Wrong Emphasis

Dr. John Elling Tufte is a professor of education. He has taught and coached at the high school level, worked as a secondary administrator, and now presents and consults with teachers, administrators, and parents about issues facing schools today.

• PrefaceIntroductionPart One: Where We're AtChapter One: The Ugly TruthChapter Two: Cultural ResponsibilityChapter Three: Political RhetoricPart Two: Blaming the ScaleChapter Four: Andrew, 1990sChapter Five: Teachers or Secretaries?Chapter Six: The Unwritten CurriculumPart Three: Great Habits of the Unwritten CurriculumChapter Seven: Age Appropriate Thinking SkillsChapter Eight: Age Appropriate People and Communication SkillsChapter Nine: Timeliness and AttendanceChapter Ten: Work Ethic and DedicationChapter Eleven: Respect, Decency, and HumilityChapter Twelve: Responsibility and TeamworkChapter Thirteen: PerspectiveConclusion:Chapter Fourteen: Autonomy

Dr. John Tufte adds to the increasingly important discussion on how an over-reliance of assessment and “accountability” by policy makers greatly lessens the value of the educational experience. When states like Texas explicitly work to write out critical thinking from the state standards, it is the pocketbooks of big testing companies who will see significant educational gains. An important read for anyone who values an educational system that creates independent and creative thinkers focused on innovation and compassion.