…through experience, we gain knowledge…
I’m trying to find the silver lining in the rather chaotic educational experiences we are having these days. I’m hoping that this experience helps me find knowledge needed to avoid the chaos and perhaps help others. I cannot help but wonder, “if I could overhaul the education program completely…TODAY, could I do it better”?
Here’s my plan for what I would do for high school:
First, I would start by removing those in administration that have “gotten comfy” in their position. Why? Because I have come to realize that a LOT of those in these positions of “power” just got there because they were in the right place at the right time. I would assess their function and see if it should be a position eliminated or refilled. I would also find out how many teachers and staff have had jobs outside of education. Based on numbers, which I am certain would be low, I would require them to ‘volunteer’ during the summer, you ARE getting paid anyway, in the industry they “teach” for the summer – for example:
- Counselors – find a need for career counseling in halfway homes, juvenile centers, colleges etc.
- Technology – find something in the corporate world;
- English teachers – do some work with newspapers or TV stations;
- Athletic Directors, PE Teachers, Coaches (who don’t teach another subject) – volunteer for local youth or adult leagues or partner with a college coach/athletic department
For those few that may have chosen the education after working corporate; let’s put your talents to use. Hold clinics during the summer that allow students to have a more personal connection with you. Learning in a less stressful environment is better for ALL parties involved. Teachers could help a student build their passion for writing or music or math. Counselors could ACTUALLY offer career advice, get to know the student, investigate for them their options, listen to them talk about their dreams and give them a healthy dose of reality when needed. Don’t tell a student, who’s popular and a talented singer, that they will become the next American Idol – give them the reality shot. It’s not something to hang your hat on and provide the basics of life. Don’t let the star quarterback believe that football will ALWAYS be there; point out what happens if there’s a severe injury or if another star quarterback wants it more.
There’s a HUGE difference in the corporate vs education work environments and by stepping out of the comforts of school, these teachers can TRULY become educators for our kids and TRULY prepare them for the “real world”.
Second, I would remove Standards Based Grading (SBG). Let’s face it folks, in real life, NO ONE gets to retake anything until it’s right. This entire concept is enabling of both the students and teachers. The student, being a normal kid, realizes that they can take a test (i.e. assessment) repeatedly until they get it right as a way to put it off until they are in the mood to deal with it. The teacher, by allowing retakes, is permitting the student to be lazy. It’s frustrating as a teacher, I think, to have to keep up with the extra grading as well as keeping track of who has a retake and what portion they have to retake. I’ve also discovered that teachers don’t really look at retakes the way I do. To me, if I were to give a student repeated retakes and they are consistently missing ‘targets’, I would take it personal. I would have no choice but to feel I had failed that student and require myself to sit with that student until my message was more clear. Let’s face it, putting grades in one time is time consuming, why would I really want to do it multiple times?
Third, I would remove history, government, geography and world civilization. Why? Well, plain and simple. By the time they reach high school, they’ve learned enough about Presidents, war, cultures, foreign affairs and exotic far-far away destinations. If they want to be a history major or a world traveler, they can work on that in college. So what would kids have in high school?
BASIC LIFE SKILLS
- Learn to write in cursive – sign your name at the VERY least, in ink;
- Learn to properly type on a keyboard and use a word processing application PROFICIENTLY;
- Learn how to write checks, balance a check book and manage bank accounts;
- Learn how to prepare a resume and cover letter;
- Learn how to complete a job application;
- Learn how to apply for a loan – teach principle, interest, debit, credit & investments;
- Learn how to research properly – use the library and learn the card catalog system;
- Teach kids how to find a career that fits THEM and their unique talents & personalities;
- Teach kids how to interview for a job;
- Public speaking, everyone needs it so just as well get it out of the way in high school;
- Drivers Ed, what ever happened to this in schools? It is desperately needed.
- Introduce actual CAREER classes like, architecture, engineering, music production, nursing, sports management, crime scene investigation etc.
I have to say; if the schools would adopt this program; I think parents should take part at least ONE day and bring the real world to the classroom. Spend the day showing them what YOU do to provide for your family. By partnering with professionals in the community; students will have a direction in life.
This is what I call A TRUE EDUCATION REFORM!!! Let’s get it started…………
CLIMB ABOARD MY SOAPBOX 