A Rant of sorts..

The full effect of the 90's effect to school's in Alberta that were meant to level the playing field between have and have-not schools has really been evident the last few years. The fact that the market is determining how many teachers our school has from year-to-year and the evaluation of teachers as per their government test mark has done nothing for the profession of teaching. The decision makers may say that we're not being assessed, but we are ranked and compared within our schools, between classes, between divisions and compared to the world!

This market strategy is also evident in our "association vs. gov't" where everything was about the money. We as a profession have done nothing but to do ourselves a disservice by focusing on compensation instead of actual quality.

We absolutely need a shift in thought to better education at ALL levels. I am finding it increasingly embarrassing the "Walmarting" of the education system. There HAS to be a better way.

I'm hoping that the current economic meltdown can make the average person realize that many things should not be run by 'market' forces. Some things should not be and can not be quantitatively judged! Everything has been about statistics and we have manipulated the numbers like every 'good' hedge fund manager of the last 10 years. I've been thinking that we have become our own Ponzi Scheme and the house of cards will collapse upon ourselves.

Are the indicators out there already?
Lack of respect for the profession...
Focus on 'things'...

A shift HAS to occur and it must happen soon!

photo courtesy: dhamzza

Survival

Never in a million years did I truly understand this term. Those that know me will understand the deep sorrow and that my students, peers and myself have been experiencing. Over the past 2 weeks I've drafted nearly 4 different posts, however, none really mattered....

I was in survival mode.

Through these tough, terrible and difficult times we are tested. It is easy to judge others in these times; look at what they're doing... This is part of the test, because we're all doing it. The students are looking at us and this is when teaching and what it means to be a teacher becomes so clear. The personal contact, the relationships and the mentoring, either direct or indirect, are so evident. This truly is why many of us become teachers.

The personal relationships

The curriculum may continue, but where is its priority now?

The technology may be used, but what's the goal?

The relationships continue and that's the heart of the issue...

Apologies to the vagueness of this post... Ask and I'll share.