I read eduwonkette and it is always well researched and current. But this is the first time that I am so excited about what they are writing that I am moved to share. The writers are generating a wish list of their top five wishes for education policy over the next four years.
Wish #5, posted yesterday, wished for “Education Policy Based on Averages, Not Outliers“. Essentially, just because there are some amazingly successful schools, like Kipp or Noble Street, that doesn’t mean that all school are able to achieve such greatness, that if all schools don’t that there is something wrong with teachers, etc. and that poverty is a real issue that can not be addressed by replicating these minority model schools. I encourage you to read the post, as it articulated much of the uneasiness I have felt working in the charter community.
I was particularly struck by this paragraph in today’s post, “Wish #4: Better Alignment of Accountability Systems to School”.
“The story is not that different for the general public. Asked to allocate a total of 100 points across eight goals of public education, a sample of adults divided them up relatively evenly: basic academic skills (19%); critical thinking (15%); social skills and work ethic (14%); physical health (12%); preparation for skilled work (11%); emotional health (11%); citizenship (10%); and the arts and literature (8%).”
I am incredibly dedicated to a public education that focus on critical thinking and emotional health, along with issues of social justice, but had no idea that I was in the majority. This is exciting and given me renewed hope.
I also am frustrated by NCLB and the mess, confusion and wasted resources that it has caused. But I do not believe that it’s 100% wrong, and appreciate that it has brought attention to the disparity in performance between different races, ethnicities, socio-economic classes, and geographic locations. But I too wish we were talking about, and focusing on, a wider range of competencies than reading and math.
I look forward to reading whishes #3, #2 and #1!
Nora