Although building exhaustive lists of facts students should know is a hopeless goal, there are some abilities that students should know that are likely to be with us for some time to come. Everyone should know how to read. Everyone should know how to approach an unsolved and complex problem. Everyone should know how to participate productively in a group effort. Everyone should be able to understand and make decisions regarding the real world and his role in it.
We need everyone to be able to engage in the same processes (vote, get along with their neighbor, articulate their point of view) but not to do the same jobs or follow the same interests in life. We must recognize this distinction when we plan out educational goals. Those who are mathematically inclined may want to study calculus because they may have use for it in life. Those who cannot stand mathematics are likely to abhor it when they are allowed free choice in adult life. If we allow people free choice as students, they can concentrate on learning what they might need in their lives. Freedom to choose what not to study implies freedom to learn more about what one cares about and freedom to explore new interests not normally covered in the curriculum.
Where am I in the content of the book?
