The purpose of schools.

This is a central question about which there is confusion. We believe that the central purpose of schools is to help children develop their own capacity for success in life, becoming effective citizens for democracy -- individuals who have skills, attitudes, and knowledge to be productive community members, leaders, parents, and workers. This stands in sharp contrast to those who believe the ultimate purpose of schools is to create workers who can meet the standards of industry. The problem is that most people when asked this question will agree that we should be educating children to be citizens, to become the people that they can be. However, in practice, present systems of standardized testing work directly against these outcomes, narrowing the focus and curriculum of schools. We believe that communities, parents, and schools have an obligation, and opportunity, to create schools that both create individual opportunity and further the social good by creating individuals who can provide community leadership to address and solve difficult problems.