Why Are We Stuck?
We know there is a better way to educate children, but forward movement is slow
Was your school perfect when you were a child? A utopian environment where every child was happy and flourishing? I doubt many people would say that. However, when fundamental changes to how we “do school” are suggested, many people are afraid to try the unfamiliar, and we end up staying in the same place.
It seems that whenever we make some progress, a new “scare” comes down from the government telling us we had better tighten up our already restrictive programs. Some examples are a Nation at Risk, No Child Left Behind, and the current “Learning Loss” panic. All of these programs are based on the results of standardized tests, which have been proven to be biased and do not accurately reflect a learner’s capabilities.
I realize shutting down a school and reopening it as a self-directed learning center is unrealistic, but I wonder if there is a more incremental way to get our schools to try some changes. I can say that witnessing and being a part of progressive programs is how I became interested. Seeing the difference in the education and well-being of myself, my children, and many students over the years has entirely convinced me that this is the right way to go. If a school were willing to try a bit more choice - perhaps an hour a week of letting kids pursue interests - maybe they would see the benefits and be willing to take it a step further.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think this can happen through influence, or will we need to write a “how to” in order to get schools and teachers started? What concerns come to mind about self-directed education, and what concerns do you think your local schools would have? Any other insights are welcome as well.