There are many things that made my teaching experience successful at the Brown School, but at the center was our school's mission, shared values, and sustained pride for supporting all youth to be their best (when leadership allowed for this to occur). I've noticed since that many schools have records of vision and missions, but that they are seldom shared with kids or used for the way teachers structure their classrooms. Walking into Bassick yesterday, I found this plaque. It reads: To the spirit of youth, eager for knowledge, noble in aspiration, sincere in purpose, the citizens of Bridgeport dedicate this school upon integrity of the character here developed the city rests its hope.
The plaque was polished and I wondered how often do teachers visit this plaque and discuss what it means. Why would a city rests its hope on youth? What would this city say about the conditions of the school and the education kids are receiving? What do they mean by integrity of character and where is the community support to assure this?
I love the plaque and want to know more. Every community should see their school as a space of hope. Sadly, listening to kids and their teaches, much of what is communicated is the opposite. They are frustrated that the State mandates that restricts learning from happening - everything revolves around testing, testing, and testing. The micromanagement from above makes school nearly impossible. Teacher after teacher after teacher dream of a school that is not top heavy with gestapos breathing down their neck policing curriculum and politics. Kids feel the same thing.
Grant Wiggington's Foxfire method was central to my learning to teach. In it, you offer the "givens" of what must be learned and teachers, with the input of students, create a plan of action on how to get there. The student-centered approach brings them to the conversation of what they need, what skills should be targeted, and how they might achieve them. Sadly, viewing youth as individuals is NOT what top down curriculum allows. There are spirited teachers everywhere turning over in their graves by the Big Brother approach to education occurring in the 21st century.
I'm beginning to think a major revolution is in order.
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