What do you want most for the new year?

I have been waiting for six years for my first job and still waiting. Recent layoffs and budget reductions since the state of the economy is getting worse doesn't help. I noticed they will hire the recent graduate with no experience over a person with real world work experience. I have been in the classroom as a substitute teacher, but that doesn't matter to most administrators. I have worked with all kinds of curriculum and even did my student teaching when I could have opted out, but that doesn't matter to most of the administrators.

I was searching on google for worldwide college and study abroad guide for international students and i found a great website

http://www.education-guide.net. It has all the information needed by the new comers.

So i strongly recommend to check that website and leave your feedback.

Thanks

I voted for increased technology in the classroom. I teach in an urban high school and I constantly bombarded with demands to use more technology in the classroom and less lecture time. Although I never lecture more than 20 min., I would like to use an LCD projector for more interactive lessons and to be able to show video streaming from the Internet, but I have to share an LCD projector with 4-5 other teachers in the department. Even with the best laid plans, there are always conflicts in the schedule. I would like to have LCD projectors mounted from the ceiling and connected to my laptop so that I don't have to roll my A/V cart all over the room, moving desks around in a too-small classroom of 30+ students. I purchased speakers for my laptop, but I have to return them because the sound quality is too low. I have decided to invest in my own LCD so that I don't have to share with my colleagues. Yet, I'll have to take it back and forth home because the one cabinet I have is not secure enough to leave it; someone will break in and take it. And yes, we could all use more pay!!

I Want to Know What We Mean When We Say Education?

"When we downgrade the power and meaning of an idea,we banalize that idea." – Carol Sanford

Our country’s education discussion could be the poster child for banalization of the word “education.” Today the energy and significance of what it means to educate or be educated is being degraded to mere vocabulary acquisition, memorization of facts, standardized test scores, standards, proficiency in math and reading, reading at grade level, achievement gaps, I.Q. scores, good behavior, techniques, tricks, games and chants designed to help vast amounts of information to be stored in a child’s brain so it can be measured on a multi-choice standardized test.

“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.” ~Bill Beattie

Not even a fool would argue that knowledge is unimportant. But, is knowledge sufficient to qualify as education? Knowledge is not understanding and understanding is hard to measure on standard tests.

Ayn Rand said, “The only purpose of education is to teach a student how to live his life-by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality.” I would say the only purpose of education is to develop the mind to see reality and by developing the mind in combination with developing the Being/character a person can use and further develop the mind to see the working of reality.

And, our discussion leaves out the being of an individual that education is for.
“No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” ~Emma Goldman

Regeneration is a word that is or should be synonymous with education. We banalize the idea of regeneration or education when we equate it with only the actualized world, facts and knowledge; because we then leave out the magnificence of the human spirit and the will that accompanies that spirit.

“The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. The truly human society is a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together.” ~Eric Hoffer

By leaving an individual’s spirit and will out of our discussion we forget that each person has a unique essence they are developing. We plan schooling in a way that limits both a teacher’s and a child’s ability to see who they uniquely are; when what we really want is to engage them each time in a way that develops their ability to be more of who they truly and uniquely are. This lack of understanding on our part stops the evolution of the child, the teacher and the school from getting closer and more able to be their highest selves to make the contribution they were meant to make.

Only by imaging the unique and essence quality of each person in the school -- then seeing this essence quality contributing its uniqueness, in a system – and then evolving its self overtime, are we in a true regenerative or education process.

We banalize the idea of education when we drop out the “systems” working of humans with nature -- having a co-creative role. We do not honor and develop the role humans have if we do not see this co-creative role with nature. Full regeneration or education requires all aspects of the system, including humans to place its/their full role in the process.

As our businesses more and more need people with the capacity to think and manage them selves, this lack of depth in our education discussion is bad news. Businesses needs people who understand the systemic nature of reality, people who can create innovative new products, processes and systems and people who can work as members of a community. The certainty of the people involved in policy and public discussions – certainty that measurable facts and knowledge, are the gauge to determine a high quality education -- is a problem for business and all of society.

“The one real object of education is to leave a man in the condition of continually asking questions.” ~Bishop Creighton

Is education about increasing a child's vitality, curiosity, intelligence in ways that continually increase the potential to live out the supreme aspirations of their spirit and integrate their highest ideals into their lives?

Do we want each child to living out of and contributing his or her unique essence to the evolution of society?

Then how must the education discussion and practices must be upgraded?

Where are the business leaders in this education discussion?

“Knowledge is not intelligence.” Heraclitus

I voted for more technology because I teach Biology and Natural Science to students with special needs and project based learning is the most engaging approach. I have 3 old computers in my classroom for student use, but these computers do not have programs other than word processing. I would like to have several Mac computers with internet access and a variety of software, microphone/headsets, video cameras for student use, dgital cameras for student use, a SmartBoard and Clicker, just to name a few.

I currently teach with my personal laptop connected to the school's TV. Not ideal, but it is definitely better than pen/paper lectures.

Dear Frustrated Stacy,

Have you applied at your local parochial schools? We are always looking for teachers with "world experience" and patience. No, we don't usually pay as well as public schools, but we aren't in the classroom for money. We are here to reach each child; and, with smaller class sizes, are quite able to do so. Try applying at a Catholic or Christian school. The rewards are great!

What I want most for the upcoming year is a teaching position. My previous position was eliminated due to insufficient student enrollment. It's very difficult finding a new position after the school year is underway, even with my diverse and successful professional experience and advanced degrees.

I work for the teachers union but not on pedagogy. I am the health and safety director. I appreciate Edutopia's holistic approach and would like to see, in the new year, the building environment and ergonomics become part of the on-going conversation. We need to be more cognizant of children's (and staff) need of a safe and healthful environment to support their academic achievement. What does that mean? The building at a minimum should meet USGBC LEED standards and be operated and maintained (and not neglected to become a leaky, moldy, inhospitable environment). Kids and staff need day-lighting, good acoustics and decent air quality (including decent temperature and humidity) so that they can engage. And we need to think about ergonomics for kids - student furniture is flawed in this country - a "one size fits all" approach; we also need to understand that kids need to move in the course of the day - not be glued to their seats and stuck on the computer - opportunities to stand, fidget and change positions. Design of the curriculum and the setting would help immensely - there are good examples in other countries - we don't have to start from scratch

I hope that the education community will join us in a conversation about how we make a school physical environment that is designed to accommodate children not one that children have to "adapt" to. Remember, we as a species have changed very little since we appeared. The social, emotional and learning environment go hand in hand with the physical environment for creating a genuine learning space.

What do you mean by increased access to technology?
This appears to be the highest percentage so far...
Is everyone getting paid as much as they need???
WOW!
What kind of access are you missing?
Thank,
Charlies Best Angel

I would like to see the leaders in our community mentor our students through on-line communities. I think we have so much to offer as teachers, administrators, and parents, but kids want to hear from celebrity icons. Or at least, someone they can respect and look up to, at least my students desire that in individuals.
It's one thing for a teacher or parent to say something, it means more if it comes from a Tony Dungy, or Peyton Manning. (we are Colt's fans).