FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington will present “What Should We Be Teaching in Our Schools?” by Brian Cavanaugh, UMF assistant professor of education.

The presentation is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in The Landing in the Olsen Student Center. This is the final topic in UMF’s “The Public Classroom” faculty speaker series.

Since Russia launched Sputnik in 1957, education policymakers in the U.S have put forth reforms to improve the academic outcomes of students to improve the workforce and maintain the strength and international standing of the nation. However, from the 1983 release of “A Nation at Risk” to 2002’s No Child Left Behind Act to Race to the Top, the need to “reform education” appears to be never ending.

Is a focus on academic content enough? Is there something more to schooling than literacy, math and science?

In this presentation, Cavanaugh will discuss the growing movement to more comprehensively and explicitly educate students to become citizens who have the social, emotional and behavioral skills necessary to be successful adults who contribute to the endurance of our democracy.

Drawing on his experiences as a teacher, student, researcher and parent, Cavanaugh will explore pressing issues about what should be taught in our nation’s classrooms.

Cavanaugh is a former special education teacher and behavioral consultant who worked primarily with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. He is passionate about supporting students with achieving critical social and emotional outcomes that support learning, success and an improved quality of life. His research interests include positive behavior interventions and supports, classroom management and the prevention of emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and youths.

He serves on the Leadership and Policy Council for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Maine, where he provides professional development. Cavanaugh received his Ph.D from the University of Maine.

The lecture is free and open to the public.