Reflection on “The Flat World and Education” by Linda Darling-Hammond
My initial thoughts about our reading were shock, horror, anger, frustration, and sorrow at the reminder that there is such inequality in our great school system. I have see” it first-hand living in Detroit, Dallas, Houston, and Chicago. My own children had some of the best teachers in a great school district where we lived in the Chicago area. We had daily pe, computer classes with a computer teacher 2 x/week, music 2 x/week, and art 2 x/week. They had access to great technology and curriculum. The school district to the east of us struggled providing the basic curriculum to high needs kids. The school district to the south of us was the jewel of all districts (they even had a football field and stadium supported by a local corporation).
Then I moved to Idaho a taught in a reading first and title one school. We had plenty of curriculum (although it was scripted) and amazing staff resources. Now I am in an average middle class school of about 700 students. We are not a title 1 school and we do not have ELL support. We have the basics but we do have the most supportive parent organization. My kids are in a good place too. But I know that there are others that are hurting and lack even the basic necessities to make school a good place to be. Education is supposed to be the great equalizer. I know that if there is going to be equality at least across Idaho, I would have to give something up.
I cannot fix everything right now, or maybe even in the future. But I can make a difference in my classroom, and hopefully in my school and district. I can reach each child, engage them at school, and inspire creativity and a love for learning.
When you said, "if there is going to be equality at least across Idaho, I would have to give something up". What do you think you have to give up? Should you have to give up something for all schools in a state to provide a good education?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your last paragraph, unless you want to run for office, the only thing you can really do is your best in your class to inspire child to learn.