7-19-11
What happens when states invest strategically (or Don’t)

“So you’re telling me there’s a chance? Yea!”
--Lloyd Christmas, Dumb & Dumber

This was the first quote that came to mind after reading this chapter. It’s refreshing knowing that there are potential answers to our nation’s educational crisis. Connecticut and North Carolina are two states that have shown that when states invest strategically into education it produces positive academic results for children. So, what’s the next step? Our policy makers throughout the United States are going to copy Connecticut and North Carolina’s blueprint for success and immediately institute the positive change. Hooray! Our nation’s academic problems are all solved. Watch out Finland here comes Uncle Sam! Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

It’s obvious that the biggest roadblock to making the correct change in our nation’s schools is politics. It seems like common sense to piggyback off another state that has experienced success in educational reform, but that doesn’t work in an industry that is guided by politics. It seems like a continuous tug-of-war when we try to make decisions that affect children and schools. Politicians will tell you policies are about the betterment of children. Well, they lie. Most politicians have an agenda that benefits themselves, not us. California is a prime example of this.

So what can I do? I guess I have to start small. I need to start with my class, school, and district. I think that taking this class and becoming a Wright Fellow will help me and the students in my class. The next step to take as a school and district is to improve the professional development that we incorporate each year. Luckily, our district gets to choose our own professional development. The hard part is going to be to convince the state to first, develop better thoughtful subject specific standards for both students and maybe more importantly teachers. Next, raise salaries for teachers along with the credential needed to become a teacher. Finally, they need to provide intensive support and assessment of prospective and beginning teachers and school leader. Once we do this, Finland will be toast. :-)