a good education means.
Rudy Crew served as Chancellor of New York City Schools from 1995 to 1999 and Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Schools from 2004 to 2008. He is currently president of Global Partnership Schools and a professor at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.
