The Time for Radical Evolution In Education Is NOW

Council for Exceptional Children in New York State Conference

I am an advocate for growth and evolution in education. And I want to see it happen now. Reasons for change are all around us. The world is changing at an incredible speed.

People are constantly finding themselves in novel situations. The whole concept of terrorism and war constitutes a new and novel context for our entire nation. The information age with the attendant international business and its effect on local employment opportunities has altered the field of employment opportunity dramatically. A polarization of political beliefs has seized the United States with an icy grip that until recently has made us look like a one party, one idea, one belief State.

All of these influences are “under the skin” of daily life but individually and together they affect each of us and our behaviors as an “aggregate group of individuals”.

I am looking toward education as the one influence that can transform us from aggregate to group, from individuals out for singular survival to social members focused on the good of all. In a world that is increasingly walking and crossing that thin line between war and peace I believe that it is essential that we recognize the gravity of our situation and apply the best remedies now.

The field of education appears to be moving backward. More aptly it is becoming more “convergent” in its objectives and goals. Students are being taught to pass tests at the cost of other learning opportunities like music, sports, arts, and creative applications of academic curriculum (projects). The problem with this is that a significant percentage of learners will not achieve in this “single approach” educational environment.

Some learn from tests, and some don’t. Testing can be very valuable and used for much more than simple summative assessment. Life if filled to the brim with tests and as such tests can be given in a million different ways. Life’s tests are teaching tools and their results are natural reinforcers or natural punishers. I think that we need to broaden the way we understand testing.

Simply there are two reasons to test. One is to see how the child and the school are performing compared to the norms. The other is to teach. Given this dichotomy it makes sense that we ought to use tests as teaching tools integrated into our curricular mapping plans and unit designs for understanding. If we are really teaching and if we strive to understand exactly what the state or city test is testing I believe that we can identify and address the overlapping goals of each.

Back to exceptional children. The conference was sparkly attended. The ideas and approaches presented were based on solid research and each provided more than reasonable rational for implementation. But there were few takers. Few seem to be interested in the cause for effectively teaching to every student. Even with a law called “No Child Left Behind” I did not find many school people searching for the best research based solutions. The solutions are there. Where is the interest? Where is the application? Where is the spirit? Where is the belief that in order to have a great nation we must have a great and enlightened system for opening, freeing and expanding the minds of our citizens?

Has eight years of republican rule cut the air hose (spirit) and the food (money) tube to our movement for equal educational opportunities for everyone? Is the patient dead or can it be revived and if so by whom?

I want to see democrats put their actions where their words were. I think America needs some very deep thought and reflection at this juncture in history and I want a nation where the citizens are familiar with that process.

I have a new website called Lukesinclusionworks.com and can be reached at Luke@lukesinclusionworks.com

Lets us work together to begin a new spirit for evolution and enlightenment in the ways we look at learning and teaching.