The great aim of education is not knowledge, but ACTION

I was asked recently what I  thought was the biggest challenge we face in public education today. After much reflection in my opinion, it is engagement…or rather the lack of engagement. Let me be clearer, many of the problems in classrooms, on campus or in the public arena can be traced back to lack of engagement.

Lack of student engagement

o  Students are not engaged with the public schools. The students do not understand the reasons they are there and why they should care to do their best. They do not “see” the big picture, their future.

o  Students are disengaged with the way material is presented to them in most classrooms. Our students today are all about the technology. If a teacher cannot make an impression with the material in the first few minutes of class, most students “turn off.”

o  These two factors have a huge impact on student attitudes and behaviors. If students are not engaged in the classroom, their behavior will also be disconnected with the school community. If the student doesn't feel connected to their peers or their school, may act out on campus by bullying others, or using drugs.

Lack of family/community engagement

o  For various reasons, parents may not feel comfortable coming to the school. It is the responsibility of the school to seek out involvement from the community and from families.  Students will react in a positive way when families have a positive attitude about public education.

o  Communities have taken a back seat to our public education system. Gone are the days when everyone met at the school for events, and functions that celebrated our children. Schools would benefit if they make an effort to engage communities face-to-face.

o  Without the help of families and communities, educating students is an up-hill battle. Public education needs that involvement to create the positive image we so desperately require for success. Having families engaged in activities such as hosting booths at a cultural fair, holding forums to fill volunteer spots, being part of a organization or sport booster club.

Lack of educator engagement

o  Many times students will say that a class is a “waste of time” or the “I don’t understand the teacher”. Sometimes educators need to take that extra time or professional development to reconnect with their content and in turn connect with their students.

o  Education has evolved over the years, yet some teachers remain the same. To limit disruptive behaviors, student drop outs and keep student engagement at the highest level, some teachers may need to reflect on their practice.

o  When asked “What is public educations’ biggest asset?”,  many respond the teachers. That is very true, but it has to be the right people. Public education needs the best of the best to guide, challenge and engage tomorrow’s future. 

Image from National Education

Reflections on a school year

At the end of every school year many things happen. One of the most important is reflection.

Students reflect on what they have learned. Teachers reflect on what they have taught. Leaders reflect on the job they have done.

In Texas, our appraisal tool is a balanced look at the teacher's ability to effectively reach the students though deeper understanding of our state performance standards (TEKS) and appropriate higher level questioning techniques and outside classroom situations like communication with parents, students, colleagues and the community and using data to drive instruction.

As a teacher, I used the appraisal tool as a guide to keep me grounded to expectations. I maintain an on-going portfolio to ensure that I am following what the state is asking me to do as a classroom teacher. At the end of the year, teachers have an option to discuss the appraisal or just sign off on it. I always ask for a conference. I may need to fill in gaps or clear up misunderstandings, but I also use this time to set goals with my administrator for the next school year.

I take this opportunity to have a professional conversation with my administrator. I take a proactive role in my appraisal. However, some teachers, for whatever reason, do not take advantage of this opportunity. As a future administrator, I feel that it is my responsibility to make my staff feel comfortable in talking about the past year, the present circumstances and the future goals.

This brings us back to reflection. Reflection is good for the soul and necessary for improvement. Only when honest conversations can happen within someone can change and growth occur. As an administrator, I want my staff to see that I am a reflective practitioner. In doing so maybe they will be too.