The national media is in a feeding frenzy at the expense of public schools in the U.S. Education Nation, Oprah, and especially Waiting for Superman blame teachers, unions, and public schools in general for the perceived failure of our education system. The solutions promoted by the corporate elite are more testing and privatization of our elementary and secondary schools. Is this what you want for your child?
Rick Ayers, former high school teacher and current prof at the University of San Francisco, takes on the arguments of “Superman” in this Washington Post blog. Click here to read the story.
This was a very interesting read. I have not seen the movie and probably won’t. My vision for education reform includes local control – smart schoolboards setting policy in the best interests of their communites; teacher empowerment – truly authentic building site councils in Kennewick; genuine teacher participation in adoption of curriculum and instruction; parent participation – authentic site councils and other opportunities; stable funding and adequate teacher compensation; meaningful assessment which informs instruction; broad, rich curriculum serving all students’ needs; an end to teacher-bashing and recognition that “bad” teachers are a tiny minority of the teaching population; renewed focus on teacher support and professional development especially for new staff and veterans needing assistance; an end to union-bashing as unions guarantee due process. This is a partial list.
I was disappointed to read in the TCH that Obama continues his focus on incompetent teachers. As a factor in improving education it is minor compared to other needs yet further persuades the community teachers generally are underperforming. Obama’s support for extending the school year by a month is unrealistic. States cannot afford to pay teachers now and adding 20 days to a 180 day calendar would increase the cost by 11% or more. Summer school is available for students needing extra attention and will remain the most viable extension of the school year.