NBC Hosting Education Summit: Can we stop bashing education? (http://zhaolearning.com/2010/07/21/nbc-hosting-education-summit-can-we-stop-bashing-education/)
I was psyched to see this (albeit older) blog from professor and education guru, Yong Zhao. I had heard of Mr. Zhao before on an NPR piece about education and was instantly intrigued. The title of his book, Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization:, struck a chord with me because I have refused to give in to the whole "our public schools are failing" hype that crops up anytime elections come around, the economy is down, or other national news is just slow.I was especially psyched because this week seems to have been "National Bash our Public Schools Week" and I have just about had enough. As Zhao says in his blog,
"if American education has been so bad for over half a century as some would make us believe, how come the U.S. remains the most innovative and competitive nation and its education system is being emulated by countries around the world, especially the ones some fear would out-compete the US such as China?"
With the recent release of "Waiting for Superman", and Oprah's commitment to bringing to the attention of the masses, the plight of the public school (in seemingly all urban areas because apparently all other kids go to private school???), it feels like I have been defending public education at every turn since last Monday.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love Oprah, I do. I don't know what it is but, I will actually be sad to not have her around next fall for those few 4:00s when I'm able to be home in front of the T.V. But her recent episodes, last Monday's and this past Friday's, have made me upset and have forced me to really question how in touch she, or the politicians, policy makers, administrators, and philanthropists she interviewed, really are with the reality of public education in America today.
I, like others who wrote in and actually were featured and seemingly dismissed on Friday's "Reactions to Monday's" show, was moved to write Oprah and her gang a pretty impassioned letter. I attached it below:
My name is Sarah Rubin and I am a middle school teacher in Maine. Like you, Oprah, a passion for education flows through my veins. However, today's show was very hard for me to watch. The system is not perfect. I fight to change the way we educate our children everyday. My classroom is dedicated to including EVERY child, leaving none behind, and assuring that every student who passes through my doors knows that I want them to succeed. I am acutely aware that not every teacher in this country does what I do and my life's work is to change that. Yes, there are schools and teachers in this country that fail kids. I agree with your guests on that 100%. Still, today's show was hard to watch. It was hard because I know that although schools are failing children all over this country, schools in Maine are not. I live in a state that does not have charter schools, has few private schools, and has only one magnet school. I live in a state that has had severe budget cuts, has a high percentage of kids living in poverty, and a lot of kids new to this country struggling to learn English. But more importantly, I live in a state where public education is WORKING for almost all of our children, where EVERY 7th and 8th grader has a laptop and EVERY teacher is Highly Qualified and certified to teach. Could we do better? Of course. Does every child graduate or go on to a four year college? No. But are our schools working? Yes they are. I am hopeful about public education today because I have seen it work in Maine with students from all backgrounds and with all types of obstacles in their paths. I just wish the rest of the country had had the opportunity to see what I see is happening in traditional public schools all over our state and around the country. The whole system is not broken and I pray that the American public and parents and community members in places where public education is succeeding understand that.
So, a couple of days after that tirade, and after finally relaxing a little bit about stupid Oprah's show, I was driving home and heard an interview with "Waiting for Superman" director Davis Guggenheim, that fired me all up again! It was followed by an interview with Steven Farr, Chief Knowledge Officer at Teach for America about what makes a great teacher. Again, I puked in my mouth a little (sorry to be graphic but, ugh . . .). I didn't write a letter this time because I just didn't have the time. But, if you follow this link, you'll see a few people who wrote in on my behalf ;) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130052503
So, although the media seems to have it out for us here in public education, it's good to know there are a lot of people out there in the public sector who realize that thousands of us, at thousands of schools, are doing a great job educating America's youth on the public's dime. And more relevant to us as middle school educators; the middle school movement is reforming and progressing public education in a way that is great for all kids and (I believe) will "save our schools".
Great letter to Oprah Sarah! It is sad that negative news is more popular than positive. They would rather make documentaries and tv shows about how some schools fail than how some succeed. Unfortunately when they focus on a few schools that are failing, it assumed that all schools are failing.
ReplyDeleteMy frustration centers around the issues with evaluation, the idea that teachers are working against constructive, meaningful critiques, and that the "system" is designed to protect the ineffective instructors. I honestly can't imagine dedicated, thoughtful teachers NOT working to make their instruction and strategies beneficial for students. We know that good leadership and administrators are integral in effective schools, and help to provide peer support, professional development, and best practices to be put to use in classrooms. I struggle with the public image that teachers are anti-evaluation. Single snapshots don't tell the whole picture, but over time, effective teachers will stand out.
ReplyDeleteSarah, a great letter here and you have framed the issue very well for us. As frustrating as the school and teacher bashing have been this week, this unprecedented focus on schools may begin to head us in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteOne important question (and Jen hits it as well) is whether the reports of "our failing schools" is accurate. Many people...including a number with research to back up their ideas know that schools in the U.S. are not failing. No one disagrees that schools could and should be better...and many schools are working to make that happen...but many schools (especially those not in the inner cities) are doing exactly what their communities want them to do.
Way to go Sarah! As Ed has said before though, of course we feel this way. We are the ones that are always thinking of new ways to connect with students and bring them up to the next level, but there are many teachers that do not have that same outlook on their job. I applaud you for saying "I am acutely aware that not every teacher in this country does what I do and my life's work is to change that." How can we encourage all teachers to be doing what so many good teachers are already doing? I really think that we need to share more often what we are doing in our classrooms that are engaging and successful (as well as what risks we take).
ReplyDeleteThe current theme of teacher bashing has had me wound up - thank you for eloquently writing to Oprah!
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