When asked to answer the following "Stagnation, being unable to accomplish one's job at a high level, is one of the greatest sources of low teacher morale. Why do you think this country treats teaching so differently than other professions?", I really had no idea how to answer. I hadn't ever really thought about the question before. Yes, I have many friends who are teachers. Yes, I had worked within the school system as an academic instructor at an alternative school for kids who are expelled, as an outside consultant teaching substance abuse, and as a school social worker. The experiences I had working within the system were varied. I saw good teachers, mediocre teachers, and teachers so burnt out that working retail may have been a better option for them than teaching.
And so I read Mission Possible by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia. I'll admit that at first I was wondering what I'd get out of this book. I don't work anymore. I'm a stay at home mom, but I am concerned about what kind of education my daughter will get when she is old enough to attend school. Even though I was compensated for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.
I think change is possible within our education system. I think, as a society, we need to value teachers more, and I think teachers need to value themselves more. I think we need to stop allowing states to force teachers to teach to the test and to come up with new and innovative ways to engage teachers, students, and parents in the education process. Teachers need to stop hiding behind the unions and start standing up for what is fair by demonstrating they are capable of excelling. Principals need to be supportive of their staff. The state education system needs to stop feeling threatened by the charter schools like Success Academy and start learning from them.
Anyone who works within the education system needs to read Mission Possible. Within 3 years of opening Success Academy Charter Schools, they have emerged as one of the top schools within New York City and State. Mission Possible describes what happens when teachers, students, and parents are held to high standards and when they work together for the benefit of all involved. If you have seen Waiting for Superman or The Lottery then you know how much is possible when teachers are allowed the resources they need to excel. There are also take aways at the end of each chapter for principals, teachers, parents, and school reformers as well as a DVD.
Win a copy of Mission Possible!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow Eva Moskowitz on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/MoskowitzEva or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Moskowitz.Eva
And so I read Mission Possible by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia. I'll admit that at first I was wondering what I'd get out of this book. I don't work anymore. I'm a stay at home mom, but I am concerned about what kind of education my daughter will get when she is old enough to attend school. Even though I was compensated for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.
I didn't expect to be so blown away by what they are accomplishing at Success Academies or so appalled by the state of education in our country. We often think of failing schools as belonging to those districts filled with minority or low income students, but the Success Academies clearly show that economics and race are NOT a factor in education or they shouldn't be anyways. These are schools in the Bronx and Harlem and for the 2012-2013 school year they expect 15,000 parents to enter a random lottery for 1200 spots.
What do they do that is so different from a traditional education? They hold parents accountable. Parents are required to sign a contract promising to participate in their child's education. They believe strongly in rigor, not only for their students, but for their teachers as well. They wear uniforms and believe everyone has the right to respect for self and others. They believe their students are much more capable than a traditional education does and their dedication to literacy and writing demonstrates that. Students as young as kindergarten are participating in science experiments! Principals are involved in ensuring that their teachers are well trained and feedback is immediate.
I can tell you that I didn't see many of these things occurring in the schools I worked in. To be fair, I did work with challenging populations of students, but we allowed them to skate by academically and I never felt supported by my principal. She seemed so overwhelmed and stressed by the pressures put on her by the school district that there was no way for her to provide helpful feedback. Most teachers work hard and want to do a good job. Our society's value of them should reflect that. A school system should value its teachers enough to help them excel.
I think change is possible within our education system. I think, as a society, we need to value teachers more, and I think teachers need to value themselves more. I think we need to stop allowing states to force teachers to teach to the test and to come up with new and innovative ways to engage teachers, students, and parents in the education process. Teachers need to stop hiding behind the unions and start standing up for what is fair by demonstrating they are capable of excelling. Principals need to be supportive of their staff. The state education system needs to stop feeling threatened by the charter schools like Success Academy and start learning from them.
Anyone who works within the education system needs to read Mission Possible. Within 3 years of opening Success Academy Charter Schools, they have emerged as one of the top schools within New York City and State. Mission Possible describes what happens when teachers, students, and parents are held to high standards and when they work together for the benefit of all involved. If you have seen Waiting for Superman or The Lottery then you know how much is possible when teachers are allowed the resources they need to excel. There are also take aways at the end of each chapter for principals, teachers, parents, and school reformers as well as a DVD.
Win a copy of Mission Possible!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow Eva Moskowitz on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/MoskowitzEva or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Moskowitz.Eva
I think most if not all teachers would agree with you, at least the ones I know and have talked to about this.
ReplyDelete