Too much freedom?
Over the last couple weeks, I've noticed a lot of news stories on the condition of our schools here in America. 20/20 had a report about the benefit of a total voucher system. Newsweek has an article about how boy's are falling WAY behind girls in academic progress. The finger always seems to be pointed at the institute of public education. The tough thing is that public education and big government involvement has grown too big in the last 20-30 years that we've reached the "point of no return." I'm in the education field, and you know what? I don't have any real good answers at this point for what needs to be done.
I think a voucher system might work in a larger city/setting. I don't see it working in small town rural Iowa. My fear is the voucher system would turn into a divide between the haves and have nots. The 20/20 report stated that voucher schools in Belgium were working great...but what voucher school was this? Probably one of the "haves": a high socioeconomic status school that charges above and beyond the voucher amount and then gets the best equipment and hires the best teachers. What about the "have-nots?" Sure, they are pushed to improve by competition, so I believe the teachers there are good, but the students may be those left behind by the rush to this "super-school." Anyway it works, this is not very American. We have an obligation to teach to ALL: poor, rich, handicapped, challenged, etc. I look at schools in Japan, this one in Belgium that 20/20 happened to boost up, and it makes me wonder if they are really teaching ALL. These schools probably have a lot stricter standards, meaning that if you aren't cutting it or are causing behavioral problems, then you are asked to leave. We don't do that in America. Education is a freedom and all are entitled to it.
While that last statement is true, all are entitled to it, I think our society has become irresponsible. I've posted about this before, but related it to sports (T.O., Ron Artest, etc.). Now I'm relating it to education. Before I really get started, are there some poor teachers? Yes. I'm not going to lie or cover that up. The thing is though our students right now have SO MUCH freedom when it comes to things I consider distractions to learning, and have no responsibility for their actions. A couple things this week highlighted these points to me. I confiscated a cell phone in class this week because it was ringing. WHY do students need to be carrying cell phones around school, turned on and in their pockets, ready for the next text message? Ban them. Clothing: A student in class was wearing a beer t-shirt in class so I asked him to cover up or turn it inside out. He did, but I heard him say "I'm only doing it for this class." Later I saw him without his sweatshirt and asked him again. He somewhat sarcastically said "sure, only for you." Later he walked by my room, kinda waved, and sure enough was not wearing his sweatshirt. I had class, didn't want to disrupt class and thought to myself "I'm not going to fight a disrespectful kid over a t-shirt today." IT SAYS THIS IN THE HANDBOOK! WHY EVEN DO IT? I'm not a fan of school uniforms, but why can't we fine or have steep punishments for breaking the handbook? Because as soon as a public school does this, parents/community/media complains. A couple schools out east have started to fine for swearing in the halls, or showing up tardy for class. Hefty fines too (over $100.00). The students will say, "I'm not paying that," so the schools bill the parents. I was discussing with students Nick's Law here in Iowa. New driving restrictions for those under 18. I don't like all of the restrictions, but I mentioned to some complaining students that we (teachers, law enforcement, politicians) do this because these kids are our future. I want to see the future President come out of my class. I want these guys to succeed. The generation right behind mine has so much talent, they have so many resources at their finger tips. I want them to use it right. Problem is somewhere over the last 10 years or so we've taken for granted our freedoms and taken a "its not me, its the system" attitude. So why can't a local district, if it chooses, put harsh penalties on breaking the handbook and cleaning up our act a little?
I must throw in here at the end my disclaimer. Out of the roughly 130-140 students I see per day, I only have 10 that are a "real handful." The majority of today's kids are almost there. They see they are the future and respond very well in my classroom. Problem is things like the problems I mentioned are common in even our "better students." I wish there was easy answers, but I guess this is why I went into education. There is a reason I want to go into counseling too...to find these answers. To try my hardest to fix these problems. Feel free to post your thoughts
I think a voucher system might work in a larger city/setting. I don't see it working in small town rural Iowa. My fear is the voucher system would turn into a divide between the haves and have nots. The 20/20 report stated that voucher schools in Belgium were working great...but what voucher school was this? Probably one of the "haves": a high socioeconomic status school that charges above and beyond the voucher amount and then gets the best equipment and hires the best teachers. What about the "have-nots?" Sure, they are pushed to improve by competition, so I believe the teachers there are good, but the students may be those left behind by the rush to this "super-school." Anyway it works, this is not very American. We have an obligation to teach to ALL: poor, rich, handicapped, challenged, etc. I look at schools in Japan, this one in Belgium that 20/20 happened to boost up, and it makes me wonder if they are really teaching ALL. These schools probably have a lot stricter standards, meaning that if you aren't cutting it or are causing behavioral problems, then you are asked to leave. We don't do that in America. Education is a freedom and all are entitled to it.
