The Disciplined Mind. - Review - book review

School Administrator, April, 2000 by Brian L. Benzel

School leaders will be inspired and challenged by the vision for excellence that Howard Gardner, professor of cognition and education at Harvard University, shares in this examination into what education can be for our children.

Gardner is well known for his theory of multiple intelligences and more recently for his study of creators and leaders. In The Disciplined Mind, he displays his passion for excellence and the role high-performing schools can play in helping each child reach it.

Gardner believes "it is important that a culture identify the truths, beauties and virtues that it values and that it then dedicate resources to inculcating their understanding in young learners." He demonstrates his vision by using Darwin's theory of evolution, Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" and the Holocaust as the basis for teaching young people the skills necessary to be effective in the disciplines.

The Disciplined Mind starts with an exploration of the foundations of the educational system as we know it, examines the alternatives and finishes with a thoughtful reflection on the leadership required to implement systemic change. In between, the author teaches us about the three content areas and models how they can be applied to teach young people core skills.

Gardner links solid, traditional values and educational strategies with multi-disciplinary avenues (he calls them "pathways") for learning. He goes beyond simple explanations by providing an analysis of the conditions that leaders need to create to implement solid, well-designed learning strategies that make a difference in the academic performance of our youth. It is essential to expect excellence from students and use multiple strategies to help them achieve their full potential.

This work provides pause for current and aspiring school leaders to think about the goals, directions and foundation of our public schools. Gardner nourishes the hope that thoughtful educators can apply our nation's divergent educational strategies to build a successful, effective lifelong desire for learning among our children.

(The Disciplined Mind: What All Students Should Understand, by Howard Gardner, Simon and Schuster, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020, 1999, 284 pp. plus index, $25 hardcover)