Husband of a college prof, father of two teachers. When someone introduces themselves as an 'educator'. I assume they don't teach kids but are in admin. I'm usually right. Has kids worst or better educated since the department of education was founded?
Oh Howard we're right on the same page, here. My little quip about compulsory ed is hyperbole, but your point is well taken. And the biggest issue to me is how what we call "education" strips away kids' natural curiosity and enthusiasm. Student engagement is the crisis we should focus on far more than content testing.
100% agreed! I've found that many of the smartest people I know of either know multiple languages or have studied multiple disciplines. I think it's similar to your initial point in that the variety of interests/skills open people's minds to different ways of seeing the world.
I'm glad you picked up on that theme, Sean! Being a generally curious person with multiple interests is about as important as anything else in education.
I completely agree with you Danny! The better the performance the more memorable the content. Performance Art - as the persona of the actor fades, giving way to the character emerging on stage, imparting the why and wherefore of the story. As a student I remember this magic taking place rght there in front of me. History, Scandanavian and Russian Drama, even (for me the dreaded) math. There were great memorable performances! As an actor at various chapters in my past, I marvel at the preparation and the courage. To transform academic content into engaging performance implies masterful grasp of the content, and the courage to wear one's ego like a gossamer suit. For students it's a memorable, "I'll know it when I experience it," moment. For many students, the exhilaration felt in that moment can ignite a light in the brain, illuminating an auditorium full of possibilities and expectations of which they were not aware. To all and any who recognize and aspire to take such magic into their classroom; oh the memories you will surely make. Bravo! Curtain up! Thanks for the post Danny! Brought back memories of those true teachers who took it to the next level when I sat waiting for the magic.
Thanks so much Jack. And let me just say that whatever your education looked like, it worked! You turned out to be a fascinating, exhilarating human being!
Teaching is an art form! I never realized before that in the name of collecting data and standardized testing, we pushed toward a state of Über-professionalism. I’ve felt for a long time my agency being taken away from me, but I never saw it through the lens of Joh Fredersen keeping the education machine running.
Adrian, I follow your work pretty closely and I can see that you are doing everything you can to push beyond those institutional boundaries. I understand that there are things we "have" to do as teachers, but I try to think of myself as employing a little "Trojan Horse" strategy. Here is your horse, don't ask what's inside, Mr. Assessor!
Students don't want what we are offering. I can't say that I blame them. If you asked any student what education is for they would probably tell you that the reason for learning anything is to improve their test scores. Possibly they would tell you that it will help them get a job. Not the most inspirational message. If a teacher dares to mention the Joy of learning in any educational context the conversation turns to testing and data collection within two sentences.
Preach!!
Husband of a college prof, father of two teachers. When someone introduces themselves as an 'educator'. I assume they don't teach kids but are in admin. I'm usually right. Has kids worst or better educated since the department of education was founded?
Oh Howard we're right on the same page, here. My little quip about compulsory ed is hyperbole, but your point is well taken. And the biggest issue to me is how what we call "education" strips away kids' natural curiosity and enthusiasm. Student engagement is the crisis we should focus on far more than content testing.
100% agreed! I've found that many of the smartest people I know of either know multiple languages or have studied multiple disciplines. I think it's similar to your initial point in that the variety of interests/skills open people's minds to different ways of seeing the world.
I'm glad you picked up on that theme, Sean! Being a generally curious person with multiple interests is about as important as anything else in education.
I completely agree with you Danny! The better the performance the more memorable the content. Performance Art - as the persona of the actor fades, giving way to the character emerging on stage, imparting the why and wherefore of the story. As a student I remember this magic taking place rght there in front of me. History, Scandanavian and Russian Drama, even (for me the dreaded) math. There were great memorable performances! As an actor at various chapters in my past, I marvel at the preparation and the courage. To transform academic content into engaging performance implies masterful grasp of the content, and the courage to wear one's ego like a gossamer suit. For students it's a memorable, "I'll know it when I experience it," moment. For many students, the exhilaration felt in that moment can ignite a light in the brain, illuminating an auditorium full of possibilities and expectations of which they were not aware. To all and any who recognize and aspire to take such magic into their classroom; oh the memories you will surely make. Bravo! Curtain up! Thanks for the post Danny! Brought back memories of those true teachers who took it to the next level when I sat waiting for the magic.
Thanks so much Jack. And let me just say that whatever your education looked like, it worked! You turned out to be a fascinating, exhilarating human being!
Teaching is an art form! I never realized before that in the name of collecting data and standardized testing, we pushed toward a state of Über-professionalism. I’ve felt for a long time my agency being taken away from me, but I never saw it through the lens of Joh Fredersen keeping the education machine running.
Adrian, I follow your work pretty closely and I can see that you are doing everything you can to push beyond those institutional boundaries. I understand that there are things we "have" to do as teachers, but I try to think of myself as employing a little "Trojan Horse" strategy. Here is your horse, don't ask what's inside, Mr. Assessor!
Students don't want what we are offering. I can't say that I blame them. If you asked any student what education is for they would probably tell you that the reason for learning anything is to improve their test scores. Possibly they would tell you that it will help them get a job. Not the most inspirational message. If a teacher dares to mention the Joy of learning in any educational context the conversation turns to testing and data collection within two sentences.