I’ve always sensed a disconnect between school and life. For my own life, I came to understand it as a kind of convergence of lines — school is one of the lines, and if you follow it long enough and well enough, it will eventually converge with life and propel you forward.
In his film “Most Likely to Succeed,” Greg Whiteley approaches the disconnect differently. As he tries to demonstrate in the film, the school line not only doesn’t converge with the life line but is harmfully off track. Standardized tests and the so-called Prussian Method of education, where each subject — reading, math, social studies and science — is taught separately and aimed at building a base level of knowledge for everyone.
The movie centers on San Diego’s High Tech High and its project-based teaching approach.
Whiteley is the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed documentary “Mitt,” an inside look with exclusive access to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. It turns out Whiteley and his wife and children live in Point Loma, and he dropped by for an interview with Laura Kohn and me for the latest episode of Good Schools for All.
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Number of the Week
503,848: That’s the number of students enrolled in public school in San Diego County. That’s more students than 20 other states.
What Is Working
Del Lago Academy: A 3-year-old high school in the Escondido district that focuses on biomedical and health sciences for students. They use project- and work-based learning, integrate technology and are a great example of a school system that is delivering innovative and inspiring education for children in a non-traditional way.
Mentioned in the Show
“Most Likely to Succeed“: A film by Greg Whiteley
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