To the Editor:

As we approach the New Year, we may consider the events of the past year and make some New Year resolutions. But this may be the right time to rethink our established mindset that often filters out new insights and emerging ideas. Youngsters continually seem to lack the will to challenge their assumptions, “their groupthink” and the packaged indoctrination received from the social media. Some young people easily succumb to drug addition, alcoholism, violence, amoral behavior.

They seem to lack the ability to think before they act, never considering that there are alternatives, consequences, priorities to consider that can impact their future. Some may argue that their questionable actions are part of the adolescent experience. Yet we now see alarming increases in teenage addition, suicide, and violent behavior. Adult minds are conditioned to accept the new norms of behavior. Parents assume that their children have received the adequate mental training during their schooling. But student test grades generally validate mostly their memorization of book information. Teachers and parents seem to assume that current instructional models are adequate for preparing students for the future.

The World Economic Forum prepared an interesting report titled “2022 Skills Outlook” where they listed ten skills which will become more in demand in the next three years as well as ten skills that might not be as important as they were before. The list of new workplace skills include analytical thinking and innovation, critical thinking and analysis, emotional intelligence, complex problem solving, active learning and learning strategies, reasoning, problem solving and ideation, and creativity, originality, and initiative. Compare this with the list of declining skills in the workplace, which includes memory; verbal, auditory, and spatial abilities; reading; writing; math; active listening; coordination and time management; manual dexterity; endurance and precision; management of personnel; management of financial; material resources.

The 2022 list may come as a shock to all involved in the current education model who will either disagree or argue that these skills are developed in college and post graduate studies but not necessary in first 12 years of schooling. Yet an important recent Harvard Report by Anthony Wagner identifies the need for developing creative and critical thinking skills for success in the workplace. A Gallup report surveyed American parents, asking them to list the three skills they hoped their children attained upon graduation. Their list included literacy, numeracy (math), and ability to think (to figure things out). Are parents now willing to challenge the established assumptions that develop students “fixed mindsets?”

Dr Rudy Magnan

60 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook         December 26, 2019