Bread-and-Circuses

=The Problem With Reductionism=

Many things in education today are reductionistic to the point of being nearly meaningless:
 * Grading: student performance is reduced to one of five letters or a single number average
 * Achievement: state tests reduce students to Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic
 * Grouping: Students are sorted and categorized as gifted, special education, ELL, etc.
 * Curriculum: Content is doled out in bite-sized pieces, using a pre-determined linear sequence
 * Space: School buildings are subdivided into isolated classrooms, lined up in hallways. Classrooms have a front, student desks face that front in equally spaced lines.
 * Learning: Students are expected to work alone and only on the prescribed activities

What other aspects of schooling fall into a linear mindset? Add your thoughts to the list above.

Why do we do school this way? What are the advantages?

What problems does a linear mindset bring to the learning process?