Read Obama and Biden's plan for changing education. Do you think it is effective? What are it's strengths? What are it's weaknesses? Does their plan leave anything out? Discuss what you would do different. Do you have any other ideas? What does it mean for you as an educator? http://change.gov/agenda/education_agenda/.
I think that the Obama-Biden plan looks "good" on paper. I feel like they recognize the PROBLEMS in education. BUT, I feel like these are changes to improve the CURRENT system, rather than create a new one. So, depending on which side you are on, determines whether you think the plan will be effective.
For example, they talked about improving the drop-out rate. Their answer to this crisis is "intervention strategies in middle school -- strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time." But what that doesn't andress is if the CURRICULUM is in fact the problem. Will any changes be made to include all people in the curriculum? Will it benefit all students or will it remain to serve and maintain White privelege? What about technology? Where will it's role be in education?
Obama-Biden also plan on expanding the Head Start program. I think this is a good idea. Not only is it giving students a little extra preparation and foundation to succeed in school, but it also can benefit working parents. This is where I agree with Dr. Strange that the current system does also serve as a "babysitting facility". Sure, students are getting an education (or schooling depending on your point of view) but if kids weren't at school they'd be somewhere else for someone else to watch them while their parents work. This is also evident as Obama-Biden also plan to increase extended care programs.
They are also making strides to give teachers more incentives to teach. They plan on doing a few things, all which seem very broad and open to the interpretation of each particular district:
"Obama and Biden will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward with a salary increase accomplished educators who serve as a mentors to new teachers. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well. " Sounds pretty wordy to me. How about a simple pay raise and bonuses for effective teaching?
Overall, I feel that Obama-Biden do recognize the problems. They are attempting to put out a solution to each of the problems too. But again, it raises the question, is our current system fixable? Or should we reform it all together? There are many other things Obama-Biden plan to do. There are a lot of things that I think are extremely positive changes. But againm the underlying issue is 1) Where does technology play a role in education? 2) Is it the current system that needs updating or changed all together? 3) How are we going to address the needs of all students? It could almost be said that the symptoms are being treated rather than addressing the problem But again, this depends on the way you see education.
There are a lot of things that were addressed. But what about the curriculum, technology and implementation of a new, modern way to educate our students?
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteWhat specifically would you change and how?