I have a dream that one day America's students will free from the tyranny of high stakes testing, able to learn and showcase their prowess in any way they choose.
I have a dream that classrooms will be student-centered with all students engaged in learning activities that are relevant and promote higher-level thinking.
I have a dream of working with students in small groups and one-on-one without time or curricular constraints, that students will want to learn from their teachers in a collegial and collaborative manner without focusing on points or grades.
I have a dream that all classrooms will be provided with resources and tools regardless of budgets or demographics, that classrooms will be comfortable and engaging learning environments without desks situated in linear rows.
I have a dream that students will be knowledgable and appropriate digital citizens so that classrooms across the country and world will be connected, sharing their learning experiences.
I have so many dreams for myself, my students, classroom, colleagues, and beyond, but I feel that dreams of today's educators are being squashed by forces beyond our control. How can we achieve our educational dreams when testing dictates schedules, access to resources, and curriculum? How can my students achieve their dreams when they are pulled in so many directions? I don't have the answers, but I can do anything and everything in my power to guide all towards a better education.
What are your dreams?
A big thank you to Sylvia Duckworth who made a #sketchnote out of this blog post. So cool!
New #sketchnote: "I have a Dream" @KtBkr4 @sjgorman @coolcatteacher @alicekeeler @AngelaMaiers @edutopia @mtechman pic.twitter.com/cuCcugTpib
— Sylvia Duckworth (@sylviaduckworth) January 20, 2015
Great insights from an educator on the future of public education. If your dream is to become a reality, we must start today. In King's last speech at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ, he says, "I may not get there with you, but we as a people will get to the promise land." He was referencing equality. Your thoughtful insights are relevant and much needed and we can make it happen - but together. What impacted this country and Georgia, and Mississippi and Alabama and Louisiana was King's, Shutterworth's, Parks', Wilkins' and others united effort to not take injustices anymore. The same has to take place when it comes to the educational system in America. It has to start on a grassroots level. We've got to demand that politicians - on school boards and local, state and national government - to stop making policies that are literally destroying the educational system that has now become the breeding grounds for the prison system. I appreciate your insights, and I truly wish that you will post it on as many social media sights as possible. Let's start today and make the dream a reality.
ReplyDeleteDavid Hoey - Shreveport, LA
Hi David, I think the folks on Twitter and other social media platforms are starting the grassroots movement for a better educational system in America. Getting politicians to listen to us has been the struggle-- at least here in NJ it has been an uphill battle with our governor to say the least. All stakeholders-- especially parents-- need to be more vocal to stop the policies. Thanks for commenting & sharing this journey with me!
ReplyDeleteHello everybody,
ReplyDeleteI heartily agree with this part: 'I have a dream of working with students in small groups and one-on-one without time or curricular constraints, that students will want to learn from their teachers in a collegial and collaborative manner without focusing on points or grades. I have been teaching English in France for 28 years and I feel powerless and appalled in front of some of our students' lack of ambition for learning.
I do not teach English the way I used to, thank God-Allah-Buddah, I now insist much more on self-respect, self-esteem and the imperial necessity to work, make efforts to develop one's own sense of responsability and imperial necessity to work, make efforts to develop one's own sense of responsability
make it to the top!
I feel exhausted, not because of my 54 years, because of the successive tidal waves of 'ministres de l'éducation nationale' who spend their time flip-flopping in the name of education! The latest? In the 'Académie de Toulouse', the superintendent of schools has decided to take one hour off the official program for the first years: instead of 4 hours a week, they will have 3 hours a week. And why? as a cost-saving measure. Less education = more delinquency ? = more ' displaced' people in prison?? = more Charlie hebdo???
It is dreadful but I still have a dream!
@Anonymous, How did you end up in France? I'd love to hear your story! Mandates in the current educational climate are not designed for creating fair weather for teachers and students. Everything seems to be about $$$$. How do you think we can change the system on a global scale?
ReplyDeleteNice. Will share with my staff.
ReplyDeleteSounds like homeschooling or bringing elements of how we teach our children at home in to the classroom.
ReplyDelete