I enjoyed reading "Why School?" it was an interesting book with great anecdotes relating life and school. I enjoyed how, the author,Will Richardson, was able to show the importance of reform in school. After reading about the two types of reforms, of course I would choose "Another Way". Though I agree with the notion that reform is needed. I don't feel our society could deal with a total reform that the author is talking about. According to Richardson(2012), "This second path is simply not as easy to quantify as the first" (p. 278). If we followed the second path the people and governing body of our country would want to see improvement. Our first option can show improvement on state testing while the second does not. This isn't saying that school will simply not improve but showing improvement will be more difficult. I still back the idea of "Another way" I just find it hard for the people to back this notion.
I do believe the path we are on now is not the right one. We are focusing too much of our financial resources on standardized testing. Richardson (2012) mentioned, "right now, 'school' and 'education' are in the crosshairs of that thinking, which isn’t a good thing for our kids"(p. 288) Our public school system is turning to the private sector to provide the books and test required for testing. This is creating corporate greed along with politicians being bought off to keep and back standardized testing.
The one place where the reform can start is with us the educator. As Richardson(2012) says, "Be bold, and take action". (p. 310) It doesn't require national laws to start developing change but requires an educator and a classroom for these practices to be put in place. We can be the ones responsible for changing the environment of standardized testing.
Which of the six unlearing/relearning ideas for educators could you commit to?
I feel that I could allow students to "Discover, don’t deliver, the curriculum" I think this is important for physical education because if a student can own what they are learning it is more likely they will apply it to the rest of their life.
It would also be hard for me to get students "talking to strangers" I could commit to this though. I find it hard because there are a lot of bad people out there but we can educate students on who to talk to and create a safe environment for them.
I could "Be a master learner", just because we finished our formal education, doesn't mean our learning should stop. I have already experienced a workshop that allows teachers to continue their education to make them better in the classroom.
Which ones might be a struggle?
I think "Share everything (or at least something)" might be a little hard for me to commit to. I feel though that I could use a lot of the people's resources they have shared. I feel that it would be difficult for me to share what I have done because I am a little more closed off then most.
Richardson, Will. Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere. TED Conferences, 2012. EPUB file.
I do believe the path we are on now is not the right one. We are focusing too much of our financial resources on standardized testing. Richardson (2012) mentioned, "right now, 'school' and 'education' are in the crosshairs of that thinking, which isn’t a good thing for our kids"(p. 288) Our public school system is turning to the private sector to provide the books and test required for testing. This is creating corporate greed along with politicians being bought off to keep and back standardized testing.
The one place where the reform can start is with us the educator. As Richardson(2012) says, "Be bold, and take action". (p. 310) It doesn't require national laws to start developing change but requires an educator and a classroom for these practices to be put in place. We can be the ones responsible for changing the environment of standardized testing.
Which of the six unlearing/relearning ideas for educators could you commit to?
I feel that I could allow students to "Discover, don’t deliver, the curriculum" I think this is important for physical education because if a student can own what they are learning it is more likely they will apply it to the rest of their life.
It would also be hard for me to get students "talking to strangers" I could commit to this though. I find it hard because there are a lot of bad people out there but we can educate students on who to talk to and create a safe environment for them.
I could "Be a master learner", just because we finished our formal education, doesn't mean our learning should stop. I have already experienced a workshop that allows teachers to continue their education to make them better in the classroom.
Which ones might be a struggle?
I think "Share everything (or at least something)" might be a little hard for me to commit to. I feel though that I could use a lot of the people's resources they have shared. I feel that it would be difficult for me to share what I have done because I am a little more closed off then most.
Richardson, Will. Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere. TED Conferences, 2012. EPUB file.