This is another way of saying that I agree that the structure needs to be flipped.

That said, have some patience for those of us teachers who seem to struggle with students demanding a voice, or their own power. It’s a struggle I feel myself, precisely because I am not comfortable with being the “authority figure” and yet am painfully aware that that is exactly what I am expected to be. It can be hard to walk that line between giving students freedom and living up to expectations of my own authority figures. This leads for myself, and a lot of other young teachers, to some painful flip-flopping between lenience and strictness. Not saying that it’s good for students, but I guess just understand that many teachers struggle with authority because of the nature of the system.

But I’ve never heard of some of the other alternative schools Michele mentions above, so I’ve just gained some more valuable learning material for my own life and growth - from the increasingly impressive world of comments these young writers are eliciting on this blog.

Michele, thanks for taking the time. I’m off to explore some of your references now. (I dream of leaving mainstream teaching altogether, and know it’s a dream that is possible to achieve. Maybe you’ve unwittingly brought me closer!)

There is a growing, underground movement around the world of a new type of education. A child centered, learner-directed (or should it be child-directed, learner-centered?) approach to education, whose pioneers were A.S. Neill from England and John Holt from the United States. If you have not read anything about these two people yet, please do. Although their type of education may not be for everyone, I think it would do the world of public education good to at least take a look at some of their theories, and seriously consider them. For a look at what is going on in the teen world when it comes to learner-directed and centered education, take a look at the North Star Learning Center in Hadley, Massachusetts (there are other centers around the country just like it). Or look at the alternative high school in Ithaca, New York (off the top of my head, I can’t remember the name). For general theory, read about the Albany Free School and other free schools around the world, and the Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Read some of the writing by John Taylor Gatto, the author of a book called Dumbing Us Down and a New York City Teacher of the Year. There are successful student centered, student run schools in existence, but most people involved in public schools are so stuck in their own little worlds that they don’t even realize what alternatives are out there that they can learn from and get great ideas from.

I see a couple of points in some of the comments about redistributing money spent on education. It must be said that it is not always the ‘poor’ urban or rural schools that need money. In my area the ‘poor’ urban district spends far more money per student than the ‘rich’ suburban districts.

When I look at what makes a difference it is often the level of importance that students place on their education. That is influenced by their parents.

So who does this tie in to this...

Well I am contemplating the possible effect of allowing students to have a greater say in their education. How would this idea impact the ‘poor’ urban districts? Would it assist in overcoming the parental indifference? Would it assist districts of all kinds funnel money to teaching styles / equipment / programs that would elevate student interest?

I think the possibilities are there, but to move the idea forward we need to propose specific actions.

There is hope though - as our world “flattens” and as we all become more connected the levels will become irrelevant. We have the chance to change the process as well as the product.

Shift happens. Successful shift will happen when we all have a voice. Hopefully Students 2.0 can lead the revolution with the thoughtful, insightful, passionate voices we have heard so far.

Mao Zedung, Hitler, Stalin. Bad names, but think about what they’ve done in their home countries. They were very active. Once they had full control though, they became lazy like how the discussion shows. They no longer have to be a truly active participant to ‘do their job.’

Not that all teachers are this way at all though, I’ve seen many good ones that do within the limits of this structure I’ve shown give Students their freedoms as respectable humans. Meaning they suspend their expectations and let the creative vibes flow, and actually stimulate learning.

Joe, it needs to be flipped or at least some sort of balance of power. Because right now my sixth period teacher was my judge, executioner, and legislator in that classroom. She made her own rules and judged each case against those rules, as well carried out the execution of the sentence.

Hence why I was kicked out for ‘challenging her authority so often.’ It shows one thing about how things are as they stand: Teachers that need this much power are insecure. Why? Most teachers don’t care to how I normally act. Secondly, why shouldn’t the ‘authority’ of a teacher be challenged? You have to “learn” from them afterall? Why shouldn’t you be allowed to question the why of the person who decides the how? The curriculum decides what you learn so neither of you get that choice.

The funnest thing about my new dilemma: That was a core class. Meaning she’s now sentenced me to not get credit for the 4/5th’s of the class I already completed. In a sense having to start over completely. Isn’t that a great punishment for not wanting to have to be reprimanded for every little decision someone who is ‘above’ me makes?

Multiple Intelligences is a great way to go, unfortunately this is where money hits. Only way to figure out how and what students want, go to them individually. Meaning that the only probable solution is more teachers and less students in one classroom...

That costs money... That we can’t take from the military, utilities, and various other necessities.

Also keep in mind, the meaning of school was ‘leisurely learning.’ At some point in time that changed. Choice for the student used to exist but it was smitten by someone someway somewhere. Trace amounts of that existing somewhere in the backlining of society might explain why it’s a secondary thing, it originally was.

Sylvia, hi! You’re precisely right. The blogs serve two main purposes, share what you’re doing. As well as to discuss ideas and theories before fine tuning them and implementing them.

I have a couple good stories to share, but they won’t come up until after my Winter Break. I’m taking a vacation to Texas. Hope you don’t mind the wait.

R Stewart, teachers are above students, below the school administrators, and both are below parents. If a parent does intervene students interests, that’s one method a student can obtain a voice.

