tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945734877256163713.post1137960484257181561..comments2022-04-07T22:45:12.615-07:00Comments on 21c Teacher: It's About Priorities... Not Time Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07791345727846777943noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945734877256163713.post-51200319938565161372014-03-15T07:09:47.558-07:002014-03-15T07:09:47.558-07:00Hey Bill,
I have been thinking a lot about your c...Hey Bill,<br /><br />I have been thinking a lot about your comment lately (Thanks for the push back btw)... I think we are in a very favourable position here in Canada as far as teachers go. Our salaries are respectful (speaking for Ontario) and standardized testing is limited to math and literacy in grades 3, 6, 9 and 10. Although these test are seen as important they are in no way seen as the be all end all of teacher performance evaluation. I totally agree with you that we need to question ourselves with regards to the skills these tests are actually measuring and how relevant they really are.<br /><br />I also believe that there needs to be some kind of accountability so that we do not fall under the spell of relativism. I am pushing for risk taking, but this risk should be based on criteria and research. It is such an exciting time to be involved in education, and maybe some day someone will be quoting people like yourself as I do Dewey and Montessori which I feel were about 100 years ahead of their time. Actually... I already quote you in that way... <br /><br />I truly believe we will someday look back on this era of education with disbelief. It really is Plato's cave in full effect. Shadows on the wall are being taken as absolutes. The problem we need to solve is how do we free the first prisoner? Plato doesn't explain that in his allegory... Oh... and how do we prevent the other prisoners from killing the philosopher when he returns to he cave?<br /><br />Anyway, it's easy to feel powerless... and stop blogging for 2 years...<br /><br />I guess for most teachers, all they need is a nudge to take the leap.JM Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06118525345413308615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945734877256163713.post-52392280161261104452014-02-27T15:02:31.771-08:002014-02-27T15:02:31.771-08:00Hey Pal,
There's a TON of really good stuff ...Hey Pal, <br /><br />There's a TON of really good stuff in here. I especially like the connections to Prometheus and his brother. That's a neat connection. <br /><br />My favorite line in the whole piece is this one:<br /><br />"My priority is making sure my teaching has a transformative effect on my students - you can't do that by sticking to curriculum."<br /><br />Now here's what I need from you -- and from all of the other folks working beyond the classroom: I need you to say this openly, loudly and often. I grow tired of hearing people talk about the need for teachers to take risks when we're constantly threatened with consequences. If you want risk taking behavior on the part of teachers, you need to create the conditions that makes risk taking possible. If teachers work in an environment where priority is placed on getting through the curriculum and success is defined as students who do well on standardized tests, we shouldn't be surprised when they are unwilling to experiment or look for opportunities to create transformative spaces for kids.<br /><br />I guess I've just sat around enough tables where people have bemoaned the lack of risk-taking and spontaneity on the part of teachers while simultaneously holding teachers accountable for nothing other than marching through a predetermined curriculum in time to take a standardized test each spring. I want decision-makers to put their money where their mouths are. You want risk taking? I'll give it to you when you're ready not to slap my hand if I don't meet the traditional metrics that have always been used to define success in schools.<br /><br />Does this make any sense?<br /><br />Bill<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com