I've done two tours as an educator in public schools. An eight-year stint in the '70s and then another from the late '80s, up until last year, and I've got to tell you that both were real enjoyable. Look, it's not like a real job. You get to bullshit a lot and you get to play with other kids all day long. I don't want to give the idea that there was no work involved; but, like anything you really enjoy, just putting a lot of time toward an activity that you feel passionate about is not necessarily work.
Anyway, I throw out this tidbit of my past to justify my right to have an opinion of public education today. I think that most people will recognize that public schools are just an extension of the society that we live in and to look at them as if they were some independent entity would be a mistake. There are a lot of good things happening, from technology, to methods, to enrichment programs; but in general the state of public education today sucks. And nearly all that's bad in public schools has been brought on, not by evil doers, slackers, or lazy teachers, it has been created by WOULD BE SAVIORS, WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
Let me give you a little example from Obama's stimulus package. One analysis I read points out that they are going to pump over 200 billion into education for things like hiring better teachers, (who can argue with that?), fixing up old buildings (no problem there), but a big sum is going to "create a better test"(Barack has been listening to some well meaning administrative idiots again). Any teacher that is semi-conscious can tell you after 4 or 5 weeks just where his/her students stand academically. So where does this need for a better test come from? It comes from well intentioned people who want to fix something but who have no contact with students in the classroom and all they have to work with is numbers. By the way, here in Texas, we (the taxpayers) have already dumped billions on the task of building a "better test" and, in fact, we have created an whole TESTING industry headed by ex-administrators, most of whom sleep well at night, convinced that their work is that of helping students. It is not, it is a disease, and you and I, as tax payers, are getting screwed along with the kids.
My point is that GOOD INTENTIONS are nice if you're trying to make yourself feel good, but they often miss the mark and they're everywhere. State legislators who read some sociological study that shows people with high school education earn more money over a lifetime (Duh?) so they write a law that a certain percentage of high school students must graduate (in Texas it's 95% and our principals get real creative with numbers to avoid breaking this law). Or one of my favorites, Texas legislators attempted to "help" increase standards by moving the failing grade of 60 up to 70 (guess what happened?). Social workers who push for laws to make sure that kids with exceptional needs get special attention and they do often by putting them in dumbed down classes and creating a really lazy kid because teachers become fearful of pushing too hard or failing the student (As a parent, my special needs child would have to be almost comatose before I would consent to putting him in one of those "well meaning" resource classes). Parents, teachers and administrators who have an elite educational bias and push all students toward college (The high school where I taught mandated students take a pre-SAT test. You and I paid for these pre-SAT tests for all students even though only about 15% would end up going to college). Public school administrators are so driven by test scores (their high paying jobs depend on it) fiddle with the only things that they can, numbers, tests, and teachers. They create so many little cutesy programs for teachers that the average teacher has no real time for planning or coming up with neat, fun-type activities that make teaching to both the students and the teachers a joy. Instead they spend their "planning time" going to in-service meetings, common planning, researching statistics, blah, blah blah........You should be getting the idea by now. It's hard to get upset at people that are really trying to help, but when it's not only costing the taxpayer a lot and it is actually harming students' opportunities to do something with their lives then somebody needs to say something.
Let me propose some radical steps to save public education from our top-heavy educational bureaucracy and social do-gooders. First, free education from prekindergarten to University. Second, get rid of forced education. Third, let teachers teach.
Free Education- Obama has proposed "helping" students with college and trade schools, and I think that's great,but, if education is the driving force for a healthy nation, socially and economically, (AND IT IS) how come we are not encouraging each and everyone of us to pursue the sharpening of our talents by offering all education as FREE education, to all, not just the wealthy. Now this should offered to only those who succeed. If you fail, you need to lay out for a "cooling off" period or you should pay your own way. Obviously anyone should be encouraged to continue their education and many non-traditional avenues should be counted amongst the education track.
Forced Education - One of the most discouraging situations that I saw as a high school teacher was that there was a large percentage of students (10 -30 %) that were just treading water until they could legally leave. They were taking up space, taking up my time, robbing time from other students, and, of course, they represented wasted money. Let them leave and, certainly, let them return. If they want to take that all important exit test, let them take it. If they pass it, and remember it is just a minimal skills test that at least half the sophomores in high school can pass, then give them a diploma, a pat on the back and smile as they walk out the door. In a FREE EDUCATION society they might want to pursue some sort of trade, let them. Chronic failures, obviously after remedial courses have been offered, should be shown the door or pay their own way, or return after a "cooling off" period.
Something has to be said about teachers. Most teachers really try. They want to be successful. They want students to learn. Pay them like professionals, treat them like professionals, give them goals and then get out of their way and let each use his or her unique talents to get the job done. Don't think that there is a cookie cutter mold for a good teacher. Now some people are naturals, some need a little help and experience before they come around and some very good people should not be teaching. Give teachers a probation period, say 3 years, to get it together, to master this student/teacher thing. During that probation period give them mentors, skills training, whatever, but after 3 years it should be evident whether they are going to make it or not. If not, let them go (parents, students, coworkers, should have input on this, but the principal should do it) and help them find other work. ***By the way that 3 year probationary period would work well for principles and school superintendents too!
Actually, our economic downturn, could be a blessing for education. The Juggernaut of our bloated, top heavy educational bureaucracy feeds at the trough of easy public money. A little tightening of the money supply might be good, especially if the traditional purse strings were given to those who had contact with students (how long with those stupid, time wasting in-services last when stacked up against real classroom needs?.
Ah well, I can dream, can't I?
