Shouldn't School Mirror Life?...

It seems recently in education, the overwhelming concern of politicians and bureaucrats is to improve standardized test scores. Yesterday, I raised the point that these efforts often leave our proficient and advanced students sitting in classrooms essentially being neglected while instruction targets students in the "low-middle". While my blogs will primarily deal with the advanced kids, tonight I wanted to address some of the dangerous ramifications current trends in public education have on all kids.

Before continuing, let me first say that I am a huge advocate of public schools and feel blessed to be working in a great district, with amazing people, in a wonderful community. We are all doing the best we can. But, given the senseless, paperwork- heavy, micro-managed, and plainly illogical mandates coming from the state level and the enormous expense of these "improvement" agencies and plans, I'm beginning to have serious doubts as to how we are actually helping kids to become smart, independent, deep thinkers. I also question how well we are preparing them for life when the school system works nothing at all like life. Let me give you an example...

I would venture to guess that most of us (if not all of us) spend the bulk of our time as adults doing things we perform well at and things we are interested in. I know I do. Whether it is teaching, writing, playing tennis or going to the beach, most of my time is dedicated to my strength areas and areas of passion. Now, I will grant you I do spend some unpleasant minutes attempting to "crunch" away my middle-aged middle with dreaded sit-ups. However, for my own happiness, sanity, and peace of mind, I do not make it a huge part of my day. I work on that "weakness" but not at the expense of abandoning everything I am good at or enjoy.

My question is this; if life works that way, why can't school work that way? Lately, it seems school functions in the exact opposite way life does. Let's look at Joey, a "B" student in all subjects but two. In art, an area where he shines and experiences the most joy in his school day, he is getting an "A". In math, an area where he shows little interest or aptitude or both, he is getting a "D". The State agency solution for Joey? Take away his art elective and give him double math. Now, I don't know about you, but if I were Joey, I would get mad. My likely response would be "take this school and shove it!". I'd probably get pretty depressed too and dread going to school every day. Teacher training 101 told us the punitive approach is both unfair and ineffective...

I'm not saying we allow Joey to give up on math. Some day, he may learn to love it and be great at it. I hope he does. But, are we instilling in him a passion or excitement for the subject by ramming it down his throat while we take away his favorite part of the day? Even if our sole purpose as educators is to bump up State test scores, how about helping educators out by allowing us to do what we do best? Let us engage and inspire children to eagerly attend and do well in school.

If I were a gambler, I would lay my money on higher test scores coming from a class where the students love to be there, have most of their day spent on building up their strengths and interest areas, and having their deficiencies worked on but in smaller, focused, palatable chunks. I certainly wouldn't bet on the class where bored and depressed kids get double and triple timed on things they don't like or do well at and spend little of their day doing anything that stimulates them.

Then again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe instead, life should try harder to imitate school. Hmmm how about this? Since I have an unusually heightened fear and dislike of guns, I should give up my day job and become a hunter. If I do it over and over, will I get better at it? Probably but I'm guessing only marginally not to mention I would likely be pretty sad. Will I develop an appreciation and love for hunting down and killing things? Doubtful. Will I remain a solid teacher if I'm hunting most of the day? Also doubtful. What I do know is that life would suck. I'm depressed- maybe I'll do some more sit-ups to put a smile back on my face...