Group discussion tonight revolved around a table discussion about the Perlstein book, Tested, and a role-playing exercise placing us in different roles in the early part of the 20th century. I found the video interesting tonight, as history in general is very appealing to me. As this week is WASL week in school, the subject of testing is very relevant. The whole question of testing remains a controversial subject, which played in to the video on public education that we viewed. Back when the IQ test was used as a scientific (and I use that term very loosely) means of determining a persons intelligence or more importantly aptitude. It was to become a tool to direct someone’s entire life into the curriculum one would need to be successful, whether that be a rocket scientist or a dishwasher. I am sure the reasons were well intentioned, or one would hope so. It would be helpful if science could place us in a capsule that would evaluate every brain cell and determine what potential we had within us so we could develop into the best that we could possibly be, but as of yet that’s not possible. So we test, as best we can to what we have learned or not learned. SAT, Regents, many states have them. No easy answer to if some are better than others in determining what we know, or how prepared we are. We have state tests that are unique from state to state , that have become very important to funding, and indeed to the success and security of principles and teachers. Somehow in all this I find testing by itself although necessary, needs to be factored or weighted along with the subjective input of teachers. Now you say, how fair might that be? Well very fair in the mind of a fair-minded teacher, and not so fair in a teacher that’s not interested or observant to a child’s progress. We could not base a judgment therefore on simply one teacher’s opinion, but would average the opinions of all the teachers the child has had from behavior, to social interaction, and all that’s in between. How much of this would be factored into a child’s final score if you will? I probably should not be a 50% test scores, 50% observation, but the non-test factors should account for something in determining if Suzy-John is learning anything, and more importantly progressing, getting better. There is no escaping that someone or somebody needs to make a determination what that is. Will whatever that is decided going to make everyone happy, well no. But I do have faith in that history can tell you what works and what does not seem to work, and we have come a long way from the age of IQ tests.
The progressive schools that developed in Gary, IN, and the Wirth system of schooling fascinated me. It seemed so wonderfully Utopian and I did not get the feeling that they were there simply to churn out bodies to fill the factories during the nation’s industrial boom. The idea of a school being all things to the entire community is a wonderful ideal. A place of education for not only college preparation, but also for vocational training. As these progressive schools started to make in-roads, they seem to have been as quickly pooh-poohed by cities like New York. You certainly have to remember the times and the fact is what is education? Is it not to prepare people for working careers primarily? Certainly, a college education makes one richer intellectually, and to socialize on many levels. But in times when your literally fighting survival as a new immigrant, or protecting your job from someone else that will work cheaper, you need to be prepared in the world to do that. Vocational occupations were a necessity and a means to get one out of the common laborer classification of work. Not everyone, nor were there even enough “management jobs” to go around. The jobs simply did not exist yet. I still chuckle to myself over the stigma that my fellow high school students had attached to them for attending vocational school or occupational skills. In many cases they went on to be very successful in these endeavors as mechanics, plumbers, technicians while the college grad scrambled to find work equal to their degree. What is wrong with children learning life skills such as vocational jobs, health, hygiene, manners, cooking, to name a few. Certainly many children are deprived of that, not necessarily from parental neglect but in a society now of both parents working, the time it takes to teach these skills is often times overlooked as you can imagine when parents are trying to put food on the table. Imagine now that same school, teaching the parents English or new skills for them at night in the same building. A true learning experience for all in a communal atmosphere. Interesting thoughts, and in fact being practiced in places now I would imagine. One of my reasons to teach is this sense of community that a school can provide. Schools should be those beacons of HOPE in a community and shared by all. They are the gateways of our futures and we will play an important part in it. Scary, challenging, will we, me, be up to the task?
How do you tell when a teacher has been teaching too long? When did the apathy set in? Their tolerance become zilch? I have been most fortunate in my brief experience in the classroom to have wonderful caring teachers that inspire and are truly loving and concerned about each and every one. I suppose teaching like any other job can take its toll on you. Maybe I am different, unique? I worked as a manager of 250 people that I was ultimately responsible for. Brilliant people, hard working, nose to the grindstone people, and a knucklehead here and there, but I can honestly say I loved coming to work everyday, for 35 years, at the same company. I enjoyed all the people, laughed with them, listened to them, and sometimes cried with them. You become like a family in many occupational workplaces. My wife is so very jealous of me and my zeal everyday to go to work in the classroom. Matter of fact, it’s time to head off now.
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