Our education system is a mess. That does not take genius to conclude. The hidden agenda of privatizing education is becoming less hidden each month. Typically, statistics are misrepresented to provide the information that one system is broke and the other system works very well.
Please, remember who is selling you the system that works very well. I usually see politicians, former heads of large corporations and businessmen, most of whom did not attend the type of schools they are attacking as failed. I have never had any of these people volunteer to teach my classes for one month. I have invited but, alas, never received a reply. I once begged President Bush to come to my school to help me with the child who wanted to be left behind but, alas, he never acknowledged my contacts.
I believe that Illinois may be moving in a decent direction. I have dug out my Charlotte Danielson and am preparing to review the "frameworks" for effective teaching. She at least understood that no matter what new technology comes along the basic practices encouraged by Madeline Hunter work very well. Doesn't matter if it is 1980 or 2011. Good instructional practice is good practice. Now, how will we get parents to understand that not all children are above average?
1 comments:
I'm hung up on your first line. I understand what you mean by a mess, but I don't think "education" is a mess.
Let's say that education is like a car. Even if it is a flawed car, like an El Camino, it is still a car and will get you from here to there. But it isn't a mess. If it isn't performing to the best of its ability, I get a mechanic to fix it. Why? Simple, he or she is knowledgeable about cars. I wouldn't get the CEO of GM to fix my car; he probably hasn't a clue as to what is under the hood. I wouldn't get a politician to fix my car! And, I wouldn't get my parents to fix my car.
Why do we (I have no idea what I mean when I say "we" and maybe that is the problem) allow people (corporate CEO's, politicians, and parents) who know little about schools, education, and teaching to dictate what schools do? Just because we all went to school doesn't mean we know anything about how to teach or run a school. I go to restaurants all the time. I'm not going to tell a restaurant owner or cook how to do their job. I've been going to the doctor all my life; I'm not going to organize his clinic and tell him how to examine a human being.
Education isn't a mess. All the people who have no business sticking their fingers where they don't belong are what is a mess. Teachers know what to do (if they don't they need to get out), and if they are left alone they will do the right things.
Now, unless you live in Lake Wobegon, you are right Mr. S, not all children above average or good looking.
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