Overschooled but undereducated

the long version

By misunderstanding teenagers' instinctive need to do things for themselves, isn't society in danger of creating a system of schooling that so goes against the natural grain of the adolescent brain, that formal education ends up trivializing the very young people it claims to be supporting? By failing to keep up with appropriate research in the biological and social sciences, current educational systems continue to treat adolescence as a problem rather than an opportunity. In Overschool but Undereducated, John Abbott examines the increasing need to revolutionize the education system in England and globally. It's simple: education has to be about preparing children to be good citizens -- not merely successful pupils -- and become adults who will thrive at unstructured tasks. In this lies society's -- and the planet's -- best assurance of a positive future. - Jacket flap.