Why is it so hard to reform our K-12 systems? For one, virtually everyone has an opinion on the schools (and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing). We’ve all attended schools. We know what we liked and what we didn’t. And we have thoughts on what would have made it better.
More so, education reform is an emotional process. We all know someone affected by it. Teachers, principals, support staff. But most definitely students. And if we don’t know a student affected today, we sure know one impacted yesterday or tomorrow.
Eduflack is usually up on the soapbox, advocating for inclusion when it comes to stakeholders. If we are improving the schools, we need all the help we can get. That’s why so many reform efforts include parents, community leaders, business leaders, the clergy, and just about anyone else walking through that educational village.
The good folks out at LAUSD seem to understand part of that, but skipped an entire chapter of the book. As part of his proposal to close a number of campuses out in Los Angeles, Mayor Villaraigosa and his team reached out to teachers. They reached out to parents. They sought buy-in and support for the Mayor’s plan. They even allowed these stakeholders to vote on the plan. The LA Times has the story — http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-students2jan02,1,1342026.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true.
Forgotten in this otherwise strong public engagement strategy was the student. The students even actively sought a voice in the process. They have distinct views that impacted the plan. But at the end of the day, according to the LA Times, they were brushed aside so the “adults” could make these important decisions.
And that, my friends, is a huge communications blunder. Too often, we write off students in the reform process, believing that they don’t care, don’t know, or don’t matter. In actuality, students know far more than we give them credit for. They know how important a high school diploma is. They know they need postsecondary education. And they know a good education today results in a good job tomorrow. They get it. And they feel it more deeply than many of the other stakeholders engaged in the process. I am consistently surprised by what I hear from the average middle or high schooler in a focus group or at a public event. They get it (and sometimes understand it far better than their teachers or parents do).
Of course we don’t want to let a group of middle schoolers be the deciding vote on whether their school is to be closed next year. But they should have a seat at the table. They should be part of the process.
If we want today’s students to be the leaders of tomorrow, we need to push them and engage them and give them the opportunities to lead and to understand what public stewardship really is. They don’t get that from a pat on the head or a squeeze of a shoulder. They get it from being treated as equals and given the impressions their voice, opinions, and experiences matter.
Year: 2008
Those Good Ole 2008 Resolutions
Today is the start of a new year. That means it is time for resolutions. Typically, we promise to lose weight, spend more time with our families, and earn more money (at least those seem to be at the top of Eduflack’s list each year). But a new year, particularly an election year, provides an interesting opportunity to determine what we resolve to do to improve K-12 education in the United States.
So here’s my list for what the education reform community should resolve to do in 2008:
* Advocate for reforms that are focused on outcomes, and not just the inputs. Results matter.
* Ensure that all key stakeholders — educators, policymakers, business community, community leaders, and students — all have a seat, and a voice, at the reform table
* Avoid the silver bullets and magical elixirs that are being peddled every day. Real improvement takes hard work, real commitment, and a long-term view
* Break down the silos, instead of building more walls. We all share the same goal — improving student learning and student achievement. We need all the help we can get. We shouldn’t be excluding individuals, organizations, or audiences from the get-go.
* At the same time, we can’t stand for those who put up obstacles — rhetorically, politically, policy-wise, or practically. We can’t win over 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time. That means we need to push through the obstacles, not dwell on them.
* We need to recognize and appreciate the education continuum. PreK is going to be a big buzz word in State of the State addresses this month. But that doesn’t mean that high schools or elementary reading and math no longer merit our attention or funding. K-12 reform means reform across all 13 years of school.
* Put real reforms ahead of NCLB. If there truly is interest in education issues and school improvement, we shouldn’t let a label like NCLB keep us from moving forward.
And as with other resolutions, we need to figure out a way to measure our effectiveness. Yes, there are both quantitative and qualitative ways to measure educational effectiveness. And both play a valuable role in measuring efficacy. Regardless of the tool, we need to make sure our interventions work. And we need to see them work in schools like ours, in classrooms like ours, with students like ours.
And what about Eduflack? I have a few resolutions for this blog as well:
* To provide a regular stream of commentary, offering at least three posts a week (while personally hoping for one a day)
* To be more analytical, and a little less preachy (unless y’all want preachy, the soapbox is always ready)
* To throw a greater spotlight on those issues that aren’t getting the attention they deserve
* To build up the positive, instead of focusing on the negatives
* To accept that NCLB 2.5 (or are we at 3.0) should not be focal point for 2008. If it passes, it passes. If not, we move on. Improvement, not NCLB reauthorization, is the goal.
* To amplify the call for national standards, even if it is as unpopular as a skunk at a garden party these days. You have to stand up for what you believe.
All I ask is that you keep reading, keep me honest, and call me out when needed. Here’s to 2008!
Eduflack By Patrick R. Riccards 