The movie Waiting for "Superman" did all of us a service pointing out that our schools are a mess.
We rank 25th in math and science on International tests. No denying that, and we have to change this dire situation.
But let's cut to the chase.
Charter schools are non-union. In charter schools we can fire teachers who aren't performing. In public schools, once teachers get tenure -- easy to get -- the firing is difficult if not impossible; and then you get these "rubber rooms" and the "dance of the lemons," as it is called.
OK, let's take away tenure. Or let's make it harder to get tenure and easier to get rid of low performing teachers
Where Waiting for "Superman" lead us astray is the implication that traditional public schools are the problem. Only charter schools -- like KIPP -- can do the job of teaching our young.
It is simply wrong to trash all the public schools.
Diane Ravitch, author and expert on education and a former assistant secretary of education acknowledged that public schools and charters are not any better in teaching math and science.
More importantly, many are doing great things and many are using AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to do so.
AVID, is a "college-readiness system" whose mission is "to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges." Mary Catherine Swanson, an English teacher from San Diego, founded it 30 years ago with 31 students. Today it has over 400,000 students in 47 states and 15 countries.
And here 's the good news:
In 2010, AVID reported 99.6 percent graduated from high school with 91 percent planning to attend a post-secondary institution.
Granted, the AVID program is voluntary and not everyone can become an AVID student. The student has to be willing to do the Advanced Placement courses, take a little more time to do the AVID elective, and sign a contract -- the parents or guardians sign too.
This is not a walk in the park.
There is clearly an expectation that the student perform. But if the student is willing, it works. Perhaps with AVID, all schools can lead this nation into the 21st century.
AVID does no marketing. And although Mary Catherine, now retired but still on the board, received recognition from Time Magazine, McGraw Hill, and CNN as one of America's Best Teachers, and even featured on the CBS news program "60 minutes" something is missing about AVID. The program is still relatively unknown and relatively misunderstood.
As former Board Chair, Pete Garcia put it, "they do things the old fashioned way." The kids learn how to learn. They are taught how to take notes, required to take notes in all their classes and in a special AVID elective each day, talk about what they learned, and why it matters. The WIRC method -- for writing, inquiry, reading and collaboration -- is woven into the AVID formula.
I guess that's what Garcia means when he says "old fashioned".
One of the most interesting parts of AVID's magic is that AVID teachers are all certified and taught the AVID method. In fact, about 19, 000 teachers and administrators attend a Summer Institute held each year, and in the not too distant future, will have year round blended learning experiences.
At a time when America is looking for the silver bullet to transform K-12, and the University, AVID might be an important part of the answer. Silver bullet? No, as Mary Catherine believes, AVID isn't it.
Perhaps there are no silver bullets, however. Yet AVID seems to work and has so for 30 years.
Right now AVID is still under the radar, but this could change as America awakens to the crucial need to reform our systems of education.
Follow John M. Eger on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeger62
Brock Cohen: Superman as a Public School English Teacher: Day 1 (Satire)
The blessing and curse of public governance is that there are always good ideas to be tried. In a system where schools get funded whether those ideas work or not, very often bad ones slip through and good ones are not adopted with sufficient commitment.
In a system of true parental choice, successful curricula and methodologies of all types will truly "have their day."
This isn't that hard. It takes time, money, smaller classes, trained professionals, participatory parents and attention to Maslow's Hierarchy. No quick fixes, no miracles, no Baby Einsteins or Hooked on Phonics. Just hard work and shared committment.
pay for performance is being given the new magic bullet to fire bad teachers. it worked so well with wall street and banks why not try it with our teachers. ignorance has no boundries.
Now, at the end of that year. If the argument about our teachers being solely responsible for the mediocre performance of our students were true all of the students in the best school after one year learning from our "incompetent" teachers would show a great decline in their test scores. And I'm willing to bet my whole annual salary (nope! I take that back, one month of my salary) if those teachers from the best school we invite over will be able to increase our student test scores.
Take my challenge. I dare you to. Then you can pass your judgement on our teachers.
the data therefore will be bias data.
as far as a silver bullet that is american as apple pie and coming from a university professor.
the entire educational system is in need of change and that includes the professors that teach our future teachers.
we are a results oriented society trying to be successful in education which is process oriented.
and bringing the corp model to education will be a huge failure much like wall street and banks.
but hey blame the unions like the big three did and they still went bankrupt. ok ford did not.
it is an american failure not just one aspect of america. arrogance and greed have failure built right into them. history tells us that.
we are a teacher centered educational approach and dont have a clue we are. read on here what the best in class schools are doing maybe that will be a hint. but I doubt it. we dont look outside for help after all we already think we know.
visit a pre school then a fifth grade class see the difference in students attitudes. what is occuring with the decline of america is the same self destruction within our educational systems.
Now, at the end of that year. If the argument about our teachers being solely responsible for the mediocre performance of our students were true all of the students in the best school after one year learning from our "incompetent" teachers would show a great decline in their test scores. And I'm willing to bet my whole annual salary (nope! I take that back, one month of my salary) if those teachers from the best school we invite over will be able to increase our student test scores.
Take my challenge. I dare you to. Then you can pass your judgement on our teachers.
Excellent point. I was fortunate to work with AVID as a tutor trainer and was working at integrating elements of my program to the AVID program in order to help the students be self-motivated. Unfortunately, as others here have mentioned, funding cuts got in the way and we couldn't continue, but the combination of AVID's strong support system and teaching kids the elements of achievement itself (http://bit.ly/g2Elye) so that they could better receive that support is exactly the kind of reform I would like to see receive focus. AVID is aces in my book.
'
I have a suggestion to scientifically find out what needs to be done to solve our problems in education in the U.S. Let's go to the best number 1 school in the world (the school that students have earned highest scores in all subjects) and invite (or beg) 10 teachers from that school to come to our country and to the worst school to teach for 1 year. And to be fair, let's just ship 10 teachers from our worst school to that best school (a teacher exchange type of program).
Now, at the end of that year. If the argument about our teachers being solely responsible for the mediocre performance of our students were true all of the students in the best school after one year learning from our "incompetent" teachers would show a great decline in their test scores. And I'm willing to bet my whole annual salary (nope! I take that back, one month of my salary) if those teachers from the best school we invite over will be able to increase our student test scores.
Take my challenge. I dare you to. Then you can pass your judgement on our teachers.