Feeling the Burn
I'm sitting across the table from a company rep who is giving us free resources: books, training, maybe computers, tech support....The kids will read, then take a test. Read, then take a test. Read, then take a test. Read, then take a test.(Okay, I'll stop.)
It's at no cost to the school.
My Dad used to say: "For free take, for buy, waste time."
So we say "Yes!". Well, I didn't say anything: ("Must keep mouth closed. Must keep mouth closed.")
All I saw before me was a plan to harness children to administrative reports. There was no doubt which party would benefit the most from this transaction. And I could feel how tense my muscles were. This company rep was not a threatening character. Bringing free supplies and resources. "It will improve students' reading."... There were "shortcomings" in our public schools reading programs....There are no costs to the school....
But I can feel the burn.
I've been hearing an angrier tone in some of the edublogs these days and as I pictured our students dutifully responding to the online multiple choice tests in order to shore up administrator's professional prospects, I could feel the warmth I've always associated with teaching children just get up and leave the room.
This is a cold time in education.
It's at no cost to the school.
My Dad used to say: "For free take, for buy, waste time."
So we say "Yes!". Well, I didn't say anything: ("Must keep mouth closed. Must keep mouth closed.")
All I saw before me was a plan to harness children to administrative reports. There was no doubt which party would benefit the most from this transaction. And I could feel how tense my muscles were. This company rep was not a threatening character. Bringing free supplies and resources. "It will improve students' reading."... There were "shortcomings" in our public schools reading programs....There are no costs to the school....
But I can feel the burn.
I've been hearing an angrier tone in some of the edublogs these days and as I pictured our students dutifully responding to the online multiple choice tests in order to shore up administrator's professional prospects, I could feel the warmth I've always associated with teaching children just get up and leave the room.
This is a cold time in education.
posted by Cabinnyc at Tuesday, March 28, 2006
1 Comments:
Angry isn't the way to go, though. In spite of what Janet Swenson says, we have to stay cool. The Strict Father Frame--based on George Lakoff's "Don't think of an elephant!"--wants us to get mad, lose control. That way they can sniff down their noses at us and dismiss what we're trying to do. Instead, we have to take back the language from them, reinforce our frames. It's time for political action.
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