Beyond the Classroom Doors

(from TownHall interview) Character development & whole child development are two undervalued lessons taught in schools. Many schools feel that creating a positive environment and reinforcing rules are sufficient - the idea is that these values will be taught at home and reinforced at school . "Whole child" is described as such:  This is done by teaching soft skills such as curiosity, perseverance, and passion . It allows a child to have more grit and resilience in and out of the classroom. This is done by introducing play and experimental activities into the classroom. It allows kids to be creative and plan/monitor their own progress. These schools take kids on field trips to cultural centers (parks/art galleries/museums) and use the resources of the community (local businesses/artists/athletes) to inspire and influence the kids.  The child can also be engaged in:  Nature (taking walks, going to parks, gardening) Physical Activity (exer...

(from TownHall interview) DeVos' mission to teach students has been unclear. From interviews and previous work, it seems that she believes in: School choice: providing all students equal access to a high-quality education Less government interference in schools: Allowing teachers to innovate and create without being constrained by regulations. Beyond that, her statements have not been definitive. Her stock  is most likely implying her rich history of donating and working with educational causes.  She was the chair of the pro-school-choice advocacy group American Federation for Children which desired allow public school money to go to private school education (vouchers, etc.) She also worked hard to spread charter schools throughout Michigan.  She lobbies for the idea of a " free-market " education which focuses expanding private/charter schools. The focus in on the money and tuition and not on curriculum or resources. However, this does not make...

The lack of achievement is a major issue in schools. DeVos is not clear here, but what she implying is that the low test scores in both Math and Reading. However, this is not the term used in education - the more common term is called the Achievement Gap . The  Achievement Gap  is the gap between the highest achieving kids and the lowest achieving kids. There are many MANY reasons why this occurs: Schools : low expectations, lack of rigor, unsafe environment, poor or undemanding curriculum Community : lack of healthcare or social services, lack of access to cultural or educational centers (museums/libraries), lack of childcare Teachers : uncertified or inexperienced teachers, lack of cultural sensitivity, inadequate materials Background: income level, health during mom's pregnancy, diet/nutrition, primary language skills Student-related factors: interest in school, level of effort, responsibility in their learning.  Family support: ...

The rhetoric of "freedom" for teachers comes from the ignorance of what Common Core & standards are. Parents & non-teachers see the number of tests the kids have to take mixed with talk of Common Core and create a sense of imprisonment for teacher's creativity.  Testing :  Students take standardized testing as a way to gauge progress. This is done for funding, marketing or a combination of the two. Some schools do it 3x's a year, some 2, some more. It depends on the school.  Tests gauge either proficiency or growth, depending on the test and the school. Proficiency show how a student is doing against grade level (is a 5th grader reading at a 5th grade reading level?) or growth (is the child/class improving through a year - from a 3.1 level to a 4.1 or better?) Common Core : Common Core is a series of standards  for what to teach at each grade level. It's a framework for the school year. It is not specific lessons or textbooks, but just age-...

This tweet comes after DeVos' aborted visit to Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington DC. She got up to the front doors before being confronted by protestors. At that point, she decided to not visit the school and drove away. The goal of this visit was to visit a public school in the DC area. Now the visit prompted the Ed Secretary to fight back against the Academy. She told a Townhall columnist: This quote all on its own is highly insulting to, not just the teachers at Jefferson Academy, but to all teachers. It implies that teachers are not doing their job correctly at this time and are waiting to be given some sort of "permission" to actually teach children.  Her followup and mea culpa is no better. She tries to imply that teachers need "freedom & flexibility" in order to be successful. However, this implies that this alone is what teachers need.  Burn-out happens because teachers are over-extended & unsupported. Teaching is ...