Changes I Would Make in Education

I believe that students need to have more unstructured time.  One of the challenging aspects of our current educational system is that from student's entry point in kindergarten throughout High School, each moment of the school day is structured by an outside force (teachers, school district, state requirements).  Very often this results in students having very little choice in their education which leads to students feeling disengaged.  Current research stresses the importance of creativity and critical thinking for future success.  Those persons who rise to the top of their field will require expertise in the soft skills of communication, collaboration, problem-solving - not necessarily technical skill.  We must find some way to allow students to have time to develop their strengths and interests and make learning meaningful every day.