You want to know one reason Race to the Top is doomed?
Here's why -
We are now four days into a unit on poetry. Yesterday we began watching the film Dead Poets Society to help illustrate the power of poetry and to try to connect it to students' lives.
They loved it.
We discussed, of course, the idea of "carpe diem," which is vital to the film. We discussed examples from their lives and pop culture.
We looked at Robert Frost's classic, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," which uses the same theme. I showed them a keynote on the first day that highlighted - using examples from pop culture - that the theme of 'seizing the day' is relevant and important to their lives.
So in all that I used various media and technologies. We took an ancient Latin phrase and idea and connected it to modern philosophies and figures. We read and analyzed and discussed poems. All stuff that RTTT wants us to do with kids.
I gave them zero busy work. I didn't lecture extensively.
And then I gave them a homework assignment to tie everything together: go home and find a popular song that deals with the theme of 'carpe diem." Print out the lyrics and write a short analysis of the song and how it represents the theme.
I thought this was great. Not only would I have loved this assignment as a student, but it also should hit them where they lived - when we free read over half the class pulls out their iPods, pops in their earbuds, and goes to work. I thought here's their chance to explore another media in any genre they want (rock, metal, country, rap . . .) and use some higher order thinking skills to analyze.
Now, here is why RTTT is doomed.
Out of 24 bright and able bodied students, 8 turned in their homework. At least half of them finished it in the opening moments of class.
You can get great teachers and give them great lessons and ideas, but YOU CAN'T MAKE THE STUDENTS CARE.
3 comments:
I realize this is horrible, but it should also be common sense... why are they still trying to shove RTTT down everyone's throats if -I'm assuming here, which could be dangerous, but I'll take a chance- the people are smart enough to know this?
It's called free will, and kids tend to use it toward other things in their teenage lives than caring about school. Depressing enough as that is.
Your last line says it all. You just can't - and it sort of breaks my heart.
And add on top of that how often students show up and need a pencil or something else to write with. Or students who saunter in 10-15 minutes late.
I'm all for heaping our share of blame on teachers. We should be held accountable. But let's get serious about holding students and parents accountable too.
And how about holding politicians responsible too? Now that would really be interesting.
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