E – Educate or Regurgitate

Educate or Regurgitate

I’ve been an educator for the past 45 years. I’ve experienced everything from the Open Classroom concept of the 70s, to the Cognitive Level Matching concepts of the 80s, to the Writing project in the 90s, to the Project Based Learning of the 2000s, to the Common Common Core Standards of today. There have been a lot of changes, some for the good and others not so good. As it would happen, my good friends, Herman and Otto were just talking about those changes the other day. I’ll let you listen in on their conversation:

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“When I was in school, school was stiff, structured, everyone on the same page,” commented Herman, “I was tracked, so that everyone in my class was at the same academic level. Kids today have so much more freedom and excitement to learn. They’re so lucky.”

Otto was quick to refute. “I started school the same way you did. I was with my buddies throughout most of school. We learned whatever we felt like learning. Now that was freedom. Hey, if I didn’t want to read a book, I read the Cliff Notes. We didn’t worry about plagiarizing things, there was no ‘Turn Me In’ to check up on us. Nowadays kids don’t even get to sit an listen to a book being read to them without being interrupted with questions like, “Can anyone make a connection?” or “What do you predict this character is going to do?” This whole education process is focussed on everyone has to think deeply all the time. There’s no time to sit back and enjoy.”

“But look at the writing that is coming out of these children,” Herman said. “It is much more detailed and expanded than anything we wrote at that age.”

“That’s if you like reading the same styles, written in the same voice, by everyone on the same grade level.” Otto was adamant, “Just listen to their pieces. They all sound the same! Where’s the creativity? Where’s the breaking of the rules? Where’s the uniqueness in what they do?”

Herman had to think for a while. “Maybe as they get older and have learned all these fundamentals they will be able to branch out and try different things to expand their abilities and create new styles of writing.”

Otto just smirked. “And maybe the moon is made of cheese. Who knows, we haven’t been there since the 70s; things might have changed.  Even in the 70s through 90s we were allowed to explore and experiment. Technology gave us new ways to present our thoughts. Today it’s just here are benchmarks we all have to reach before the State tests.”

There does seem to be a lot more testing today, at least in English and Math. But isn’t having a good foundation of skills important. Shouldn’t all students have the opportunity to have the same education and at least experience the same concepts?” Herman seemed less sure of himself.

“There’s no reason students shouldn’t receive the same education and experiences,” Otto agreed, “However they should receive it when they’re ready, not just because they reached a certain age or grade. Give me the type of learning that I got in the 70s and 80s when there weren’t as many standards and teachers had more freedom to teach to their strengths and explore new ways to make learning exciting.  That’s the freedom I liked and what got me to do lots of things I wouldn’t have thought of doing.”

Herman’s head was spinning. In thinking back on his days of learning, he kind of missed the special projects that he did and still remembered, the pieces of writing he shared, and all of the things he learned. “It sounds like you’ve changed your mind about how school has changed from when you went to school. For once I think we agree. Back when we went to school and schools today have a lot in common. Structured learning, tracking of curriculum, and less and less opportunity to be creative.  Education seems to run in cycles, maybe that style of education will come back”

Otto ended the conversation, “I wouldn’t bet on it happening too soon.”

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Being a retired full-time teacher and now substitute teaching, I’ve seen most of the things that Otto and Herman were talking about. Sad to say it is frustrating at times to see where education is going, knowing where it has been and what it once was. Hopefully, the cycle will come back sooner than later.

If you are interested in watching a TED Talk on the need for Creativity in Education today, I would highly recommend any one given by Sir Ken Robinson https://bit.ly/2GW5NnE  and https://bit.ly/1BFbl7N