If we allow young children to have stressed lives, poor exposure to quality language experiences with friends and family, little movement and physical play, and a lack of consistent home routines, there will be casualties. If we allow kids to be poorly nourished, isolated and distracted by a constant barrage of video entertainment options, there will be casualties. If we allow children to endure poor quality childcare and exhibit a lack of self-regulation and poor social skills, there will be casualties. If we put children into curriculum-driven classrooms, and race though content without matching instruction to their needs or readiness, there will be casualties.

Every child who becomes a chronically frustrated and disengaged learner in the information age is a casualty. By fourth grade 67% of the children in America are on their way to becoming learning casualties.

I call this malpractice, and possibly criminal negligence.