I find it difficult to understand how we spend so much time evaluating and assessing our children as they learn. It appears that some, if not most, resources should be allocated toward proactively understanding each child before they need help reactionarily. Sometimes, I worry that children in school are not matched appropriately with the opportunities available to learn. Because every child learns differently and is interested in different things, wouldn’t it make sense to try and assess their potential interests, aspirations, and aptitudes? Every child is a human miracle with fantastic potential to contribute what it is they were meant to contribute to planet Earth. Everyone in education knows that different kids learn differently, at different paces, and have other interests. These interests are the key to unlocking potential, and the sooner we find the interests each child has, the more we can match our resources to that potential. Each child’s interest is like a key, opening the door to a child’s imaginative exploration and desire to learn. Once you unlock the door, the child will desire to learn all they can about the things that interest them presently, realizing that their interests may change. Once we assess interests and aptitude in an integrated way, wouldn’t it be prudent to match individual children with a well-planned and designed curriculum that meets their needs at this particular time, realizing that things may change? This would solve many problems, including simultaneously mismatched kids in the same classrooms. Some kids are unprepared for pre-calculus and should be appropriately assigned to a more hands-on visual learning class. These classes could integrate classroom learning, multimedia presentations on the Internet, and in-class discussions. The resources and teachers teaching these classes could either be on the Internet, a volunteer professional from the local community, or an in-house teacher. Maybe those more broadly focused kids should get 50% of learning in a more hands-on visual way, including integrated presentations. I believe it is time to eliminate the rigidity in standardized curricula and provide a custom learning curriculum designed especially for each child. If it has been shown that specific courses are necessary for everyone, we could customize the schedule to accommodate some learning earlier than others for some children. Our kids are worth it, and so is planet Earth. Therefore, I favor holistic assessment for every child, considering the multiple criteria weighted by importance and significance. This cumulative indicator will match children with a curriculum that fits their unique abilities, leading to the highest potential for academic success in school. Wouldn’t this be a more rational and reasonable approach to “No Child Left Behind”.?