EduShyster interviewed Jose Luis Vilson, New York City teacher and blogger, about his new book, “This Is Not a Test.”
Vilson has woven together the story of his own life with narratives about his students and classroom experiences. My impression, when I read his book, is that he has a fresh voice, a style all his own, and a compelling way of bringing together issues and personal stories.
In response to a question, Vilson says he is determined to be hopeful, no matter what is thrown his way. Frankly, anyone who could survive the harsh Bloomberg years is a determined optimist. EduShyster asks about his optimism, and he replies, “The way I look at it, there’s really no choice. Educators need, NEED to have some kind of hope because otherwise we’re powerless. Once we start to feel less hopeful, that fire we start out with gets extinguished. I do have pessimism and skepticism as drivers but I always have optimism right next to me because I’m always hoping things will get better. Our kids are our driving force. If you don’t have the kids you teach in mind, then why be hopeful? If you’re teaching as a career, than optimism is the way to go.”
Simply opposing the current reform movement with all its flaws is insufficient, he says. We must have a vision for the future that is far better than “the good old days,” which weren’t good at all for many people. That new vision must be far more inclusive than in the past, especially for those at the margins of society.
In her last question, Edushyster posed this challenge:
“ES: For those who like their wisdom distilled into bite-sized 140 character portions, you’re also quite a presence on Twitter. Here’s a challenge for you. Can you boil down the central argument of your book into a single Tweet?
JV: *It’s not about the salary; it’s all about reality.*
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Couldn’t agree more with last comment regarding not just opposing, but proposing a new vision of schooling. Since the inception of public schooling, “managers of virtues” have institutionalized the teaching and learning process —whose goals are conformity, surveillance, and efficiency –what Dewey termed the “machinery of schooling. Despite the best efforts of teachers, the goals and practices of institutional schooling constrain the kinds of teaching that would grow the individual abilities and talents of the children who enter our school house doors. Asking children to sit still, listen to a teacher, take notes, take tests for six hours a day is not normal —yet, we have devised an entire psychological industry around redefining what is normal in a school —special education is a testament to placing students in programs who developmentally are merely responding normally to being placed in institutions designed to measure/rank rather than educate. While I believe it is worthwhile to oppose the current infatuation with data driven accountability, educators (and their professional organizations) must also offer an alternative vision of schooling that looks more like Dewey’s original conceptions of schooling rather than M. Rhees no excuses school house jails.
Cool.
I like Jose. I read his blog too. The book is good. I bought it.
This is the absolute truth in education in which it is not about salary, but it is the reality.
Cruelty, terror and dictatorship are from people who do not have integrity, humanity and courage.
I wish to have video tape of all dictators versus Zen Master at the time when the Death visits them. This is the moment of reality for people without integrity, humanity and courage at the time of their departed lives/souls.
The foundation of public education is to provide all students regardless their background of race, health, wealth and intelligence to learn from humanity to science, from music, sport to stem. Most of all, all students will equally have an opportunity to appreciate, respect and share their happiness, hardship and differences in order to foster the compassion in humanity within the short span of 13 precious years from kindergarten to grade 12.
Any country that cannot afford the proper public education, from primary to senior high school, will face the turmoil from corruption, poverty, cruelty, and serious crimes from the government officials to the very poor citizens. It is a horrible and hellish society to live in. Back2basic.