Konrad Yakabuski's essay offers valuable lessons for Canada too (A Teachable Moment For American Schools - Globe Essay, April 3).
We have not gone test crazy yet, but I worry when education officials, politicians, and pundits talk about improving test scores rather than improving learning.
Many of the things we value for living and preparing to live in a diverse, inter-connected, "flat" world of eight billion or so are things we need to teach now.
Many of these learnings go far beyond tests, even if good tests serve a limited purpose. Dealing as informed responsible citizens with issues related to the environment, cultural diversity and lifelong positive healthy habits does not come from high test scores.
While it is also true that family economic circumstances influence school achievement, international data strongly supports the view that lower gaps between rich and poor promote quality learning for all and that being poor is not a sentence or an excuse for poor schooling.
Instructor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,