Wanta Reform Education? Who Doesn't?
June 22nd 2010 19:30
I happened unto a new website I was unaware of Edutopia. An article written on June 20, 2010, Reform Starts Here: The Goals of this Group, grabbed my attention. This article written by Edutopia Staff, Betty Ray called for a public reform conversations to begin. "We created this group to focus a discussion about reform that's realistic, constructive and proactive. What, in your opinion, are some of the factors that need to be addressed?" To date, there are 3 comments for the discussion and one is the author. Again, the lame horse of reform drags it's feet across our computer screens. Vicki Abeles, Producer of the documentary, Race to Nowhere, was right when she said a grassroots effort is how to change our current status.
Here's my two cents on how to begin to change our educational system.
There has been a need for education reform for many years. One of the main problems with the reform effort is that there is many splinter areas that need work. When reform actually is in the beginning stages, a group is motivated one area of need like reading. The reform starts off strong. Since the areas of need overlap like reading and second language learners, the reform efforts are slowed by the complication of additional educational needs. The educational system needs to be revamped. One area cannot be addressed in isolation. Therefore, our reform efforts loose steam. We need to address the core problems first.
According to a blog entitled, When Pedagogy and Policy Collide written by Brigitte Knudson, what America is experiencing is called “commodification” of education. We have gone from teaching to following policy. In turn, education has become big business instead of a learning tool. Our children are memorizing puppets not free thinking and critical learners.
Race to Nowhere is a good jumping off place; our children are suffering. No one wants that to happen. We can start with a goal: the purpose of school for our children. Then we can start an action plan of how to implement this goal for all children in all communities.
1. We need to decide the purpose of school? I think school is a place for young people to learn skills to be good citizens, to take care of themselves and be happy, healthy and whole. We have to move away from the policy model.
2. We need to learn how to teach our modern day learner. Our struggling student base continues to grow. The lack of understanding students to their core leads to an increased dropout rate and unhappy children. We really need to know how to help those that have fallen behind. Rote materials and programs are not the answer. Individualized assessments coupled with appropriate intensive interventions are the answer.
3. We need to come together as a community: educators, parents, students and school officials. What I loved about Race to Nowhere is that it asked for a grassroots effort. I have worked many years in education, writing programs and papers, collecting data, presenting to people and trying to change the system to assist struggling students. I have worked vigorously in a system that does not support innovation. The current educational paradigm is broken. A grassroots movement outside of this system will help jumpstart change for a better future in education as a whole.
I will not stop at this blog because I know we need to work together as a community. The Los Angeles Facebook page Race to Nowhere is place one can weigh in and help start a grassroots movement. Edutopia is another place people are starting to gather. Let's collect as many places as possible then join together. Sounds corny but grassroots are plain and simple. Hope to see you on the playing field.
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