Let's re-imagine public education |
On Board Online • April 2, 2018
By Allison Duwe
As a school board member, I am a huge supporter of public education. At the same time, I am also a fierce critic.
- Are we teaching the subjects and skills that students really need?
- Are we measuring the most important things, or just what's easy to measure?
- Do we have the right priorities?
We need to be developing kids into creative thinkers who can thrive and find fulfillment in a world that is changing at rapid speed - and where truth is slipperier than ever.
Why aren't we better at that?
My school board has been asking that question. We know that answer lies in changing our culture to put student and teacher agency at the forefront. We need to focus on nurturing creative thinkers and change agents.
About a year and a half ago, our board started to study "whole child education." We started our journey by reading The End of Average by Todd Rose.
We talked about the history of public education in the United States, about grades and ranking, about creative thinking, about fixed-paced curriculum, our current school culture and what we want for our kids. Our conversations were rich but somewhat unfocused.
Then, thankfully, our superintendent connected our district with an organization called Modern Learners and an online community called Change School.
Guided by what we've learned, we plan to engage stakeholders throughout our community in answering some fundamental questions: What does deep and powerful learning look like? How do kids learn best? What is the purpose of school in today's world? If we aren't doing what is right for kids, why not?
Our school board will not dictate change. We are opening up dialogue and asking those in our school community to learn with us. We are flattening the traditional hierarchy to allow all leaders to lead, not just those with titles.
As a board, we are offering the following:
- Permission. We want teachers and principals to feel free to do what is right in classrooms, including giving students far more control over their learning.
- Protection. We support innovation and proofs of concept (trying out what we know is a good approach to learning).
- Policy reduction. We will help to clear red tape and limit bureaucratic constraints.
Mitchel Resnick, in his new book Lifelong Kindergarten, argues that success for our students, for businesses and for our communities - local and global - will be based on the ability of individuals to think and act creatively. Thus, school should be focused on helping young people develop to their fullest capacity as creative thinkers.
Resnick espouses three values for guiding our educational practice: (1) give students the chance and the opportunities to follow their interests; (2) allow them to explore their ideas; and (3) help them develop their voice. He advocates for focusing school on projects, passions, peers and play.
I think Resnick's approach is certainly a good starting point. I know that many other educators, school leaders and parents across the state are also working on reimagining public education.
I am excited about where our district is headed and I am hopeful (though really impatient) about the future of school.
As board members, we have a special role in each of our districts as catalysts for improvement. Let's really listen to our kids, learn more about learning and be the change that is needed in education.
The author is president of Springville-Griffith Institute Board of Education in Erie County.