E. D. Hirsch, Jr. said that what we bring to the printed page determines how much we get from the printed page. Hirsch believes in a strict content-based curriculum, opposed to a skills-based approach to learning. These opposing philosophies of testing and learning are explored in several Letters to the Editor.
Think about the inordinate amount of time we spend on test preparation, which, in addition to having questionable value, has caused a serious narrowing of the curriculum. We have seen a sharp decline in the number of hours spent in social studies, science, art, music and physical education. Unfortunately, in our attempt to inch up test scores, we have not only forgotten our definition of the educated person, but we have created a school environment where children know less about the world and have difficulties becoming better readers - just better test-takers.
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