Recently, I was talking with a friend when she mentioned that her daughters do school-related work intensely every weekday afternoon. It got me wondering, did her daughters just go to a terrific school with amazing teachers or did this love of learning come from the environment at home? Both she and her husband are highly educated, avid readers who model behavior for their children, that provide a culture for excellence
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In the past several decades, we have gone through a period of educational reform. The question always asked is, “What is wrong with American schools?” Which usually leads to, “What is wrong with American teachers?” If I am not going to give teachers the credit for my friend’s children, is it fair to blame teachers when students are failing?
Now, I understand the research shows the power of a great teacher. I have witnessed it myself when certain teachers improve student achievement by leaps and bounds. Remember however, that teachers are with students 180 days a year, seven hours a day. When you look at it that way, that’s only 22% of the child’s waking hours.
Geoffrey Canada (more here), changed the question from “Why are our schools failing?” to “Why do my students in Harlem know less than other kids?” When he switched the question around, he came up with different answers. He realized that he needed to give parents training, provide meals, and get families connected to health care. The environment around the school was as important as the actual hours in the school.
On reflection, two things come to mind. One is that we must be careful that we are asking the right question when we are trying to solve a problem. How the question is framed will determine the solution. Second, are we asking the right question about education?
Should we be asking why our students do not know as much as others do around the world? Or should we continue to ask what is wrong with schools in the United States?
I’d love to hear what you think.
