By Dave Matlow
Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon told the Westport Rotary Club today that reading, writing and math are no longer the sufficient skills for students preparing for survival in the 21st century.
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon at today’s Westport Rotary Club meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
He said that today’s world and the future require thinking skills that integrate business, finance, education, politics and arts.
In wide ranging remarks about the future of Westport schools and education in general, the man who has headed Westport’s school system since 1999 said students especially must be prepared to master the elements of critical thinking.
They must also learn to attain leadership by influence, develop the capability to be agile and adaptable, demonstrate entrepreneurial-ship, achieve effective communication skills, master the ability to analyze information and to have a curiosity drive, Landon said.
Today the emphasis must be on analysis not just memorization while mastering the core competencies of speaking and writing, he said.
Landon said that this year the curriculum in middle school includes a restructuring of social studies that apply to global situations.
“We must view social studies through a global lens,” he said.
Landon said it is essential that students learn to interpret, access, analyze and evaluate information.
Their education must prepare them to deal with global challenges—to focus on “real world problem solving,” he said, adding:
“Every student who graduates from Staples will have all the disciplines needed to be responsible as global citizens.”
Landon referred to the “Westport Education 2025: Meeting the Global Challenge” initiative that encourages confidence in the culture and innovation needed for global competitiveness.
As part of the initiative, the school system stresses the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, Landon said.
In response to a question that said some U.S. schools have reduced the use of computers, Landon said Kindles and iPads have made a difference in the education of students and their use continues to be encouraged “when properly integrated into the curriculum.”
Landon’s presence as the speaker at the weekly Rotary Club meeting at the Inn at Longshore attracted many members of the club as well as eight guests who are candidates in the November election for positions on the Boards of Finance, Education and Planning & Zoning.
