Since jumping into the world of Twitter about a year ago, I have been exposed to many articles, blogs, and tweets about the need for education reform. Today I came across another compelling article from Forbes entitled “The Single Best Idea for Reforming K-12 Education”. The article discusses the need to shift from a factory-style model of education to one that inspires “lifelong learning in students”. It makes a good point, one that I’ve heard and read many times before. I’ve read many other articles/blogs about reforming the very structure of American education. I am personally inspired and motivated by utilizing technology in schools and am often frustrated by the resistance of districts and administrators to embrace what is clearly the future of education, not to mention society in general. There are thousands of teachers, administrators and consultants pushing for educators to jump into the web and mobile learning with both feet. There is so much (legitimate) screaming about the failure of high-stakes testing, No Child Left Behind, and Race to the Top. It seems overwhelmingly obvious to anyone who cares to look into the issue that there are major failings in our system of public education. It is also fairly obvious that major change is needed, not just another “incentive” program but a complete re-evaluation and overhaul of the entire system. But this isn’t happening. It’s not on the verge of happening. It’s not even being considered as a possibility by those who make such decisions.
I know that anyone reading this blog (most likely linking to it from Twitter) is well aware of all of this. I am not trying to pose any new ideas here. What I AM trying to do is ask: with all the discussion and even shouting going on out there, who’s listening? Day after day I read about the need to change education from a variety of sources and all of them boil down to the need to overhaul. So why is nothing actually being considered? Where are the policy makers that we need to make these changes happen? Who out there, in a position to actually make some changes, is fighting to even consider true education reform? Who can we rally behind? How can we motivate legislators? How can we show them the possibilities? How can we get more people on-board to fight for the cause?
Before you say it, I know I can start in my classroom. And I do, as much as possible within the limits of the outmoded system. But the truth is everyone could do the same and it would have some benefits but without change from the top it would eventually come to nothing. We need politicians (ugh) to start fighting the battle with us. We need more high-profile advocates that can convince the masses with pure star power. We need parents and students to start pushing school boards, state legislators, and national legislators with such force that they have no choice but to start listening. While we should always continue to refine the final picture of what reform looks like, maybe it’s time to start devoting just as much if not more energy to actually getting someone to listen, because the best ideas will remain mere ideas unless someone in power puts them into practice. Let’s rally the troops, organize, and make them hear us. Or let’s shut up about it, because if we’re unwilling to actually stand up we’re just whining, and too much whining gives me a headache.
