Do you shudder at the word "reform"?

When I hear the word reform, I shudder. I think of politics and hidden agendas. I want to move to the most remote place on earth where I can escape the madness. Alas, I have succumbed to the reformation movement. If you are weak of heart, or politically disinclined you might want to close this blog and think happy thoughts. Oh, you're still here... fine. I'll get it over with as quickly as possible.

As an introduction to this post read the post Harles put up yesterday. I agree with most of it and will expound on that and more ad nauseum. Brace yourself.

Darrel's Proposal for Education Reform:

1. Elementary School
Young children are in an incredible state where they learn more in a week than I do in years. Take advantage of and encourage their natural curiosity and ability to learn.

a.) Do NOT assign tasks that have no clear educational value such as crosswords or word searches. If the child likes that sort of thing, there are plenty of other more challenging puzzles available commercially.
b.) Do NOT pick a teaching method just because it's easy for you (as a teacher). You are the least important person in that classroom. If you can accept this you will eventually realize that your sacrafice on behalf of the students was justified.
c.) DO identify struggling students and find outside help for them. You (as a teacher) clearly don't have an infinite supply of time, so delegate. Find another student in the same class that can help, or a student in a higher grade, or even college education majors that would be delighted to offer tutoring in exchange for a letter of recommendation.
d.) Do NOT slow the class down to accomodate struggling students (see part c.)
e.) Recognize that students may have creative and very unique ideas on how a subject may be taught. Encourage the sharing of these ideas.
f.) Avoid forcing an introverted child to participate in group activities often. They can't stand it and it actually distresses them a great deal which hinders learning.
g.) Extraverts will explode if not given constructive ways to channel their desire to be with and talk to others.
h.) Have fun!

2. Middle School:
Middle school is a time characterized by extreme changes in the lives of children. This by itself adds a lot of stress to school.
a.) Challenge the students. You will never find a challenging assignment that stimulates all of the students, so just avoid mindless busywork and try to vary assignments so each student has a chance to do something they can care about.
b.) Do NOT do coloring time! Coloring maps or anatomy is not educational and has no worth.
c.) Get involved, and get to know the students. Some will push away from you. Let them, but keep an open invitation. It means a lot to any child to know that you think he/she is important. d.) Review section 1 above, they all still apply

3. High School:
The years in high school are easily the most memorable. Let's try to make more of those memories positive.
a.) By the time a student leaves high school, he/she should have all the core skills/knowledge expected of an average citizen. Make sure those skills and knowlege have been taught effectively.
b.) Allow students to explore some specific areas of interest. This is in preparation for choosing a career or path of further study.
c.) Review sections 1 and 2 above. They both still apply.

4. College/University:
Now is the time for real specialization, not for remedial courses in basic courses.
a.) Rigidly require a standard of knowledge that should have been gained before entrance. If the student is deficient in any topic, they can enroll in supplemental instruction classes, but not be accepted into the college/university until those requirements have been met.
b.) Eliminate general education. These things should have already been taught in high school.
c.) Require advanced writing classes. Writing is a skill that takes a lot of practice, and technical, analytical or argument writing is far different than what most high school students have been exposed to. Expect that these classes will build those skills.
d.) Hire GOOD guidance counselors, and enough of them to effectively help students succeed in their schooling.
e.) Abolish tenure. Tenure leads to poor teaching in too many cases. It is sad, but true. A good professor has no need to worry about his job, but the bad ones should.
f.) Review sections 1 and 2 above. They both still apply.

Even if education only improved to conform to the above guidelines, I can guarantee that our student bodies would be better educated and far more successful. It would take 1 less year (at least) to graduate from college, and the students would be just as well rounded and they would have more years of service to society while in the prime of their lives.

Ok, your turn now. Let me know just how full of rubbish you think I am.