Democratic Education

Best Damn video I've seen all year.



Thoughts while I watched this --

1 out of 3 will graduate. Wow.

Lack self-direction and problem-solving skills. I couldn't agree more. And it's all because of how we have our schools structured. Not just sit in rows and listen to the teacher, but it goes far deeper than that. It would be interesting take examine our curriculum and assignments to see how often students are allowed to create, synthesize, evaluate, and analyze instead of just remember and recite and regurgitate.

No wonder (and I'm as quality as anyone) most students just show up with a "just tell me what to think" or "just tell me what I need to know to pass the test" mentality.

Is it any wonder, then, that we churn out employees who show up to work with the attitude of "just tell me what I need to do to earn a paycheck" and then we wonder why they lack self-direction and problem-solving skills.

And Rhee and Duncan and Vallas and their love for high stakes testing and standardized curriculum just fuel this type of mindless schooling. Because - as bad as it sounds - not every (you hear that NCLB) student is going to self-directed and eager to problem-solve. Sorry. But a portion of students are. And those bright and eager and motivated students are turned off when we have to drag everyone else along to learn basic skills.

"Our system tests and grades young people, turning them off learning" Amen. Now I'm not as far out there as Alfie Kohn, who would abolish all grades, but I'd rather have that than our current mess of grade inflation and passing kids a long to not hurt their self esteem.

All young people (now you got that part right NCLB) have strengths. It's just that schools don't (and maybe can't) cater to them all.

Which is why I say let's have absolute unstandardization. One size does not fit all. Let's have liberal arts high schools, foreign language immersion high schools, technical schools, trade schools, on-line schools, schools that focus on internships or intense travel or apprenticeships . . .

Have the primary grades discover their students' passions (which they used to do wonderfully before NCLB crammed testing down their throats). Have middle schools unlock them and then have high schools that immerse students in their passions and interests. Then get the hell out of the way and let the magic happen.