Reflections on the five key elements of needed change in our education system.
" “What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must we want for all children in the community. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy” John Dewey
Mr Dewey was accurate in his statement about all students should receive the best education possible not only for the individual child, but for the benefit and health of the community. Currently our education system in the United States and more specifically, California, have failed in meeting the high standards for education for all students, irregardless of ethnicity, gender, or income levels. There are areas of the state where the high standards are being met. These areas are traditionally wealthier communities where more tax dollars are allocated to education. How can the education system be changed to meet the high standards that NCLB and/or state guidelines dictate? In her book The Flat World of Education , Linda Darling Hammond guides us on a journey of how education has changed around the world, specifically Finland and Singapore from bottom of world rankings to the top in about 30 years. The United States has moved in the opposite direction on the global rankings from top to bottom in the same amount of time. Mrs Hammond proposes five key elements that need to be implemented to change the direction of our education system. Not for the world rankings, but for the longevity of the United States as a strong economic force. The five elements that Hammond proposes are:
1. Meaningful Learning Goals
2. Intelligent, reciprocal accountability systems
3. Equitable and adequate resources
4. Strong professional standards and supports
5. Schools organized for students and teacher learning.
It is highly unlikely that these changes will be made in our education system without legal action. Based on the history of how things develop in education, legal action is where most of the major policy occurs. Until changes on a federal or state level are made, there are many things that we as educators can do in our classrooms and our school sites to begin the change. All five of the elements can be implemented and supported by us. Meaningful learning goals are critical in the classroom. At my school site we are required to have learning objectives everyday posted. By the end of the class, every student is should be able to meet that goal and all work done in the class is driven by that goal. If the work does not take the students toward that goal, it should be changed so it does meet it. The third element regarding adequate resources was challenged with the Williams Act, whereas each student has a textbook for the class. With technology, adequate resources is a challenge due to many students not having the technology to complete assignments. It is challenge that my school site is currently working on. We are increasing the amount of technology available to students while they are at school with the purchase of several computer on wheels (cows) that have laptops for each student and five computer labs that are adequate for 1:1 use. However the most important element that needs to be implemented is number 4: Strong professional standards and supports. We need to elevate teaching to a level of other professions such as engineers, doctors, and lawyers. Elevating the profession would assist in bringing more individuals into teaching so there would not be a shortage. In addition,
Mr Dewey was accurate in his statement about all students should receive the best education possible not only for the individual child, but for the benefit and health of the community. Currently our education system in the United States and more specifically, California, have failed in meeting the high standards for education for all students, irregardless of ethnicity, gender, or income levels. There are areas of the state where the high standards are being met. These areas are traditionally wealthier communities where more tax dollars are allocated to education. How can the education system be changed to meet the high standards that NCLB and/or state guidelines dictate? In her book The Flat World of Education , Linda Darling Hammond guides us on a journey of how education has changed around the world, specifically Finland and Singapore from bottom of world rankings to the top in about 30 years. The United States has moved in the opposite direction on the global rankings from top to bottom in the same amount of time. Mrs Hammond proposes five key elements that need to be implemented to change the direction of our education system. Not for the world rankings, but for the longevity of the United States as a strong economic force. The five elements that Hammond proposes are:
1. Meaningful Learning Goals
2. Intelligent, reciprocal accountability systems
3. Equitable and adequate resources
4. Strong professional standards and supports
5. Schools organized for students and teacher learning.
It is highly unlikely that these changes will be made in our education system without legal action. Based on the history of how things develop in education, legal action is where most of the major policy occurs. Until changes on a federal or state level are made, there are many things that we as educators can do in our classrooms and our school sites to begin the change. All five of the elements can be implemented and supported by us. Meaningful learning goals are critical in the classroom. At my school site we are required to have learning objectives everyday posted. By the end of the class, every student is should be able to meet that goal and all work done in the class is driven by that goal. If the work does not take the students toward that goal, it should be changed so it does meet it. The third element regarding adequate resources was challenged with the Williams Act, whereas each student has a textbook for the class. With technology, adequate resources is a challenge due to many students not having the technology to complete assignments. It is challenge that my school site is currently working on. We are increasing the amount of technology available to students while they are at school with the purchase of several computer on wheels (cows) that have laptops for each student and five computer labs that are adequate for 1:1 use. However the most important element that needs to be implemented is number 4: Strong professional standards and supports. We need to elevate teaching to a level of other professions such as engineers, doctors, and lawyers. Elevating the profession would assist in bringing more individuals into teaching so there would not be a shortage. In addition,