Learning from the Best

I am reading "Ability Development from Age Zero", by Shinichi Suzuki.  He is famous for his methods in teaching the violin and piano to young kids.  He has such a wonderful love for children and I am very impressed with his understanding for how young kids learn.  He says, "Children learn when they have fun".  He also notes, "It is a mistake to expect a child to naturally do things from the adult world."  He lists the following conditions for developing great ability....

1.  Begin as early as possible
2.  Create the best possible environment.
3.  Use the finest teaching methods.
4.  Provide a great deal of training.
5.  Use the finest teachers.

I wish that the educational leaders were being bribed by likes of the Suzuki's and not the Gates.  How differently would the Race to the Top program be designed.  The current core curriculum created by a group of people at the state level and rewarded by the federal government for its adoption is not kid friendly.  It is not fun, so it doesn't use the finest teaching methods.  Suzuki says the secret for parents and teachers regarding education is that "tasks which are done happily are internalized and in this manner talent is grown carefully."  The core curriculum is delivered as scripted lectures, worksheets, and tests.  And it discourages the finest teachers as they know that this type of teaching isn't fun and that it doesn't inspire the kids to learn.  It does just the opposite.

 Suzuki says that "the educational objective changes with the abilities of each child".  The core curriculum goal is to standardize each kid not personalize. The instruction is scripted and so it is boring, it scolds young learners as it teaches them above what their current abilities are and it tells them that they are not measuring up through constant testing.  Through Suzuki's experiences in educating children he learned that you "develop ability from what the child can already do and that ability will promote the happiness of doing things better and better."

I am so inspired to learn from Mr. Suzuki, truly a great educator of our time.  So I wonder, as it seems that the reforms today are so far from using successful models, why then when looking for educational reform, have our leaders not turned to the great educators of our time?