BRUNSWICK SCHOOL
OCTOBER 2012
MONTHLY MAILING Creating Innovators For a summer assignment, I had the faculty read the new book by Harvard educator Tony Wagner entitled Creating Innovators. Tony also met with our faculty a few weeks ago at opening faculty meetings. Tony made a comment that I keep replaying in my mind: he said, “Today, knowledge is ubiquitous, constantly changing and growing exponentially . . . today, knowledge is free. It’s like air, it’s like water. It’s become a commodity . . . there’s no competitive advantage today in knowing more than the person next to you. The world doesn’t care what you know. What the world cares about is what you can do with what you know.” To that end, the seven skills he thinks Americans need to stay competitive in a global economy are: ‐ critical thinking/problem solving ‐ collaboration ‐ adaptability and agility ‐ innovation and risk-taking ‐ accessing and analytical skills ‐ effective written/oral communication ‐ curiosity and imagination If you agree with Tony Wagner, then you have to conclude that the United States’ education system needs some immediate reworking. Some problems as things now stand: ‐ many schools tend to emphasize individual achievement whereas true innovation is a “team sport” ‐ disciplines are over-specialized and compartmentalized; our students need to be able to link disciplines and cross subject boundaries ‐ Students are too risk-averse; we penalize mistakes, but without failure there is no innovation ‐ Learning has become too passive; our students learn to consume not to create ‐ Many schools deal too much with carrots and sticks; As and Fs are the focus rather than rewarding inquisitiveness and curiosity When I consider this, I can’t escape the feeling that there is an educational revolution coming and for our boys, I want Brunswick to be in the forefront of this new and better understanding of what skills and experiences young people really need so as to be ready for the 21st century workplace. Brunswick School’s stated mission is “to prepare young men for life” yet “life” is changing fast. Sadly, much of the typical Pre K – 12 curriculum available to students today was originally designed in the 19th century. Our boys live and will work in the 21st century; if we are truly preparing them for life, it has to be for life as it is now, not life as it was two centuries ago. Clearly the future is going to value thinkers over memorizers, team leaders over “lone-rangers.” Brunswick’s focus and programs must be oriented in that way. Keeping our curriculum vibrant and fresh, our faculty eager and involved, our boys engaged and enriched and most importantly, our moral compass focused and true is not only a goal, it is an unequivocal obligation.