A Recipe for Failure

I hold technology in very high regard, but I also recognize its limitations. It cannot solve all problems or remedy every ailment, and education is one example. The other day I visited a school to help a local high school use a computer-based program in his high school classes. During our time together, he mentioned that his class sizes average around 34 students per class. 34! Imagine taking over 30 adolescents with a range of abilities and attitudes, managing them in an orderly fashion, instructing them in an engaging and meaningful way, and then monitoring each student's learning while adjusting for each one's proficiency and deficiencies- all in 60 minute segments. Oh, and then do it over 4-5 more times with different kids each day! Is this the way to ensure a highly educated populace? Maybe that could happen with some kind of mega star teacher but...

Let's look at the incentives for teachers, I mean, they get their summers off right, so they got it made. Actually, gutter rats might get better treatment these days. In Michigan, Governor Snyder and his team have worked to restrict collective bargaining while pushing for reductions in school funding, and, as a result of that, the majority of Michigan districts have frozen or lowered salaries while requiring teachers to pay for a higher percentage of their benefits. So, heavier workloads, bigger class sizes, less support, and reduced pay and benefits- makes you want to jump into the profession right? The best people are more likely to jump off a cliff.

Now for the kicker- the state of Michigan is increasing its cut scores for standardized tests from around 40% to 65% in all content areas. The cut scores are the scores that students need to get in order to be deemed proficient. Granted, 65% is a reasonable goal, and we should strive to reach at least that; however, when the public sees the results of these scores, the main focus will be on how many students failed to be proficient.

Perhaps a more reasonable approach would be to increase the cut score by 10% each year and invest a little more in the strained schools and teachers instead of taking away their resources. If the current plan is carried out, an outcry will likely occur when test results show low proficiency rates, and people will curse public education and demand change. The environment will be ripe for making some drastic changes in the name of the common good.

Let's review: the state is increasing expectations of students and schools while cutting funding and treating teachers (the ones most responsible for increasing student achievement) like disposable lunch sacks. It's apparent that the government is up to something: possibly diminishing public education so that quality schooling will only be available in private schools. Elitism? Class warfare? I'll let you decide. I'm pretty sure no technology exists to fix it though.