Education leader right to seek well-rounded curriculum

In a recent speech, reported in this newspaper, United States Education Secretary John B. King Jr. advocated returning schools to a well-rounded approach, rather than simply focusing, in a lopsided manner, on English language arts, mathematics and testing of the two. His encouragement to do so bespeaks concerns many have voiced for years.

The former New York commissioner of education is also correct to acknowledge that though Enghlish language arts and math are important, “there is a lot of reason to believe that students are not getting the instruction in science, social studies, the arts and world languages that they need.”

We are glad to hear the country’s top education official voice the need to shift away from a trend of treating students as testing machines instead of the multifaceted, well-rounded individuals they are. Educators should encourage and whet the various appetites students possess, heightening each child’s love of learning. However, No Child Left Behind and Common Core have managed to do more sapping than stirring. After all, “the test” is coming, and for many, the test is tied to teacher evaluations, which makes it even more of a priority and takes away even more from the full learning experience.

One of King’s duties is to oversee the Every School Succeeds Act, or ESSA. In part, the law’s goal is to cut down what he called “excessive, redundant and overemphasized” testing and restore to “states more control over schools.” We give King an A+ for recognizing the need. This is what the people of New York were begging him for when he was there.

Many parents and students in New York gave him a failing grade, however, for his relentless push of Common Core, criticized for being anything but local or state-run, geared toward over-testing and linked to teachers’ evaluations there. They accused him of turning a deaf ear and called for his resignation.

It’s a good thing that, since transitioning from New York to D.C., he is on board with tending to students’ best interests, which starts with a well-rounded educational approach and less testing — student-centered instruction in general.