While that last statement is true, all are entitled to it, I think our society has become irresponsible. I've posted about this before, but related it to sports (T.O., Ron Artest, etc.). Now I'm relating it to education. Before I really get started, are there some poor teachers? Yes. I'm not going to lie or cover that up. The thing is though our students right now have SO MUCH freedom when it comes to things I consider distractions to learning, and have no responsibility for their actions. A couple things this week highlighted these points to me. I confiscated a cell phone in class this week because it was ringing. WHY do students need to be carrying cell phones around school, turned on and in their pockets, ready for the next text message? Ban them. Clothing: A student in class was wearing a beer t-shirt in class so I asked him to cover up or turn it inside out. He did, but I heard him say "I'm only doing it for this class." Later I saw him without his sweatshirt and asked him again. He somewhat sarcastically said "sure, only for you." Later he walked by my room, kinda waved, and sure enough was not wearing his sweatshirt. I had class, didn't want to disrupt class and thought to myself "I'm not going to fight a disrespectful kid over a t-shirt today." IT SAYS THIS IN THE HANDBOOK! WHY EVEN DO IT? I'm not a fan of school uniforms, but why can't we fine or have steep punishments for breaking the handbook? Because as soon as a public school does this, parents/community/media complains. A couple schools out east have started to fine for swearing in the halls, or showing up tardy for class. Hefty fines too (over $100.00). The students will say, "I'm not paying that," so the schools bill the parents. I was discussing with students Nick's Law here in Iowa. New driving restrictions for those under 18. I don't like all of the restrictions, but I mentioned to some complaining students that we (teachers, law enforcement, politicians) do this because these kids are our future. I want to see the future President come out of my class. I want these guys to succeed. The generation right behind mine has so much talent, they have so many resources at their finger tips. I want them to use it right. Problem is somewhere over the last 10 years or so we've taken for granted our freedoms and taken a "its not me, its the system" attitude. So why can't a local district, if it chooses, put harsh penalties on breaking the handbook and cleaning up our act a little?
I must throw in here at the end my disclaimer. Out of the roughly 130-140 students I see per day, I only have 10 that are a "real handful." The majority of today's kids are almost there. They see they are the future and respond very well in my classroom. Problem is things like the problems I mentioned are common in even our "better students." I wish there was easy answers, but I guess this is why I went into education. There is a reason I want to go into counseling too...to find these answers. To try my hardest to fix these problems. Feel free to post your thoughts
posted by CKG at
8:38 PM
1 Comments:
CKG - Agreed, agreed, agreed.
I'm an advocate for school alternatives (vouchers, charters, etc.) in general, but am not sure it would 'work' in many parts of Iowa. I see the impact made on small school districts when a single family decides to open enroll their children to an adjoining district. Enough about school choice...
The point you made that I want do ditto the most is the one of students having 'too much freedom.' I believe in top-down discipline and I think it's ultimately the administration's role to decide what's going to fly and what's not. After all, if you tell a student to turn his/her shirt inside out and the teacher next door doesn't, what sort of example are we setting? The administration needs to say, "yes, we're going to crack down on this type of behavior." It's been my experience that students can see right through the handbook when only a select few enforce certain rules. It becomes more of a battle for those of us who try to 'abide by the rules' because of those who choose to ignore the behaviors. I like to use airports as an example when illustrating rules - airport security is FLAT OUT not going to let you have certain items (guns, knives, etc.) in your carry-on luggage. There are exactly ZERO exceptions to this rule. I would cherish the opportunity to teach in such a school where students were held to strict standards. I, myself, would expect to be held to strict standards as well (enforcing rules, setting the academic bar high, etc.) to properly model the type of behavior that leads towards success and self-discipline. CKG - once you get your counseling degree, I think we should start our own school! We'll talk more Sunday...
By
Matt Townsley, At
4:51 PM
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