Education Reform - The Necessary Cornerstones

Is the dream of education in high school being realized …. Is secondary education getting students better prepared for their futures?

Remember, I am a teacher …. My two cents says “not.” School isn’t getting the job done today. There are three points I think make the cornerstones to rebuild our secondary education system:

1. Effective teachers

2. Whole teaching

3. Curriculum reform

Effective teachers are noticeable. They are passionate and compassionate. They are flexible and thus have excellent classroom management and students naturally do better since they are interested in what is being taught. The methods used by these teachers engages students. I don’t consider national board certified teachers to be necessarily effective.

Whole teaching criteria means subjects are meaningful and pertinent, while the class environment is such that it's conducive to learning. Teaching methods comes into focus here. Are students better served using project based learning or is a computer game more functional? What best stimulates knowledge transfer, along with appropriate cognitive skills and learning behaviors?

Curriculum reform points to teaching students with material that is directly applicable to their life ... today, tomorrow and gives them choices to study depending on the future they pursue? Integrated are performance based assessments that measure comprehension and not memorization. Technology will play a role here as it needs to facilitate learning and assessment whenever possible.

Here are some articles that are great food for thought in examining our secondary education system.

Study for NBPTS Raises Questions About Credential
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/05/17/37nbpts.h25.html

‘Tough Choices’: Change the System, or Suffer the Consequences
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/01/17/19tucker.h26.html