Letter: Teach children how to fulfill their potential

Monday, July 30, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

My child does impressively well on government tests. But does that predict his future success in the work field?

Sometimes you can't help but see humor when reporters go out into the streets to ask simple questions of random people on subjects to do with math or science or the Constitution. The majority of people don't have a clue. Why? Because people don't retain knowledge well if they are not constructively using this knowledge in their everyday lives.

Standardized testing in schools measure s a child's knowledge base for a short period of time. To see how this same child fares, testing would have to be done after graduation in five- 10-, even 20-year intervals.

We are teaching our children to be contestants on "Jeopardy" with all the testing and learning to "be tested." My suggestion would be to scrap grade levels and assign children to learn in groups that mesh with their unique aptitudes and learning styles.

In later years, these same students can work with industries that cater to their specific talents, as apprentices. Industries can receive money from the government to help compensate for training. Individuals will gain experience and a guarantee of work instead of graduating and being put in a competitive pool where, for many, opportunities for advancement are limited. There is no reason why a person who has the potential to excel in the field of medicine should be flipping burgers for years and those more suited to flipping burgers have to be subjected to four years of science and math to be employable.

Anna Kakol, Las Vegas