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Aspen mulls how best to prepare students for the future

Aspen Times Staff Report
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN ” Some 50 parents filled Aspen High School’s seminar room Tuesday to discuss what their children should be learning in the 21st century.

Some parents want to see languages taught more intensively at the elementary level. Others want students using e-books instead of expensive textbooks that rapidly become out-of-date.

Others suggested students could use tools like Skype ” a free Internet phone service ” to develop relationships with students in other countries. And others wanted to see the high school’s Aspen Institute speaker series, which brings in such luminaries as Madeline Albright, expanded to involve the Aspen Middle School.



A few parents also worried about issues ” such as a sense of entitlement, or alcohol or drug addiction ” that could hold Aspen students back in the 21st century.

Using the parent input, Superintendent Diana Sirko intends to create a recommendation to help the district focus its goals for 21st century learning. The Aspen School Board plans to discuss the matter at its March 10 meeting.




Parents and school board members also noted the district already works to focus on 21st century skills offering a technology exit exam at Aspen Middle School, model United Nations, science fairs and the International Baccalaureate program as examples of the effort.

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