In a previous post, I wrote about the agrarian school year, and how it serves as an artificial constraint to school innovation in general, and time for professional development, curriculum writing, and project-based learning in particular. But the school year is just one of several constraints that should be examined – and I suspect eliminated entirely – if schools are going to truly become 21st century learning and teaching institutions. Here are eight other constraints that need to be examined.

1. Academic departments.
2. Grading and assessment systems.
3. Grade levels.
4. AP courses.
5. Teacher-proof curricula.
6. One-size-fits-all school models.
7. Teacher education programs, teacher licensure departments, and teacher unions.
8. Current school architectural models.
9. Textbooks and textbook publishers.

Over the next few weeks I will write more about each of these items and my take on how each of them constrains the true innovation required to become a 21st century school. I hope that you will engage in the discussion.

Tuesday, 1 Apr 2009 7:00 pm EDT DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Reuters)

An American oil company announced today that it has acquired the exclusive distribution rights to sunshine. Speaking before an sitting-room only audience at the OPEC Conference being held in Dubai, Exxon-Mobile Chairman and CEO Rex W. Tillerson surprised the audience of oil-producing countries by telling them  “you can go pedal your oil to Shell or some other loser. The future is solar, and we control it!”

Outraged conference attendees immediately condemned the announcement. “It’s a blatant power-grab by an American government desperate to reassert its dominance in a world in which they are dependent on foreign oil, our oil!” said a high ranking Saudi Arabian official speaking anonymously for fear of being beheaded. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez taunted, “We’ll see about that! Wait until I tell Fidel!” and stormed out of the meeting. Iranian President  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was seen busily consulting his scientists to see if the American company’s claim included nuclear fusion.

A few officials from other countries sounded a more conciliatory note. An Afghan delegate, speaking off the record for fear of being made to walk girls to school in a Taliban-controlled village, quipped : “I’m sure we can come to some accommodation with the Americans. After all, they need our, ah, pharmaceutical products as much as we need their sunshine.”

The Russians seemed to be stunned by the American claim. Vladimir Putin was overheard directing an aide to immediately stake a claim on the planets Mercury and Venus, setting off fears of a solar system-wide planet grab.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that the administration was reviewing the announcement. “As you know, the President is a strong proponent of alternative energy sources. In addition, we have promised the American people that this administration would not be a place where ‘business as usual’ would prevail. We are listening to both Wall Street and Main Street, and stand ready to work with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to resolve the deep issues confronting this nation.”

Tillerson further announced that Exxon-Mobile would be pursuing related claims and developing new technologies to exploit sunshine. “Even as we speak, our scientists are working on a way to permanently remove the blot of clouds from the face of the earth. Clouds are a huge threat to solar efficiency, and the whole planet suffers as a result.”  Asked about the need for rain that comes from clouds Tillerson dismissed that as “unproven.” “The earth has always had clouds. How do we know it needs them until we try a couple of centuries without them?” he said.

Asked if Exxon-Mobile would be partnering with any other companies to deliver solar power, an Exxon spokesman, asking for anonymity out of concern of being rendered to an undisclosed location, said “Our partner’s names starts with H and ends in burton. That’s all I can say.”

The Wall Street blogosphere immediately reacted with pundits suggesting that Exxon-Mobile will branch into other sun-related areas. The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, suggested that a move into entertainment was logical for Exxon-Mobile, and that all music, film, and books with “sun” or “sunshine” in the title may be subject to royalty claims.

Elements of the Christian right are mobilizing to lobby Congress for a constitutional amendment to allow them to continue to worship on Sunday without interference. Other faith groups countered saying that the Lord commandeth to keep the Sabbath holy, which is technically a Saturday. There was no immediate comment from non-believers.

Environmental groups, long opponents of Exxon-Mobile since the Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound in 1989, applauded the company’s move from fossil fuels to renewable energy but expressed doubts about the corporate giant’s ability to manage the sun. Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope issued a statement “After two decades, the memory of the spill persists for the commercial fishermen and Alaska natives whose livelihoods were destroyed by Exxon’s recklessness. Sadly, the oil persists, too: A 2007 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study showed that 26,600 gallons of crude oil from the spill are still lingering below the surface of Alaska’s beaches.… To think of putting the same people in charge of the Sun is nuts. They’d end up boiling the oceans.”

Former President George W. Bush interrupted his bass fishing trip to issue the following statement. “Hell of a job, Tilly! Heh, heh.”