The No Child Left Behind law is in limbo and, with a divided Congress, has little chance for a modified change, although national standards are being written whereby nationwide pupils would ultimately have tests to take to ascertain progress.
NCLB within each state tested only on reading and arithmetic (mathematics), which makes for a very limited curriculum. Science was added one year ago.
Rewritten standards must include social studies, physical education, art and music.
A broadly educated person, to function more fully in school and in society, needs to experience a well-rounded curriculum. This assists in identifying talents and abilities possessed by individual learners.
With multiple talents theory, scores of pupils are not represented by a single numeral but represent areas of the curriculum where pupils are strong such as in human relations and drama, as well as those academic areas mentioned above. Thus, a human being is too complex to be placed into one 10 score.
The question arises, for example, “if a pupil is gifted in music, what kinds of assistance does the school provide?”
When I was in the seventh grade, I started playing the baritone horn in the school band and still play it today.
Music has become an avocation and provides joy and relaxation in one’s spare time.
In my experiences as university supervisor of student teachers, I have noticed pupils who truly excelled in the fine arts and have wondered what happened to these talents as the school years went by.
Talents must not be wasted or minimized, they must be developed to fruition.
In my published writing, “Learning Activities Across the Curriculum” (College Student Journal, December 2007 issue), I discuss talents that can be possessed by pupils and how public schools must nurture them with:
• high-quality instruction
• interesting experiences
• purposeful learning whereby pupils understand what is taught and guide them to perceive reasons for learning.
The total pupil must be provided for, as well as provision made for individual differences in the school setting.
— Dr. Marlow Ediger,
professor emeritus,
North Newton,
