Abstract...

Learning is a neverending process that begins at birth. At a certain age, we are told that school will "teach" us to succeed in the world and become all-around citizens. But what are we really "learning" in school? Are all the teaching methods effective for every student, or do some learn in different ways? These are questions that are important when referring to literacy in our school systems these days. I focused on the open-classroom vs. traditional control setting, "fluency" over "skills", and the benefit of progressive education on gifted children. Progressive education encourages creative expression and risk taking with the openness to mistakes and learning from them. I will be supporting my position with the works of Lisa Delpit and Theodore R. Sizer. If we don't recognize the potential of our children, how are we going to guide them to the path of success while gaining knowledge of one self?