That's it. I'm fed up.
I am sick of people thinking, talking and acting as if education is no longer a basic right guaranteed by state constitution and laws. Let me say it with no uncertainty: Education is a right.
Society has an interest in having an educated population. With education, society can advance and prosper. Even though individuals may not realize a direct benefit (be users of the system), everyone realizes a long-term benefit through increased knowledge, skill and ability to prosper. That's why the state's paramount duty is to educate everyone.
Note that when I say everyone, I actually mean it. "Everyone" does not mean that we exclude people because of gender, ethnic heritage, religious beliefs, abilities or desire to learn. The days when we could cast aside a few students because, gosh, someone needs to pump the gasoline, are gone. Now, everyone should be able to get a quality, family-wage job. And if they end up pumping gas it's because they want to not because they aren't educated for more.
This week, a group of teachers I was in discussed a proposal for a night program where students could earn credits because they were not able to attend classes due to various reasons, mostly discipline. The statement in the proposal indicated that students should demonstrate that they had a desire to learn in order to re-enter the regular daytime program. No one else has to meet this burden of proof, so why should these students? Desire to learn is not a criteria of being able to access a free public education. A colleague scoffed that we weren't re-creating "separate but equal." I thought, "Don't think it couldn't happen or that some people don't want it."
I recognize that one student does not have a right to hinder another student's right to learn, and state laws allow educators to remove problematic students. However, it is when we lose sight of the fact that we owe each youngster an education that we start to drift and become something with which I don't want to be associated. We can't say students get their one chance and then they're on their own. We can't say that students must conform to one set of ideals or get out. We can't say that everyone must not only be here but want to be here. It is our job to keep trying until students get it. And, yes, for goodness' sake, it is frustrating as heck when the student seems unlikely to ever "get it" or want to be successful.
I think if educators, especially those in leadership positions, took the attitude that we should be doing what is necessary to help students learn instead of punishing students for not conforming to a preconceived or outdated notion of acceptable priorities, then we might just have a better school environment and more kids might actually want to learn.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Why oh why would you delete such a pure, innocent, happy commment? You know it was humorous. You are a ruthless blog administrator, Mr. Loganite sir. I am deeply saddened.
Why oh why would you delete such a pure, innocent, happy commment? You know it was humorous. You are a ruthless blog administrator, Mr. Loganite sir. I am deeply saddened.
why oh why did that comment get posted twice? I suppose you may delete one of them and I will not be too upset. Goodbye.
Education is a right. You will get no argument there; however, there is a social responsibility as well. I believe our current educational state is a reflection of community and family support and involvement. Students with highly involved parents or family seem to consistently perform well in school (generally speaking, of course).
Students must be held accountable earlier on and be provided alternative means of showing academic progress. If the mainstream setting does not appear effective, then an alternative must be used. What would work? Obviously, the mainstream approach isn't cutting it, so what would be an acceptable alternative? Many students simply see school as an arena for social interaction rather than academic progression. If that is the carrot, how do we use that to our advantage?
Students know more now than the student of forty years ago. We keep raising the expectations and standards but expect the success rate to climb as well. This does not seem logical.
What is the answer?
Maybe more Joe Clark-esque discipline?
I'm honestly a firm believer (even though I think that every child in this country should have the right to be educated) that the more we push the ideas of "It's okay if you don't do well in highschool, there is always [insert-some-alternative-program]. This, in turn, develops an "I always get a second chance in life" outlook, and I honestly think it makes people lazy.
Adam,
The problem with that idea is that this is a systemic problem, not a high school problem. People only notice the problem in high schools because there is no social promotion and credits must be earned to graduate. Until high school students are not held responsible for their learnign (to some degree). The buck stops at high school, so the high schools shoulder the blame because they maintain standards. You must meet them to finish.
Students must be held accountable all along or they will never learn their responsibilities until too late. Education is a reflection of society as well, but that's a debate for another day.
Are you saying that we should stop pushing students further in grade school if they're not showing signs of being ready to move on? Because I would totally agree with that.
And I'll agree that a lot starts at home with the children. It's much more common to have childen living in two houses, parents not home as much, and things of that nature...which can interfere with developing good study habits at a young age.
I absolutely believe grade level standards must be met to move on. If the standards are not set early on, how will the students be held accountable for knowledge? Simply using social promotion to push the problem onto the upper grades is an insult to the upper schools and, most importantly, the student. The Loganite sent me an article today from the NY Times stating this idea because he knows I believe in this.
I believe much of student progress begins at home. Many students arrive to start with NO education or minimal at best. Those kids start behind and often never catch up. I believe in free pre-school and other starter programs to help these kids.
We need systemic changes, not just a focus on the upper grades. In one high school class I have, the reading levels vary from 3rd grade level to collegiate abilities. That's an insane range. Help and accountability needs to begin early on.
Loganite,
What is your solution to the problem? I'm curious what you think is "necessary" to help students learn (or want to learn)? You present an excellent summary of what you believe is incorrect about the Night School option, but what is the correct method?
DP, you know I am not against a night school option, but I have two issues here. One, this situation is moving forward without proper consideration and thought. Every boondogle that has occurred since I have worked at this school has started this way: 1. Troubling situation. 2. Someone's bright odea or borrowed idea that "works great" at popular-school-of-the-week. 3. Idea proposed to person with authority to implement it and some "discussion" (not really discussion but reaction to a radical new proposal). 4. Implementation. 5. Failure because of lack of support, buy-in, funds, credibility or creation of new problem. I just think we need to have more actual discussion and planning and get some questions answered before committing to this major change.
Two, this is being proposed as a solution to a symptom not a solution to the actual problem. Of course the staff will end up supporting it. Why? The troublemakers are no longer in regular classes, of course. Out of sight, out of mind. It's a classic case of negative reinforcement -- taking away the adverse stimulus. In the end, though, this program, as proposed, will only create more problems instead of actually solving problems.
-- L.
Loganite,
I did not mean to imply you were against the Night School option; however, I did want to hear what you would propose as an option to solve the problem and not the "symptom." Would you keep the proposed format? What would you alter?
--DrPezz
Post a Comment