Protect the Work We Have Done

In recent days the possible confirmation of Betsy Devos as Secretary of Education has been a hot topic on social media. While I pride myself on remaining publicly quiet on politics in the interest of encouraging free thought among my students, I am never quiet on matters of educational importance. With that in mind, I feel the need to share some thoughts today. Originally, I started writing about Arne Duncan and Betsy Devos, hope that didn’t materialize and the monster it created. That post turned into a pages long rant no one would ever read. Instead, I want to focus on just one argument I have seen popping up among comments over the past few days – the argument that education in America has never been so bad.

This comment makes me sad. It makes me sad partly because it is founded on memes, social media posts, and a general disrespect for the teaching profession. Primarily though, it makes me sad because it just isn’t true.  I could spend pages attempting to dispel every myth out there but I won’t. Instead, I want to talk about what is going right in education today. In doing so, I hope I can shed light on why we, as teachers, are so fearful of handing the keys to someone who seems so bent on a complete reboot of the system. You see, we know there are educational reforms that need to happen. We also know there are some great things happening in education we do not want anyone to undo.

·      Teachers today have a far greater sense of why they are teaching what they are teaching to students. Every day children in the classrooms I visit and in the classrooms my children visit, inform students not only of what they will be learning, but why they will be learning it. As a student, I wanted nothing more than to understand where my learning would benefit me in the future. Today’s students don’t have to guess. They know.

·      Teachers today are working hard to innovate and help students to innovate. Contrary to popular belief, the Common Core many decry actually encourages, pushes, and forces creative and innovative thinking. The literacy standards are filled with analytical thinking requirements. The science standards push students to think creatively. Social studies departments are intent on helping student see the connections between history and current events rather than embracing the memorization model of the past. Above all, the Common Core math many social media posts have criticized and demonized is designed to encourage divergent and creative thinking by honoring multiple paths to solutions.

·      Innovation is tied to practical application. Yesterday my 7^th grader read me the business plan he and a partner had thoughtfully constructed for his social studies class. The assignment required creative thinking, math, and writing skills in a very real world application of learning. This is just one example of many but it seems a little more valuable than the maps I colored in the 80’s or the five years of learning I did about the Fertile Crescent.

·      Speaking of the Fertile Crescent, education today is guided by such clear standards that the days of teachers teaching students the same material again and again are over. Repetition happens when it is useful but no child should have to build a solar system three years in a row and history classes should eventually make it out of Mesopotamia.

·      Every student matters. With a renewed understanding that every child is every teacher’s responsibility, teachers work hard to meet the educational and social-emotional needs of children so they can all be successful. Educating a mind isn’t enough. The complete human being is our mission. There is much work to be done in this area. Not every school consistently meets the needs of students of all cultures and socio-economic groups but we have a system in place to help us track that. We are paying attention and we are working on it. That is progress.

I admit there are plenty of weaknesses in education today. Above all, our government mandated testing systems do a poor job of measuring the actual work the Common Core encourages us to accomplish. Reforms are necessary, but we cannot advocate for throwing the baby out with the bath water. Many good things are happening in education despite what the meme pushers want you to believe. Many great teachers are working hard to meet the needs of every child. Many positive changes are occurring. It is ok to admit that the last administration didn’t get it perfect with regards to education, but when I don’t like my doctor I certainly don’t go out and hire an entrepreneur because I need a change and “she can get things done.” I find a new doctor. I will be very honest with you. Teaching is more specialized than you realize. What we do is difficult for any outsider to understand. We need a leader that understands and can help us maintain the positive work we are doing, while reforming the pieces that are broken. While I do not fear alternatives, ideas from the outside, or challenges to the status quo, I fear being led by someone who does not understand what teachers do and why we do it. I fear being led by someone who may buy into the social media fueled frenzy that says US education is in a shambles. I fear being led by a businesswoman who may not understand that schools are not businesses.