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Reform Starts Here: The Goals of this Group
Almost everyone agrees that we need to reform education in America. But where to start? There are so many issues at play, including (but not limited to) budget crises, standardized tests, people with no education background in key leadership roles, and an onslaught of new technologies that change so quickly they're obsolete before you even unpack them.
To add to the confusion, there will soon be a greater public spotlight on education with the release of a few documentaries, including "Race to Nowhere," "The Lottery, and "Waiting for Superman," which was made by the same folks who made "An Inconvenient Truth."
All three of these films are very critical of our existing educational system. "Race to Nowhere" shows the "dark side of America's achievement culture" by highlighting the health and social problems that arise when schools are so focused on test scores. "The Lottery" and "Waiting for Superman" share a pro-charter, anti-union message that is sure to stir up all manner of rancor among teachers, parents, administrators, union officials and anyone else who cares about education.
So, we expect there to be a loud public outcry, and one that doesn't necessarily understand the nuances and realities on the ground in education. 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? If you want to add a topic, please feel free to start a new discussion if there isn't one here yet.
Let's take this opportunity to get ahead of the impending public spotlight to understand the issues that are preventing ed reform, and educate the broader public about how to best move forward.
Comments (22)
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Resources for Teaching Students to be Citizens of Democracy
If Kyla's comment resonated with any in the group, First Amendment Schools
is a wonderful site that an Edutopia colleague just introduced me to. It contains curriculum ideas and profiles several schools. It's mission is "to help schools teach and practice the civic principles and virtues vital to democracy, freedom and the common good."
Best,
Rebecca Alber
Edutopia
HI all!
I am very interested in looking more deeply at what "being educated" is and what we want for people as they grow from infancy to adulthood. I think we have a very limited vision of what learning can look like and where and how it takes place. I would love to see more exploration of really alternative learning and education- in and out of schools. I've been very interested in a group called IDEA. Their website is www.democraticeducation.org We need adults who are passionate learners and creative thinkers and ready to participate in a democracy. Where can we talk about that?
What Is Reform
Lisa Johnson said "We need to decide the purpose of school?"
I think Lisa's purpose for schools should be developed. A purpose is the foundation for any human action. It has to be extremely well defined. I have been searching 15 years for one. Well performing organizations of any kind work best when they have a well defined purpose. For a purpose we develope objectives and finally actions to achieve them. Then we can test the effectivness of the actions on how well they achieve the purpose. Then make changes.
The burden of what to teach falls on policy makers. The burden of how to teach it falls on teachers. The burden of how to implement it falls on administators. The burden of evaluating performance falls on business analysts, organizational behavioralists and economists.
Patricia Kokinos said "ALL of our kids"
Equity should be achomplished at the State level. The State needs to define exactly what is required to fullfil their purpose for education. Then they need to fully fund everything needed to achieve that. Every school should have the same resources; the same facuilities; the same supplies; the same teacher quality; the same opportunities. Every kid must have equal opportunity.
You can not have equal opportunity when the rich communities have everything including a swimming pool and the poor communities have a mud puddle.