While reading the final chapter of this book, I must say that Gallagher has brought up some interesting factors where education is concerned in other nations. I enjoyed the comparison to the Finland education system opposed to ours and how they have some of the top scores in the world in all subject areas. I guess I have to ask if Gallagher knows all of this information shouldn't our government know it as well?
As someone who will be entering the classroom soon, I find myself getting more nervous about going into the classroom, not because of the students but because of the politics surrounding education. What direction is our country moving in where education is concerned? How will those changes effect me? What new requirements will be in place for educators that weren't before and will they be realistic expectations? If there is all of this "proven" evidence out there for what works and what doesn't why is no one trying to put some of these ideas into action. If we always have our "eye" on the competition why are we not taking some of their ideas and policies and integrating them with our own.
Politicians are campaigning for votes by making promises of more money for education so we can keep our jobs. However I'm more concerned with losing my job because you expect me to guarantee that Jonathan and Michelle will pass the test even though they are two grade levels behind in reading and barely come to school. All because we insist on measuring student and teacher capabilities with a test.
While I still don't necessarily agree with Gallagher when he says we should be creating lifelong readers, I do agree that the methods in education that we have now are killing students as thinkers period. It seems to me that now there is a huge disparity among the achievement levels of students. There was a time where if your weren't in gifted class that didn't mean you weren't smart, it meant you just didn't get into the gifted program. Those students still pulled down wonderful grades and were very productive and active in school. Since doing my filed placements it seems as though they are placing all students in gifted who perform even slightly above average and the regular classroom is becoming a drop off for underachieving students.
If this is the direction we are moving in, I agree that soon our school systems will fail.
My blog is designed to give my insights on reading and literacy in the classroom. All of my opinions were developed over time from my vantage point as a student and an educator. I welcome all to share their perspectives and opinions: )
