The author makes the point that education consists of both general knowledge and detailed understanding or deep knowledge. He proposes that students follow the regular curriculum, but with one critical addition: “beginning with their first days of school and continuing until graduation, they will each also study one topic—such as apples, birds, sacred buildings, mollusks, circuses, or stars—in depth. Over the years, with the help and guidance of their supervising teacher, students will expand their understanding of their one topic and build portfolios of knowledge that grow and change along with them. By the time they graduate each student will know as much about his or her topic as almost anyone on earth—and in the process will have learned important, even life-changing lessons about the meaning of expertise, the value of dedication, and the delight of knowing something in depth.”
Reviewed by Carol Campbell, PhD
Vice President for Education
Southwestern Union Conference
Authors: Tom Rath and Don Clifton
