My perspective on education has changed some over the past few years. Our family has been working with local schools in my area and there are some common issues that I'm hearing.
Teachers are having to teach to a test. IE pump the kids full of what they will need to know to pass, then quickly move on the next quarters test preparation. I've heard this before, the "cram to pass" classes for IT certification is an example. I know many people who are "certified" yet they know nothing about the subject they supposedly are professionals in. Are we doing this to our children? Are teachers cramming our kids so they can pass the tests, sacrificing the real life application and teaching?
"We have to make sure the children can perform. We can't teach them a principle too far way from the test, they might forget." IE We don't have time to teach concepts and real learning. We have to test cram so they can pass the tests.
Some say we need more testing of schools. I would argue we need better teachers and focus less on quarterly testing. Lets cut testing!! We need End of grade testing and fire those teachers who don't teach well.
I mean to be fair, Have a 4 pronged approach to insuring good teachers. One, would be how well there children do on the end of year testing. Second, teacher peer review, and principle review, and a new review of principles to insure a fair Administrative review. This way This way a teacher can focus on teaching and less on getting the children to pass the quarterly test.
Some have said that we need more testing. Or that we should start Grading Schools. Grading schools would be good if the grade was how well the Principle and Administrative staff are running things, Not how well the teachers get kids to pass tests. If all they do in school is testing when will the children have time to learn? To Know how a thing works, What use the knowledge will be in life. A good teacher can teach only if we give them the time to do so.
I do purpose changes to how we do teaching. Technology has given us much greater ability to teach. We should shorten on ground classes and have Online school to supplement and provide the one on one interface that is so needed in school. I mean to add this dimension as early as 5th grade. This way students can learn much faster if they can. And slower students can get the added help they need.
As I work with lawmakers and teachers I'll post more of what I find.
-Peter
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