VIDEO COLLECTION: Daily Show on Teachers (plus some "real news" from PBS)
I've been remiss not dedicating some space here at MC POP for discussion of the cataclysmic events that have occurred in Wisconsin (not to mention Egypt, Libya and Japan). Before our baby Téa was born this September I was able to do a bit more blogging and content creation here at MC POP. Now, with a lot less sleep, and many jobs to juggle I've focused on keeping things moving here by curating the site, sharing resources, and highlighting all the great things MC POPPERS post.
That said, I want to share some of my very tiny and shifting thoughts on education and a collection of - I think - essential video clips from The Daily Show (plus one from PBS). Hopefully, this post will allow folks to discuss their thoughts on the state of education in the US.
I've taught for thirteen years, trained teachers for ten years, and worked as a "quasi administrator" (curriculum coordinator/teacher coach) for four years at a Title 1 high school. This work, coupled with my graduate coursework and other life experiences inform some things I believe (presently)…
• I believe all students can be awesome in different ways.
• I believe teachers should do everything in their power to make learning meaningful, engaging, and fun for students.
• I believe standardized tests are often silly ways to measure student growth. Elaboration would require a number two pencil.
• I'm pro-union, but I think perceptually and practically they have a long way to go in addressing teacher quality and tenure. These are the PR lines that the Waiting for Superman crowd (and funders - see this excellent issue of Rethinking Schools Magazine "Saving our Schools from Superheroes") have used to frame the debate. I think unions need a massive dose of creativity to reframe the work of educators and their relationship to policy and power. THIS CLIP tells a sad story about public discourse on the teaching profession. We rarely hear teachers talk about their practice in major media outlets - just pundits, policy makers, and sometimes administrators like the one featured in that clip.
• I believe that even the worst teachers work their butts off. In fact, in some ways, the less you work the harder your job becomes. Rarely does a businessman or woman come in direct contact with 120-150 clients a day; working with students is something you can rarely "phone in." That said, teachers who are not student-centered, lecture and rely on PowerPoints/textbooks are one of many reasons the media can have a field day demonizing teachers. Anyone? Anyone?
• I believe the Common Core standards are less then ideal (and it is notable that most of the major disciplinary organizations did not sign on to them - see this document circulated in policy circles last winter). Despite their warts, if the Common Core starts creating economies of scale and levels the state by state testing system created by NCLB - that has the possibility to move things in a more positive direction.
• I believe just because one is an educator you are not a saint. In fact, some of the most disturbing people I've ever met were educators so intoxicated with their power over students (and in the case of some administrators, teachers) that Mussolini might have been their mentor. That said, as a profession we are infinitely closer to the saintly end of the vocational spectrum than say military contractors, hedge fund managers, and oil barons.
Each of these little belief statements could be a whole blog. I just wanted to put where I stand out there as a warm-up for the best ed policy discussions that have been occurring in the US mass media. Yet again, our "most trusted" news source is The Daily Show hosted by comedian John Stewart.
Those of you stateside that follow ed policy have likely seen this collection of video clips embedded EVERYWHERE but if you haven't you can watch them all below.
FWIW, I think the best clip is Samantha Bee imitating MTV Cribs as she tours the "cribs" of American teachers. I also thought Diane Ravitch was more comfortable with her long form writing on CNN ("Why America's Teachers are Enraged") and her NPR interview.
That said, I want to share some of my very tiny and shifting thoughts on education and a collection of - I think - essential video clips from The Daily Show (plus one from PBS). Hopefully, this post will allow folks to discuss their thoughts on the state of education in the US.
I've taught for thirteen years, trained teachers for ten years, and worked as a "quasi administrator" (curriculum coordinator/teacher coach) for four years at a Title 1 high school. This work, coupled with my graduate coursework and other life experiences inform some things I believe (presently)…
• I believe all students can be awesome in different ways.
• I believe teachers should do everything in their power to make learning meaningful, engaging, and fun for students.
• I believe standardized tests are often silly ways to measure student growth. Elaboration would require a number two pencil.
• I'm pro-union, but I think perceptually and practically they have a long way to go in addressing teacher quality and tenure. These are the PR lines that the Waiting for Superman crowd (and funders - see this excellent issue of Rethinking Schools Magazine "Saving our Schools from Superheroes") have used to frame the debate. I think unions need a massive dose of creativity to reframe the work of educators and their relationship to policy and power. THIS CLIP tells a sad story about public discourse on the teaching profession. We rarely hear teachers talk about their practice in major media outlets - just pundits, policy makers, and sometimes administrators like the one featured in that clip.
• I believe that even the worst teachers work their butts off. In fact, in some ways, the less you work the harder your job becomes. Rarely does a businessman or woman come in direct contact with 120-150 clients a day; working with students is something you can rarely "phone in." That said, teachers who are not student-centered, lecture and rely on PowerPoints/textbooks are one of many reasons the media can have a field day demonizing teachers. Anyone? Anyone?
• I believe the Common Core standards are less then ideal (and it is notable that most of the major disciplinary organizations did not sign on to them - see this document circulated in policy circles last winter). Despite their warts, if the Common Core starts creating economies of scale and levels the state by state testing system created by NCLB - that has the possibility to move things in a more positive direction.
• I believe just because one is an educator you are not a saint. In fact, some of the most disturbing people I've ever met were educators so intoxicated with their power over students (and in the case of some administrators, teachers) that Mussolini might have been their mentor. That said, as a profession we are infinitely closer to the saintly end of the vocational spectrum than say military contractors, hedge fund managers, and oil barons.
Each of these little belief statements could be a whole blog. I just wanted to put where I stand out there as a warm-up for the best ed policy discussions that have been occurring in the US mass media. Yet again, our "most trusted" news source is The Daily Show hosted by comedian John Stewart.
Those of you stateside that follow ed policy have likely seen this collection of video clips embedded EVERYWHERE but if you haven't you can watch them all below.
FWIW, I think the best clip is Samantha Bee imitating MTV Cribs as she tours the "cribs" of American teachers. I also thought Diane Ravitch was more comfortable with her long form writing on CNN ("Why America's Teachers are Enraged") and her NPR interview.
Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.
Views: 4
© 2024 Created by Ryan Goble.
Powered by
