Zig Engelmann published a provocative article titled Curriculum as the Cause of Failure with this topic sentence:

"When children do not learn it is evident that they have not been taught."

It's a good read for any parent or educator interested in knowing what learning is possible in schools.

I'd ask any teaching applicant to describe how he or she would instruct students in light of this article, and what criteria I should use to evaluate that performance the first month of employment.

Parents might find it useful to adapt that question to their purposes during student-teacher meetings.

Come to think of it, perhaps board of education members should ask school superintendents the same question.

Tablet PC Education Blog