Things that ought to be taught and which aren't

In the earlier post, There is a pressing need for clarity about our educational priorities, quoting from Hirsch, I think he is indirectly getting at something that we at Through the Magic Door are trying to address through Growing a Reading Culture. We can only outsource so much educational responsibility to schools. A modicum of core behaviors and knowledge has to be cultivated within the family environment. Cultivating a love of reading that establishes the habit of enthusiastic reading is a key facilitator for reducing the burden on schools. As Hirsch observes, schools cannot teach everything. Within the family we can make up for some of that desirable knowledge that constrained time in school prevents from being imparted. The best mechanism for filling in the gaps between what can be taught and what ought to be taught is growing that love of reading. An enthusiastic reader will often, completely incidentally, substantially fill out most those missing enumerated subjects of things that ought to be taught and which aren't or can't be taught.

If we want to equip children with cultural literacy, we need to equip them with the love and habit of reading.