I received an email today that many of you probably received as well. It was from the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. Now, I know someone on his staff drafted the email. And I know probably everyone who is remotely affiliated with education received the same email. I realize, of course, he will probably never read it, but I responded like this:
Dear Secretary Duncan,
After fourteen years of teaching, I quit.[ Washed my hands of it. Left. Packed up my books, gave away all of my teaching things, and went home.]
It wasn't that I
was a bad teacher. In fact, I am a very
good teacher. Devoted, kind, caring, I put my heart and soul into each and
every student. I worked hard to meet the
needs of each child. I tried to teach in
a way the learners could be successful.
I gave frequent breaks, offered hands on learning experiences,
collaborative group work. My first
graders knew the meaning of “collaborate” and used it often. I loved the kids- all of them- even the
really hard to love kids.
I wasn’t asked to leave.
I earned high marks on all of my evaluations. I got along with my administration, though
they didn’t beg me to stay. They knew I
was ready to “take the next step” in my career.
In a way, they were glad to see me go.
Not because I was a bad teacher, but because I asked hard questions;
questions like:
•
Why do we do things this way?
•
Who writes these standards?
o
Do the people who write the standards have a
degree in child development or human development or psychology?
o
Do the people who write the standards understand
what is developmentally appropriate, that is, what the human brain can
comprehend at different stages?
•
Who is on the State Board of Education?
•
What are their qualifications?
•
I was told the standards are “research based.”
•
Who conducted the research and can I see it?
•
Why don’t you know?
•
How do you lead a school and implement the
standards if you don’t know who wrote them or if they are qualified to do so?
•
What are some new best teaching practices?
•
Have you heard of flipped classroom? Blended
learning? When will we have professional development about it? Why don’t you
know?
Administrators don’t like to be questioned like that.
Especially when they don’t know the answers.
So I began researching the answers on my own. I wasn’t pleased with what
I discovered. I was disappointed to learn that money drives a lot of it.
Another thing I
learned was my school’s teaching practices were way out of date. I began a website for teachers called
LMKteachers to help teachers stay informed of best teaching practices,
research, and legislation regarding education. (although I have struggled to
keep up with the latter- that is a full time job in itself)
I began attending board meetings. I listened to parents concerns. I listened to the Executive council and board
members discuss rules, policies and procedures.
I created a website to answer as many parental concerns and other topics
discussed. I shared the website with the
board, the executive council, and my administration. I received one reply: “ Thank you for sharing
your ideas.” That was it.
I could not continue teaching the way I had to teach because
I no longer believe that the way we are educating our children is what is best
for children. I have to believe in what
I do, and sending children through an education system developed during the
Industrial Revolution to produce compliant factory workers, is not only not
best for children, it
is not best for the future, their future, our future, the future of our
country.
There isn’t just one thing to fix. There needs to be a total overhaul of the way
we educate our children. We need a future oriented education system. I do not
know exactly what that looks like, but I would love to be a part of figuring it
out.
To continue to be a part of the education community I have a
blog http://fortheloveoflearningbycchavez.blogspot.com/
and a website for instructional learning leaders:
There is a solution looming. I would be thrilled to serve in
developing the solution.
Respectfully,
Christi Chavez
