Reality television is huge. It seems to me that we are heading down a road where experts come in to a school and contestants can audition their "talents" to determine who the big winners are that get to be teachers in that school. Who would be the "expert" judges? Television, politicians, and Washington DC would have you believe that it should be Michelle Rhee, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Charter School Founders, Hedge Fund Leaders, and Arne Duncan. Oh, and let us not forget the CEO's of the companies that make all the standardized test because they want someone who will teach to their test so that they can get richer.
If you are wanting to determine the best teachers, shouldn't you ask students, parents, administrators, teacher educators, and fellow teachers? Shouldn't they be on the panel? So far, every program, meeting, panel, and decision about education seems to be missing that one important group of people....the people education influences the most, educators.
Part of me believes educators are left out due to fear. Fear that our voices will be heard. Fear that what really needs to be done to fix education will have little to do with making a profit. The average American citizen fails to realize that education is where big money can be made. The greatest idea for fixing schools could be the next gold mine for an entrepreneur. Heck, even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is starting to get in on the action with his donation to Newark, New Jersey schools. Something tells me he is just waiting for an opportunity to say: "Remember when I....." If you still don't believe me, think about the fact that the new Chancellor of New York City Schools has a BUSINESS background and little knowledge of education. Part of me wonders who the puppet master will be. Education Is not a corporation for sale on the Stock Exchange.
EDUCATION REFORM SHOULD NOT EMULATE REALITY TELEVISION
I couldn't agree more. I thought the same thing when I saw the article about the new Chancellor. When I read about the committees being formed to write national curriculum, there were no educators mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI also agrre with you. The best teachers should be determined by fellow teachers, administration, students, or parents, not celebrities. If people want to move forward in better school systems, then we have to start focusing on what matters most.
ReplyDelete