What if? Blogpost- What if our nation had a patriotic zeal for education? #GoTeamUSAEducation

#GOTEAMUSA   #GoTeamUSAEducation

Today, I read with interest "Biggest Lugers" (http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/10322224/slider-tucker-west-makes-olympics-12-years-father-built-backyard-track-espn-magazine) the  +ESPN  article written by +Chris Jones @Mysecondempire. I think that Tucker West, @TuckerWest1 US Olympic Luge team member, is blessed with a father who believes in the Olympic dream.  As a former college athlete, each Olympic season rekindles the thrill of patriotic zeal. Today, however, I pondered more deeply. WHAT IF?


WHAT IF parents/guardians spent as much time and money concentrating on the education of their students as they do on their recreational activities? I do realize that often it is the college athletics that can keep a college afloat due to the perception of a great athletic dynasty. Athletics adds fun and spice to any school. BUT...


WHAT IF parents/guardians/administrations cared more about the academic outcomes of their students?

WHAT IF students cared more about their academic outcomes than about the Friday night game, or what dress they wore to homecoming, or who would be homecoming queen?

WHAT IF diversity in school was more about the diverse schools to which our students were accepted, than about the race of the students in the school?

WHAT IF more parents/guardians/administrations were willing to extravagantly invest their time and money into academic outcomes as Brett West invested in creating a backyard luge?

Somewhere along the educational pathway in the USA, athletics and other non-academic activities became the way to keep students in school. National educational mandates now force accountability for test scores and graduation rates. Hopefully, we'll see our nation expressing patriotic zeal for #teamUSAEducation

What are your what ifs?

Edu-reform and the Opt-Out movement

         I viewed the July 4th proclamation purporting to reclaim public education. The organizers/administrators of the Unitedoptout movement  are suggesting that parents, teachers and students join together to stop what they perceive as the corporate takeover of public education. Please do not be swayed by the pathos of their argument. It is merely a fearful response to change.

     The administrators define opt out as 
"Def: (verb)To opt out is to take any and all actions to end corporate reform of public education.

Actions include: Refusing to participate in high stakes testing which is the life’s blood of the destruction of public education."  High Stakes testing is not new. Students in countries around the world take tests that determine their future. In the USA, students are blessed to be able to take the tests (ACT and SAT) as many times as they can pay the fee. Students in other countries are not so blessed.  The administrators of Unitedoptout see the annual state exams and next generation tests as a threat to public education. WHY? The data from these exams will now be used as part of the evaluation of teacher effectiveness.

    The education world is on its way toward a data informed model. If we want to be perceived as professionals, it is time to allow the data to inform our decisions. We need to value the data. More importantly, we need to make the changes necessary to provide a better education for all of our students. Running fearfully away from the data, encouraging parents and students to opt-out is not a professional reaction. Professional educators need to stand united facing the data and do the work of changing to meet the needs of our students.

       

http://unitedoptout.com/the-opt-out-revolution-reclaiming-public-education/