Let me explain. Last January 16th I posted an entry that I was very proud of, which was inspired by an article I had read in the New York Times about students from elite, public high schools that were bored at Ivy League Schools as undergraduates, or who could just coast through because their high school curriculum had been so rigorous and so advanced that college was a time to finally catch an episode of The Family Guy. During their high school careers, they had never had time to see TV. Anyway, I contrasted the experiences of those students with the ones of my students in my regular level Spanish III classes, in a good public high school in Austin, TX. That week I had been forced to teach roman numerals to my students, who could not understand their cultural reading about a pre-colombian culture not because of the Spanish, but because the centuries were expressed as roman numerals. In four classes, I had only one student who knew them. I was also constantly monitoring my English, because my active, everyday vocabulary in English confused too many students. Once I used the word "glee" and I was accused of always using such big words. Thankfully on that one, another student pointed out it was only four letters long.
Anyway, the point was that I was teaching good students (many never take level three of a language and the truly ambitious usually take the honors level) at a good school and these kids were no where near studying nano-physics or whatever it was that the kids in Virginia and New York state featured in the New York Times were up to. Too many of my students weren't getting beyond football games and episodes of My Super Sweet Sixteen. I actually had students who wouldn't take their books home--ever. Something was wrong. But something was equally wrong with the kid at Princeton who was spending his time watching episodes of The Family Guy, because he'd already done papers on everything on his reading list for freshman year.
Both the culture of achievement to the point of insanity (that's why kids are taking Aterol illegally--to keep awake and concentrate and accomplish everything on their parents' and guidance counselor's list to pump up bragging rights for family and school) and the culture that allows bright students from well-off homes to think it is okay not to take books home and get mad if we ask them to participate in class instead of listening to their i-pods.
That's the summary version of the original posting (lost, once I pulled it from my blog, as my hard drive crashed--another story for another day).
The scene:
I was teaching my fifth period class, when another teacher from my department (notice I am careful not to name names), waved me into the hallway. "I'm teaching" I mouthed. She gave me a look like "This is a matter of life and death", so I excused myself from my students and went into the hallway.
"Do you have something about the high school on your blog?", she asked in a concerned whisper.
"What?", I was expecting something like, "There's been a bomb threat." or "Help, can my kids come into your room for the rest of the period--there's an emergency and I have to go." I did not expect a question about my blog. I mean, did anyone even read my blog? And, so what? I'm teaching.
"Teachers are saying you have things about the high school on the blog and if I were you I would take it down right now, " she warned, sounding frantic.
"What? I'm teaching."
"Take it down. Look don't worry. Just take it down. I can't talk now, but I would really take it down."
Okay, yeah, I won't worry.
"Who said what?", I asked, my mind running a million miles an hour in at least as many directions.
"Look, I don't want to say. Don't worry about it. Just, if you can take it down, I would do so...now."
Okay, I am really worried now. I have found schools to be a hotbed of shit and you don't want to be in the shit, because if some sticks to you, you'll smell forever--its like getting on the wrong side of the "it" crowd in seventh grade. And people love a scandal. Had someone hacked into my blog? Had someone said something about students by name? Was there going to be an investigation? Would I end up on the front page of the Metro Section as the latest teacher gone wrong?
Once I got my kids onto their next task, I opened my computer to see my blog. No one had hacked in, but indeed, as I thought about the last entry I had written, I had said some negative things. Thank god I hadn't been focusing on "No Child Left Behind"--that would have made this one look sweet. Well, I figured I better get rid of it (not foreseeing the later meltdown of my hard drive, because I just meant from my blog--if any of you printed out the January 16th post, I'd like a copy). I deleted it.
Now, just the day or two before, another of my department members had written me an evil email about my class management and cc'd my supervising assistant principal, without ever coming into my class or speaking to me. Luckily, I was backed up by the administration, but I thought, "What is going on here? Does someone want me to quit? How many people are involved in this?". Public education will make you paranoid. People talk about "inside the beltway politics", but they need to step inside the school house.
I went to one of the assistant principals who didn't know anything about it. That ap called in another who confirmed that he and yet another had reviewed the blog entry after receiving an anonymous complaint from one of my fellow teachers, who would remain anonymous. Apparently, they'd let it go, because as far as they could see I had only been exercising my freedom of expression, but that if I felt so negatively about the school and thought schools in the North East were so superior, why was I teaching?
Okay, apparently they missed the point that I think both extremes are bad. But okay, I wasn't being fired. Below, you'll find the email of one of my high school friends, who, I was shocked to find out reads my blog. Months ago I asked her if I could use her email and she agreed, but then I didn't blog again. She got the point of the email and lives in one of the uber-districts in Virginia. She has good perspective, so you may want to check it out.
So, I was busy with school, busy with the folklorico program; we were going to competition; we had spring season of shows coming up; I was tired and I stopped blogging. I just couldn't deal with the stress of knowing that someone out there, some cowardly person, who couldn't write a response or even come to me with concerns (if they really had any other than trying to get me into trouble--sounds pretty seventh grade, right?) before running to the administration and then gossiping to at least one other teacher in my department about it (the one who "warned" me) could be waiting to "get me" and use my own words against me. Seventh grade sucked the first time. I was too busy to do seventh grade over again.
Now it is this post that is sounding really negative, but the truth of the matter is that I couldn't and I can't do anything about anyone who is destined to live in the seventh grade forever. And I knew that. I had shared the fact that I blogged in conversation openly while eating lunch with other teachers and it was possible that some of them would actually read it. I mean I write it, so hopefully someone will read it, right? But, I guess I had that little hope still burning in me (because, I promise, I am not really a negative person) that if someone liked something very much or if someone really thought I was off base or even if they thought I was really negative, they would respond to the blog or start a conversation with me. I mean, that's what blogs are, right? A means of communication--a conversation with the World. I guess I am an idealist.
