The Rush for '21st-Century Skills' New Buzz Phrase Draws Mixed Interpretations From Educators

From the Washington Post news story: "The phrase (21st century skills) has inspired a flood of programs, including Lego engineering clubs for elementary schools, the National Geographic's science adventure Jason Project for middle schools and the High Technology model for high schools. But many teachers say it is just good teaching with a jazzy name. 'The subject of 21st-century or, rather, current-century skills has been around ever since Socrates,' said John M. Clement, a science teacher in Houston. Researchers are struggling to find ways to determine which schools are teaching it well and which are not, while educators wonder whether it will be just one more fad. "