The Learners manifesto
Realization that the education system was greatly lacking in student focused, core subject instructions is what prompted me to become an educator. Over the past ten years, technology has been available to expand the possibilities of education, but instead of implementing the technology the status quo of teaching continued. I noticed that any increase to school budgets for upgrades were usually directed to anything sports related. Although use of technology to better engage students has not been widely incorporated in the classrooms, teachers continue to be held responsible for low standardized test scores. Society has realized that students are individuals and need to be viewed as such. If the school system acknowledges that students can be coached to be creators as opposed to conformists, the system would be positively altered to see a society built on the principle of equality our leaders claim to be working towards (Thibideaux, 2021). My passion is this:
Train kids to contribute in the area that brings them joy.
Make room for the growth of scholars by allowing them to fail and then succeed.
Accept that yesterday’s education model has served its purpose and must evolve.
Train kids to contribute in the area that brings them joy
Schools have dealt with numerous students with behavior issues and academic short comings. Behaviorism teaches that this is a failure on the part of the teacher to manage the classroom and impart the required curriculum (WGU, 2021). It usually looks like this conversation that plays out in this 1980’s Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip (Watterson, 1989).
(Watterson, 1989)
To most, Calvin would be considered undisciplined and that may be the case; however, it is worth considering that the cause of the academic issues may be that he needs time to explore his interest (Robinson, 2007). Sir Ken Robinson tells the story of a dancer that was labeled as a behavior issue due to not being able to sit still. When the family took her in for testing, the doctor correctly guessed that she must have the nature of a dancer. The doctor then admonished the family to allow the child to be enrolled in a dance program. The child went on to have a career as a world renowned dancer. Robinson then poses the question of what and how we are educating the child. Is the education growing the child and fostering joy? Is the education stifling and meant to impose conformity? (Robinson, 2015) I believe that there are essentials that scholars need to have for life, but they should not have to be forced into the false dichotomy of destroying their bodies in some sports arena, working 90 hours a week in the oilfield (a problem Texas has), or a liberal arts based job that they truly hate. Make room for self-discovery though education and watch kids thrive.
Do Schools Kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson (2007).
Make room for the growth of scholars by allowing them to fail and then succeed
A major contribution to the stifling of modern scholars is that failure is seen as the juxtaposition to success, rather than the path to success (Dweck, 2016). Even in my current environment, scholars obsess over numerical ranking and grades. Anything less than what they desire is an overwhelming defeat and has resulted in some students giving up on the free associates degree that we offer. It is because they suffer from the fixed mindset of failure being antithetical to success. Sadly, the numerical grading system validates this concern as they must achieve a grade to continue to the next grade and ultimately Graduation (Robinson, 2007). Carol Dweck postulates that communicating “yet’ will change students perception of failure. This also stands to argue (and quite effectively) that subjective numerical grades should be reevaluated in regards to its effectiveness. Pass, Fail, or Yet: is up for debate as to which would be the best teacher in the right context. “Pass” is what all good scholars desire. “Fail” makes “pass” seem unlikely and unobtainable. “Yet” makes room for coaching and one to one mentorship (Dweck, 2014). I postulate that changing the context of the conversation will cause more growth. Scholars have yet to get there, but they will get there yet.
The Power of Yet by Carol Dweck (2014).
Accept that yesterday’s education model has served its purpose and must evolve
Stop Stealing Dreams by Seth Godin (2012).
I personally used to believe that progressive methods like PBL were the cause of decline in the US education system. In truth, the outdated methods of schooling are the cause of the decline. The decline was most evident in my career, using STAAR test score metrics. The powers-that-be were never pleased with all the “practice” tests throughout the year; however, they liked the end result. Much of the end product is due to me using unconventional methods such as Socrative, Peardeck, Classkick, QR Codes, etc. It was all designed to make the content accessible and classifiable as teaching with technology. With the implementation of Project/Problem-Based Learning in my current school-district, I currently sit in first place with achievement and growth in data. I truly believe this is because I opened myself to new methods of instruction. Seth Godin presented this conclusion in his Ted Talk “Stop Stealing Dreams” in the context of, time has run out for the current education model. It was meant to address the needs of the Industrial Revolution and prepare them for a life in a repetitive factory position (Godin, 2012). As we are several generations past that era, society needs to approach learning differently and it most certainly is not the teachers responsibility. It is the responsibility of the leaders in the educational field to stop merely proposing ideas and casting blame on teachers. Educational Leaders have a responsibility to implement and coach teachers into making the changes come to fruition in the lives of our students.
Conclusion
Watch before continuing. Take note of the student playing the Ukulele.
To those who oppose change, I wonder when it will be enough students who stumble through school and then life before we start being allowed, as educators, to do what is best for them. A student I had died by suicide, because her potential was not recognized by our outdated system. She was not an academic success story and failed multiple classes, but she was easily the most talented student musician I mentored through the guitar club. Unfortunately, her participation was limited by school rules due to her grades. Her participation was reduced and I saw her in the guitar club more infrequently. There was much speculation as to why; however, I feel a main contributor can be inferred from the principals public response that it was the students own fault, rather than examining what might have the school done differently. An investigation revealed six other deaths of a similar nature. All creative students; all considered academic failures. The responsibility lies with an outdated system that does not recognize individuality and work to meet the needs of the student, rather than then student working to meet the needs of the system. Sir Ken Robinson, I concur with your assertion. America does not need reform; we need an education revolution (Robinson, 2015).
Bring on the Learning Revolution by Sir Ken Robinson (2015).
References
Godin, S. (2012, October 16). Stop Stealing Dreams: Seth Godin at tedxyouth@bfs. YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://youtu.be/sXpbONjV1Jc
Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset-the new psychology of success. New York: Random House
Dweck, C. (2014, September 12). The power of yet: Carol S Dweck: TEDxNorrköping. YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://youtu.be/J-swZaKN2Ic
Robinson, K. (2007, January 6). Do schools kill creativity?: Sir Ken Robinson. YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://youtu.be/iG9CE55wbtY
Robinson, K. (2015, September 15). Bring on the Learning Revolution!: Ken Robinson. YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://youtu.be/kFMZrEABdw4
Thibodeaux, T. (2021). Learner's mindset..... Learners Mindset. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from http://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=1539
Watterson, B. (2019, October 16). Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 16, 2019. GoComics. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2019/10/16
Western Governors University. (2021, March 23). What is the behavioral learning theory? Western Governors University. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-behavioral-learning-theory2005.html#close
