Standardized tests in the United States have made apparent that, despite spending more hours in the classroom, American students score lower than their international counterparts in science, math, and reading. These gaps exist across ethnic, racial, and economic classes. In his book The Knowledge Deficit (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), author E. D. Hirsch argues that while schools excel at teaching the mechanics of reading, they fail at teaching children to truly understand what they read. Mr. Hirsch maintains that in a democratic society reliant on fluid communication between its members, a child’s ability to read and comprehend is a key issue that must be addressed to insure an adequate generation of future leaders.

What reading skills should be taught in American classrooms? How can teachers make the necessary changes to reshape curricula? What can parents and teachers do to prepare students for the future? Mr. Hirsch addresses these and other questions by examining classroom scenarios and their impact on students’ intellectual growth. Please join us as Mr. Hirsch and a panel of education experts discuss the reshaping of American education.