Our zoo has undergone a multitude of changes over the years. When I was young, it was a simple loop with animals in cages and a petting zoo. It now has an Australian Outback, an African Veldt and an Indonesia Rainforest. In fact I was so lost, Princess had to guide the way since she and her class had visited the zoo on a field trip. Even Little Poof was given a new coat of paint and was moved to an awesome plaza.
Things change. It is a fact of life. Educational reform is really about change. Since I first stepped into a school in 1985, I have seen huge changes in education. Some were wonderful. Some took some getting used too. In my 28 years of teaching, I have seen teachers grumble, become frustrated and voice their opinion. I have never seen them refuse to accept change. I have never seen them not do their best to make sure their students succeed. That is why the way teachers are being painted in this new era of "educational reform" is baffling.
I am sure you have been hearing about Dr. Tony Bennett in the news. I am from Indiana. I have spoken to the man (one of our teachers' husband is a state senator so we were graced with Dr. Bennett's presence not once,, not twice, but three times...go figure.) My only impression was that the man was first and foremost a politician. During his tenure, I never felt the teacher voice counted or mattered. Still I am not one to say that the educational reform he wanted was evil. He had some good ideas, some fair ideas and some really misguided ones.
Did he change the accountability system to benefit a political donor? I don't know. I do think he realized the system was flawed. However, unfortunately many people tried to tell him that when he rammed it through the legislature nine months earlier. My sorrow is that if my district's high school had been the one that came up as a C, I don't think he would have rushed to make changes or even seen the need for a change. In his mind, a public high school that had a 24% pass rate in Algebra would never be an A school. My issue is that he didn't take the time to really listen to those around him, that he didn't have faith in his public schools and that he was convinced that reform is a one size fits all. Let's just say any school no matter how many students took the test should never receive an A if only 24% pass algebra. A small number of students is no excuse. There is not a teacher alive who doesn't have a good idea on whether their students can pass the state test. It should have been no surprise to anyone.
Teachers are not opposed to educational reform. They embrace better instructional methods. They welcome new and better ways to reach students in an ever changing world. Just because a teacher believes a reform is not in the best interest of their students doesn't mean that they are obstinate. It just means they know their students. In fact, teachers know better than any administrator, consultant or legislator how to bring about change in their own buildings. It is through open discussion, collaboration and colleagues who not only lead the way but support their fellow teachers.
Instead we have an environment where education has become more about politics. Who has control of the governor's office, the house and the senate determines policy. There are no bi-partisan collaborations that are working for our students. There is only finger pointing and name calling. Business and money have crept into the classroom. Princess did a practicum in an urban school. While she was there, the teachers were informed that they would all be removed from their classrooms because they were a failing school. She was kind of surprised because on average, they appeared to be trying really hard. She and I went online to look at their school stats. The majority of their staff were within three to five years of their college experiences. So one would assume they had the benefit of the best and latest educational research. So unless this school had the extreme misfortune to hire only the worst our universities had to offer, I would guess that teachers were not the problem. We took a look at their population. Of their students 98% received free lunch. That means 98% of their students were coming from extreme poverty. It wasn't that their teachers couldn't teach or their students couldn't learn. The hurdles they had to overcome and the ground they had to make up was huge.
Now I do not claim to know a lot about educational politics, philosophies and research. I just know what I have seen after 28 years in the system. If I could sit down with the powers that be, I would say this:
President Obama, I understand we are a global society and while the idea of common core standards is intriguing, I don't think they deliver because education is not a one size fits all. I wish everyone had taken more time in getting them out and really considered how they fit with what we know about cognitive development. I think there is a place, but I am not sure I want to hang my hat on them.
President Obama and the US Dept. of Education, stop the competitive grant cycles. If you have money for education, get it to each and every student. Why should a child miss out because his state's grant writer is not as eloquent as another state's? Competition may challenge states to deliver their best, but it also has an ugly side where agendas interfere with true innovation.
Bill Gates, Jeb Bush and everyone else who is doing the "business of education," please remember we are not and never will be like a business model because we do not have a product, we have living breathing human beings who are undergoing fantastic changes almost daily. Each one is not like the other. I applaud you for trying to get resources to students, but please be sure you really understand who they are. The students who enter our classrooms today are nothing like they were when you were in school. They have the same potential, but their background and preparation are vastly different. If you want to make an impact in education, throw your money at early education. It is only when every kindergarten student can start with the same set of basic skills that we will have a chance to get them all reading by third grade.
Indiana lesgislature, quit worrying about reelection and the future political ramifications of your decisions and start working on learning about those students you represent. Quit listening to those with tourism interests and start looking at a different way to do school. Twelve weeks off in the summer is hurting many of our students. If you want true reform, then be willing to look outside the box. Work with the Superintendent of Instruction that we the people elected even if you don't always agree. Collaborate, discuss and go out and listen. Visit a school during the next statewide test and watch some of our students take the test. Sit next to the child with autism who is anxious because his computer keeps stopping. Remember that any school that can limit class size or decide who to educate and who not to educate can never be compared to one that willingly takes any child who walks through the door no matter what number the current enrollment is or the amount of financial resources are available.
Governor Pence, take the money you are paying your own educational expert and give it to a school to hire extra interventionist. You have an educational expert that we the people chose. Meet with her, collaborate with her. As a taxpayer I am offended you would misuse my tax dollars in such a way. The same goes for the State Board of Education. Shame on you for taking those millions of dollars away from our students to develop your own educational philosophies instead of working with the system we the people chose.
I deeply appreciate and understand the difficult task you all have. Just remember what I need in my classroom is not what the teachers need in the school just 15 miles north. Each school needs resources and the freedom to do what is best for their students. Continue to challenge me to think about my instruction, but do it in a way that builds me up not tears me down. Give me resources. Hear my voice, Make my profession one that is deeply revered. Above all remember, Little Poof still has a place at the zoo. There is room for tradition and what we have done in the past.
Okay enough politics and rhetoric. I have a classrooms to get ready, materials to create and students to teach...that is what really matters.
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