Maybe I should just stick to politics. No one ever gets upset with that.
No, I will continue to write about what I want to write about and I will continue to think about and respond to things I read in the Times, hear on NPR and observe in the World around me. Because I have a freedom of expression. The assistant principal who shall not be named told me so with another assistant principal as a witness!!! So does the teacher trapped in the seventh grade, but if they ever get to high school, they can write me back. We'll talk--we'll do lunch. (okay, that's pushing it).
...Since January, my folklorico group performed well at contest in March, put on a great spring show in April, performed four shows in three venues for Cinco de Mayo and ran an successful concession stand during summer school. I led a group of students to Peru and Bolivia in June (and my folklorico kids managed the concession stand without me physically present!), and we had a fabulous time (I got food poisoning in Peru and went to the hospital, but I am saving that episode for a health care entry). I got back and found the new dance floor that my wonderful principal (so beyond 7th grade) had ordered for my dancers. My husband and I are currently just three weeks away from receiving an exchange student from Brazil, who will go to the same school where I teach--very cool. I have registered for two dance classes that I will take, rather than teach during the month of August--and hopefully beyond. And finally, I am excited about teaching two classes of ESL (English as a Second Language) in addition to Spanish this school year. Can't you tell I am sooooo negative. Not. I am really looking forward to this new year--new classes, new challenges (new material for the blog).
Okay, now you all know the story! I am sorry if I let anyone down. I actually had two different people ask me about my blog this week and it spurred me on! I am grateful, even if you are the only two people out there reading this. Thank you.
Below is what my friend, bless her heart, sent me after the infamous school entry:
Maura,
I read your blog from the 16th about education and feel compelled to write to you. I agree with so much of what you have to say. Living in Fairfax County, land of educational competition, is a rather interesting experience. Although my kids are too young to be directly affected by some of the debates currently going on in the county educational system I have been following them closely. Not only will my kids be affected by the outcome eventually but I will be living in an area populated by graduates of this system. Sometimes I have to wonder at the pressure put on students in this county.
I was reading an article in the Washington Post a few months ago about a new problem facing the summer school program. Apparently increasing numbers of students are taking advantage of classes being offered over the summer not for remediation but in order to skip ahead during the school year. If they take basic biology over the summer they can then take the AP class in the fall and not risk getting a C or B in the class. Some students are so worried about their GPAs that they are taking summer school classes in order to assure that they will be familiar with the material in the fall and will be assured of getting an A in the class. Where does this leave the students who actually need assistance in these subjects? Teachers are having a hard time teaching to all the levels in these summer classes. Often times they find themselves teaching to the brighter/ more talented students and the others are left out. Teachers who were expecting to teach a class aimed at students who needed a little extra assistance/motivation in learning a subject are finding themselves teaching a very mixed group of students. Apparently the brighter students tend to monopolize the teacher's time and attention making it very difficult to reach students who may be difficult to reach to begin with. This could not possibly be what the summer school program was intended for. What happened to going to the beach or the pool over the summer? What happened to the concept of relaxation???
There also has been debate about the Gifted and Talented Centers here in Fairfax. Currently students are placed in the Gifted Program based on test taken in 2nd grade. (Teacher recommendations and parent input are a part of the process as well) Once in the program students, beginning in 3rd grade, are bussed to the nearest GT center where they attend school through 5 or 6th grade with other equally academically talented kids. Where is the diversity in these GT centers? (Racially Fairfax County has plenty of diversity but diversity is about more then race) How does this help kids learn that everyone has different talents, abilities, and interest? Does this contribute to the craziness of high school? Why do kids need to change schools in 3rd grade and then again for middle school? What has happened to the idea of the neighborhood school? There is some talk about getting rid of the GT centers at the elementary levels but opponents point out how much more they are able to offer in terms of special programs and advanced classes. How many advanced classes does a 10 year old need? Why can't the neighborhood school support a GT class for each grade where students are being challenged and taught with other advanced kids but part of a larger school community where there is greater diversity of talent and interest? What happens to the kid who does not do so well academically in 2nd grade but by 4th grade is a whiz? (My understanding is that is very hard to get into the GT program after the placements are done for 3rd grade) And we wonder why our high school kids are stressed.
Many graduates of this school system report of being bored and "over prepared" for college. What is the point of putting kids through "hell" for 4 years of high school so that they can be bored in college? Something is wrong with this picture. Also, not every kid needs to go to an Ivy League College. Who do we think will be our hairdressers, repair people, and car mechanics? There are plenty of fields that do not require an Ivy League education.
I have been trying to understand exactly how the AP system is set up here, but I do know that the high schools are encouraged and rewarded for having a high percentage of students in the AP classes. It is good to challenge students and encourage borderline students to stretch themselves but at what point do we draw the line. I never took one AP class, did very well at a good college, and am happy with my life. Honestly I am glad I have a solid education but some would argue that I am wasting it by staying home taking care of kids. At what point do we need to develop and encourage skills not measured on standardized tests?
I think the question that has not been asked by our society as we think about our educational system is "What does it mean to be well educated and what is the goal of that education?" It is well and good to challenge students to excel at biophysics but do they have the skills they need to be successful in other areas of life??? Until we really figure out what the point of a solid education, beyond having a "good" job, we will continue to miss the boat in creating a system that really meets the needs young people.
Just felt a need to rant and felt you would appreciate it. Hope all is well and talk to you soon!
Chris
