2.3

In Skinner (1984), he discusses how American education may be holding back America from achievement and competitiveness on the global scale.  He discussed how research has found promising ways to improve schools through technology; however, the lag time is long and we are not learning from this research in a way to make change.  Skinner also discussed how the punitive system does not work.  Students are punished for not achieving, teachers are punished for students not achieving, and schools are punished when they do not perform.  He make the point that punitive systems and more consequences is not the answer to a crisis in American education.

I believe that Skinner would continue to be ashamed of American education today.  It is frightening how familiar the article sounded given that it was written thirty years ago.  We are still trying to fix American education with consequences.  No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and other recent education initiatives continue to focus on consequences for underachievement.  I was reminded of an episode of Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man from CNN that examines education.  If you have access to Netflix, I encourage you to watch it, it is fascinating.  In the episode, Morgan talks to a principal from a school in Finland about why Finnish schools do not use accountability testing.  His response was simple.  The government trusts teachers.  You only need accountability if there is no trust.

Skinner would likely approve of the School of One approach.  Not only are they integrating technology into teaching, but they are customizing learning for the individual.  Skinner was also a proponent of using science to aid learning, which School of One is doing through their algorithm. 

Below is Skinner's pie chart: