The concept of developing strengths instead of trying to fix weaknesses is an interesting idea, especially as it applies to education. Here is a quote I found interesting from Strengthsfinder 2.0 :
" What's even more disheartening is the way our fixation of deficits affects young people in the home and classroom. In every culture we have studied, the overwhelming majority of parents (77% in the United States) think that a student's lowest grades deserve the most time and attention. Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy instead of investing more time in the areas where a child has the most potential for greatness." (Kindle Location 182)
I have talked to a lot parents in the last 6 months who have become increasing frustrated with the public education system and its lack of flexibility. A common complaint is that their children are failing at the routine memorization of information and concepts (usually in subjects where the student is weak or dispassionate).
How can this be fixed? The main theme of the book seems to endorse the Montessori approach to education where students are able to develop their own curriculum based off their strengths. I agree, but the problem is the quantity of students that must be educated. As curriculum becomes more custom on a student by student basis, the cost goes up, and the program becomes increasingly difficult to scale. You basically have to solve the problem of a trade off triangle:
Here are some thought questions:
