Everybody seems to know what is wrong with education, and every one of these experts can tell you, with absolute assurance that the problem with education is one of the following (in no particular order): rotten teachers, rotten kids, rotten parents, an over-sexed society, politics, entertainment, the media, and let’s not forget, junk food. The public is told that if only these things were changed children would start to learn. If only it were that simple.
“Ockham’s Razor”, named after a fourteenth century English friar, is credited with the stating that the simplest explanation is often the best. Here is one of the unquestioned beliefs, as applied to education, that if test scores go up then education is good. Sadly, a great many people, especially those in the political arena who have the power to control education, have sold American’s on this supposed “truth”. As an educator of thirty years, I can only say that this simple truth is horribly and egregiously wrong. Here is the truth folks, and dear Ockham, no doubt, would agree, when tests scores go up it simply means that students did well on tests. It does not mean that any learning took place, or (heaven forbid) that a student learned to love to learn, or became motivated to learn. There are lots of ways to do well on a test that have nothing to do with learning. I know I am not the only one to see this.
We can assume that children who come from stable homes, have two involved parents, plan on going to college, and have good teachers will probably do better in schools than students who have none of those things. However, that is not always the case as many, so-called advantaged kids fail. The explanations for the students who do well in spite of disadvantages are fascinating and wildly conflicting. No one really knows. They do make for good movies, however. (I remind my students that movies are to make money first and foremost, not to necessarily to enlighten.)
I recently talked with a woman who was retired from thirty years of teaching. She said something that took my breath away because it was so obvious, but I had never questioned it. She said she never for one day felt that the school district valued her as a teacher, and that had she treated her students with the contempt and indifference that she experienced she would have been fired. My mouth dropped. She was right. As one example, teachers are no longer allowed to have students exchange papers to grade them in class (I never did this because kids were too busy seeing what they got on their own papers) because it is traumatic when a student doesn’t do well on a test. Yet, there are schools that post in the teacher’s lounge, or other public places, how teacher’s classes perform on standardized tests. The teachers are to be shamed? Shame may work but it is a despicable way to supposedly motivate people.
I already know who will say, “Well, they should be shamed if their class didn’t do well.” I would say to them, is the doctor shamed if the patient doesn’t heal? No! People would say there are just too many factors that the doctor cannot control. And yet people honestly think that teachers do have that control? Exponentially a teacher is often working with thirty or more students at a time, and each student comes with his or her own backpack full of issues. I can tell you from personal experience having a student whose behavior is sociopathic makes it pretty darn hard to teach. Don’t you think that might affect test scores?
Recently Google was listed as one of the best places to work in the country. They are inundated everyday with thousands of applicants. Why? Google employees talk of the wonderful perks: gourmet food, health clubs, great pay, being able to bring pets to work, flexible hours and top notch health care. Those certainly would be incentives for most people. Yet so many Google employees said that being valued as employees was one of the greatest perks. Mmmmmm.
I would be willing to guess that students who feel valued and respected by their teachers enjoy school, and more than likely learn more from that type of teacher. Does that translate to better test scores? I don’t know, and that isn’t the point of education. The point of education is to learn how to learn. Ideally, it is to learn to love to learn and to take that learning and share it for the greater good of humankind.
Smart school districts, will value and respect their teachers. Even Ockham, I am sure would agree, that treating every school employee with respect would be obvious and (here’s the real surprise) it wouldn’t cost a thing.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
An Elegant Solution for Education
Posted by Liz at 11:00 AM
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7 comments:
If you run for president, I'll vote for you.
Evonne and Gerit,
Thanks so much. Tests are the supposedly "Holy Grail" in education but teachers know they are pretty much meaningless. Still the testing companies continue to make billions. It is sickening because the school districts want to look good at the expense of the kids and teachers. Somebody has to say that the empereor has no clothes, but the powers that be will never listen to a lowly teacher. What do we know?
Good grief, sorry GERRIT!
If you could publish this at the school I work, OMG there would not be ONE teacher that would disagree with you....the list is endless as to what I could say is wrong at many schools...you were very eloquent....BTW, I have added your link to by blog! hope you don't mind!
Just a quick note...my husband has yet to read any blog...mine included....doesn't get it AT ALL....I, too, am not a TV watcher...I'd rather read blogs!!
what a hoot that we have that in common as well.!!
Well said! I think the (over)emphasis on testing is detrimental to most students' education. And teachers (or any employees) who feel valued are much more likely to do a better job, care about students, put in more hours, etc. It's just common sense. I send my kids to a small private school (I'm all for public education, but not so much that I'm willing to prove it with my own kids. Hypocritical, maybe, but our local public schools are atrocious) Anyway, the teachers are paid less than public school teachers, but the administration and parents REALLY value them and appreciate them and take every opportunity to show it. As a result, most of them have been at the school for 10+ years.
liz,
You are now officially a hero to me. What a well done piece!
I am interested in the question of how, in practical terms, we as a society create (or encourage) the kind of respect discuss.
Thanks for this.
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