My proof is above. I have to find a way to re-earn 4/5th’s a credit at a much later date, re-structure my schedule for the purpose of I’m not allowed in the room with a teacher that’s likely scared of a student that doesn’t much seem to care for the traditional role of a student in society. It’s scary to adults when younger people begin to speak up against them, and that’s what I did.

Like I explained previously, the other staff is disconcerted with whether I feel I’m being taught a class by Stalin. They want me to conform. No questions asked.

Teachers are now ‘certified professionals’ or at least supposed to be. I can’t answer your question, because of the tokenism factor. Honestly I can say teachers are supposed to, and it’s quite possible many or some do not. However, with education’s special role in society I think the way they are paid is appropriate whether as much or little as the case may be is, is also up for debate.

Teachers start being lazy at the taste of power, or can I should say. When they learn their curriculum inside and out and learn how to use that to control time and stop caring for quality that is vested within their responsibility. It ends when they get a wake up call because they’re inspired finally. That’s actually only one possibility, but in my own personal feelings would be the most accurate. However, I would say if that happens it varies by the individual.

As such you must get to know the individual and assess from there.

Renee, thank you for your statement. I agree and disagree with you. That’s how it works in Colorado. I have to call someone who works at the OSPI to get scheduled in for presentation.

That however is not necessarily my argument, we have means if we search for them and dig hard. However more often than not it’s told we don’t have a say period when we search. Where do we search? Our mentors. The teachers. The ones we know and touch.

Then they give their criticisms to our purpose and it de-moralizes when what we want to see isn’t likely or ‘impossible.’

I’m looking into to going to present to our district’s board for some of the changes I think would be beneficial to our school and district. The other thing I would remind you is there’s more than one type of board. State Boards I’m sure are compromised more so of actual politicians, whether they want to advance is highly debatable but non-germane to the present argument.

I say this because as elects they naturally are politicians, but theoretically speaking everyone would be a businessman, politician, and priest so to speak. That’s one philosophy, and what you say is a legitimate concern and I’m glad you bring it up. I mentioned a while back somewhere looking to the students for the solution.

If vested with the power I’m sure that somewhere within the body there’d be someone not only interested in the administering, and others may be interested in the analyzing results of democratic movements.

Just think if it was a public announcement and handled thing in an individual school to be presented with this problem and you asked someone to solve it, there’s a possibility of easily a thousand or more responses. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what the responses of the few that could get past the post defensive response to thinking that what they say may not necessarily be taken seriously? Things need to be handled more local level, they’re easier to manage that way.

Once again I apologize to my fellow student bloggers. I don’t have much free time and with each new problem, consideration, idea presented to me I have to vest more time into action as opposed to blogging/reading.

On a final note to everyone:

As of this comment I’m officially gone till sometime in January. Part of it’s vacation, part of it’s work, another part of it is the action on my own fight for student voice, and the final part of it is fixing the problems presented with losing my sixth period class.

Have Happy Holidays and a Merry New Year everyone. Expect a new post from me roughly January 6th or a little after. ]]> http://students2oh.org/2007/12/10/the-world-wont-wait-for-rome/#comment-145 Renee Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:23:27 +0000 http://students2oh.org/2007/12/10/the-world-wont-wait-for-rome/#comment-145 Dillon. I'm one of those Board of Education people - reading Students 2.0 to learn more about the folks we care about most - students. In Colorado, Board members are volunteers. And the majority of us are not politicians - yes, we have to run to be on the Board, but most of us don't want to go any further. Most Board members also have paying jobs. We do what we do because we believe kids need a voice, whether it's through our voice or kids' voices. We do try to find and hear student voices. I was over at one of our online programs today, talking to the kids, finding out what they like about the program, what they don't like. But, it is a big system, hard to get around to talk to everybody. I'd encourage you to go to one of your district's Board meetings. They usually have a Citizen's Request to Speak, when anyone can speak about anything for 3 minutes. These times are usually at the beginning of the meeting so you can leave and not have to sit through all the "other stuff." Email a board member. Most of the folks I know would love to hear from students. And, thanks for the post. It makes me think more about talking to students about their lives at school. I'll be reading your comments. Dillon. I’m one of those Board of Education people - reading Students 2.0 to learn more about the folks we care about most - students. In Colorado, Board members are volunteers. And the majority of us are not politicians - yes, we have to run to be on the Board, but most of us don’t want to go any further. Most Board members also have paying jobs. We do what we do because we believe kids need a voice, whether it’s through our voice or kids’ voices.

We do try to find and hear student voices. I was over at one of our online programs today, talking to the kids, finding out what they like about the program, what they don’t like. But, it is a big system, hard to get around to talk to everybody.

I’d encourage you to go to one of your district’s Board meetings. They usually have a Citizen’s Request to Speak, when anyone can speak about anything for 3 minutes. These times are usually at the beginning of the meeting so you can leave and not have to sit through all the “other stuff.”

Email a board member. Most of the folks I know would love to hear from students.

And, thanks for the post. It makes me think more about talking to students about their lives at school. I’ll be reading your comments.

Unfortunately, teachers have a lot more job security, and thus are less likely to become more innovative. If teachers are an island, answering to nobody, then there is little potential for them to change.