Education Reform: Some Advice from a Veteran, In-the-Trenches Teacher

With last month's opening of the movie "Waiting for Superman", and its
requisite discussion on Oprah, education reform has once again taken center stage. I was surprised to see that the movie did a decent job in bringing several of the issue's biggest hurdles to light, even daring to pin some of the blame on teachers' unions. I noticed it did appear, however, to avoid parental responsibility. I was curious about the marital status of the mothers that were featured and wondered if a father was active in the children's lives, but I guess that would politically insensitive. And, yet, parents are the schools' and children's biggest hope ... and hurdle. At times it seems that parents are more consumers of education rather than its supporters and advocates.

With Nixon having founded the Department of Education in 1972, I believe it was, many wonder if the nation's level of educational rigor hasn't consistently spiraled downward over the decades. Teachers and their unions have fought any vestiges of educational reform, kicking and screaming, with the most recent resistance being toward No Child Left Behind. All during the NCLB era, I frequently heard my colleagues snort with disdain at the mention of its or Bush's name. The unions their faithful adherents to the ideals of public education have quickly reacted with cries of foul whenever vouchers and school choice are mentioned. And, yet, in the early days of the 2004 elections when candidates' names were being bandied about, I marveled at how teachers seemed to gloss over Obama's embrace of vouchers.

Then, there are the ever-present calls for lengthening the school day and / or school year. Case in point: the teachers' union Darling himself. (See "Obama proposes longer school day.")  I know the teachers' union would fight, given its track record of fighting any attempts at education reform. The community should fight against such proposals, as well, because it is inhumane to have kids in class that long. But, unfortunately, those parents who are merely consumers of education would love the extra babysitting service the schools could provide them.

With all my years as a public school teacher, I have some very strong opinions about what we should and should not be doing in our schools. For true education reform, here are some ideas that must be taken into consideration, although not all of these will be "professional" or "cerebral" ... these are more reality- and practicality-based:

1) Adopt the 3-high-schools-type of public education used in other countries, against which U.S. schools are always compared -- college prep, business school, and trade school.  If American schools really want to compete, or be "as good", then we all need to be playing by the same rules.  In other words, our education systems need to be truly the same.  However, there are repercussions, such as the following realities ...

[Caveat to #1: In those countries that employ three different types of high schools, based purely on academic ability of the student, no special accommodations are to be made for kids with any disabilities. This is a critical fact that goes unmentioned when we get the annual news report that "our schools are crap." I am, however, saddened at this possibility when I think of students I've had in the past who were able to go on to college, but would have not been allowed to do so in other education systems.

When the annual "comparisons" are made, there truly is no genuine or fair comparison of US students to their counterparts around the world -- they are totally different education systems. The downside to other countries' education systems is that in those systems, students are sadly pigeon-holed into particular professions at an early age. For example, in Germany, a kid must make his/her decision of "what do I want to do with my life?" in the 5th grade. Pretty major decision for a little kid.]

2) Given the above situation in other countries, such a system adopted here would be the end of mainstreaming and inclusion in public schools. No accommodations are made in those countries for disabilities - not on the scale that they are here.

3) End social promotion of students to the next grade level. If the student can't demonstrate mastery of specified skills or maturity at his or her level, then the prerequisite for the next level has not been met and the student should be held back.

4) Set minimum attendance requirements: if a kid misses X number of days during the school year, he/she must repeat the year. There are too many enabling parents that keep their kids home for the most ridiculous reasons.

5) Pass a federal law that no class has more than 20 kids in it. That will solve just about all problems. It's criminal to put 30+ kids in a class, especially in elementary school. Also, elementary school teachers should not be forced to take on all the extra duty that it typically forced upon them. It's negligence how we treat elementary school teachers -- and at the most impactful time of children's lives, no less!

6) Do away with "ISS" -- "in-school suspension." It's a flippin' joke!!! If the kid acts up, make mom or dad come and get the kid. Behavior problems will drop drastically after dad or mom has had to leave work early a time or two because Junior can't / won't behave.

7)  Ongoing training and staff development of teachers need to be more practical than theoretical.  Teachers grow weary of "professional development" that frequently winds up being nothing but theory and little in the way of equipping teachers with concrete tools and new ideas for the classroom. 

Well, I'm sure that's just one installment of more suggestions to come.  It's now time to get ready for the lovely Thanksgiving holiday ... get some family time, some great grub, and some extra down time.  Maybe I won't be so cranky then ...