Off The Rack or Tailored?

Recently, my wife and I went shopping to get me a new suit.  I have put on a few pounds and my others just don't fit quite right.  This experience was quite interesting as I discovered that I don't have a 'typical' build for a suit.  After going to four different suit shops and finding out that a coat for my body type is typically not in stock, we finally discovered one shop that had a suit that fit me pretty well.  If not for that shop, we would have been buying a suit and having it altered to fit correctly.

This experience got me to thinking about our student's education experience.  Our current accountability systems, media pressure, and comparisons to other schools lead to 'off the rack' options for our students.  There are some of our students that are able to find exactly what they need, but for many the fit is just not quite right.  This is not because we don't want them to have a 'suit' that fits correctly - teachers constantly do a great job of differentiating instruction and working to meet individual needs.  It is more a result of the 'education manufacturers' that create the standards and assessments for which we must have students prepared.  These are very broad and general standards meant to ensure that every student has access to the same education and opportunity.  While that is an admirable goal, is it the correct goal?  Should each student have exactly the same experience and education?

I believe that while the foundation of each education (or suit) is the same, if we want it to fit each student it must be 'tailored' for their goals and passions.  While each suit (or education plan) has the same foundation, in order to get the right fit for an individual it must be altered by a professional.  This altering takes significant measuring, tearing out existing seams, and rebuilding the components of the suit with precision and care.  I believe that we must reach each student by helping him/her discover individual passion and goals (measuring), removing parts of our general education plan that doesn't fit him/her (tearing out the seams), and building a plan that allows him/her to work in areas of passion and interest as part of their education (rebuilding with precision and care).  This 'tailored' approach should lead to better student engagement, increased student motivation, and ultimately students prepared for their future.

I'm proud to be part of a district that is beginning to take this approach.  Our district and community are currently exploring partnerships that would allow students to spend significant time working shoulder to shoulder with individuals in business and industry, solving real problems, and developing specific skill sets and abilities related to their passions and interest.  This plan doesn't fit neatly into a curriculum binder or assessment protocol; instead it fits neatly into a 'tailored' plan for an individual student to experience relevant learning in an authentic context.  I believe that this is a first step in creating a 'suit shop' for our students that provides a 'tailored' education for every student.