That's one of the great points in this strong U.S. News and World Report piece by Eduwonk Andy Rotherham.
Critical thinking and problem solving, for example, have been a component of human progress throughout history, from early tools and agricultural advancements to gunpowder, vaccinations, or exploration. And while "global awareness" has historically been as much a martial talent as an economic one, interconnectedness is not new nor is information literacy among elites. Likewise, the idea that there is a hierarchy of knowledge from facts to complex analysis is not a new one. Plato, for example, wrote about four distinct levels of intellect. Perhaps these were considered "3rd-century B.C. skills"?
Rotherham goes on to defend Core Knowledge-style content from the onslaught of the 21st Century Skills juggernaut. (This is what it looks like in one state.) Amen to that.
