Education

Boy, did I pick the right time to retire.  Our school district has a new curriculum, a new gradebook online, and a new report card.

Everyone knows people do not like change.  This is change.  It is hard for teachers who have taught their way for several years. It is hard for the parents who still remember what school was like when they were kids.  It isn't really hard for kids because they are constantly facing change.  But then you throw in the little things like how do you assess this new curriculum.  Well, they haven't quite figured that out yet.  But it is coming.

There are some things about the new curriculum that are very exciting and positive.  They are actually asking the children to think, evaluate, cooperate, synthesize and adjust their thinking.  This is very important if we want our young adults to be able to return to the top of the world innovators.  In order to really bring this country back to a competative position in production of goods. 

I have had the opportunity to go into some schools and participate in this new curriculum as a substitute teacher and what I see is exciting.  Children really do love to think.  They love to take risks if they know it is expected.  They love to discuss different ways of doing things and then presenting their findings to their classmates.

The problem with this situation is in the preparation time for the teachers and bringing parents onboard.  There are no longer report cards with A, B, C.  No more honor roll.  How can they brag about their kids at the swimming pool.  The school system says it gives a more comprehensive picture of what the children know and what they need to work on.  It does.  But in education people are used to breaking things down to individual objectives.  Parents want to look at a short paper that says my child got an A in reading and a C in math.

Then there is the planning.  Everything needs to be recorded.  There needs to be team planning where each person makes plans for how to integrate math, science, social studies, reading, writing, art, music, physical education and thinking skills.  This needs to be done on a weekly basis, monthly basis and quartly basis.  There is not enough time in the school day to do this.  Teachers are staying after school for meetings just to get the minimum done.  They are getting frustrated, tired, and very concerned.  You know this transfers to the students in their classes.  Schools are not businesses, they should not be run like businesses.  Think about your best teachers.  What made them the best.  I am willing to bet it has something to do with the way they connected with the students.  The creativity they brought to their teaching, the way they made you feel.  A lot of these great teachers are leaving the profession in frustration.  New teachers coming in have enthusiasm and inspiration but they do not yet have that ability to connect with the students on a personal level.

When asked what I did in the classroom that was successful, people have said, "she connects with the kids.  She really knows the kids.  She creates a safe environment for the kids to be themselves."  These things do not come from sitting in planning meetings, new curriculum and new report cards.