Tom Scarice is superintendent of schools in Madison, Connecticut, and a well-informed critic of what is deceptively called “education reform” in that state. He also happens to be a member of the honor roll of this blog because of his thoughtful commentaries about what needs to be done to fix education in Connecticut.
In this post, he says that it is time for an education revolution in Connecticut.
He begins his post with a metaphor about music that long ago brought everyone to the dance floor, swinging and swaying, but that is now tired and irrelevant.
We are the state left on the dance floor with tired policies, while other states are running away. We are overdue for a bold statewide vision that matches the uncertain and ever-changing world our students will enter when they graduate. But who will lead?
Codified by state law, and enforced by a bureaucracy utterly consumed by compliance, tens of thousands of educators across the state are suffocating, desperate to be exhumed. Consequently, this suffocation is stifling the young, inquisitive minds of children from all backgrounds and colors.
Have we seen the types of educational changes we want for our kids in the past 10-15 years, particularly as the world endures revolutionary changes? If not, why continue the same ineffectual practices? Can Connecticut jump to the forefront and lead in innovation, or do we stand on the dance floor with the two embarrassing guys clapping and swaying?
As we careen through rapid global changes that have profound implications for the worlds of work, citizenship, and lifelong learning, it is safe to assume that the traditional promise of “go to school, get good grades, go to a good college, get a good job” no longer applies. If you are clinging to that promise, you are probably still searching for your music at Tower Records.
The world continues to decentralize its economy, and the flow of information, at an unprecedented rate. The “sharing economy” rewards innovators and diversity of thought. Yet, Connecticut clings to a command-and-control educational approach destined to homogenize children.
Either directly through prescriptive laws, such as ones that mandate precisely how local boards of education must evaluate their employees, or indirectly through schemes and mechanisms that place high stakes on invalid and unreliable tests such as the SBAC, we rank and sort kids, schools, and teachers based on test scores. Our 8-year-old students take more state tests than what is required to pass the bar exam to become a lawyer. All the while we are missing the point.
We are educating our children for the wrong era.
What changes are needed?
Read on. Tom explains.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“One need to go no farther than a short drive down the turnpike to civil rights expert, Dr. Yohuru Williams of Fairfield University, who has demonstrated with thunderous authority, through the actual words and sayings of Dr. Martin Luther King, that the leader of the U.S. civil rights movement would have never stood beside those who seek to privatize and monetize public education…”
Unlike the Macarena, this lesson is eternal…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvPcPCRsRT8
LikeLike
This made me laugh. It’s from ed reform echo chamber outfit The 74.
Rochester, NY is getting ready to do an Achievement Authority.
“There was one big kink in Warren’s plan, however: While the proposed district was similar to widely praised initiatives in Tennessee, New Orleans, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, New York’s new law does not contemplate such an arrangement, according to state officials. ”
They omitted Detroit. Detroit was actually just run through the Achievement District wringer in 2012, but Detroit isn’t a success story, so it simply… disappears.
We will never again hear about the Detroit Achievement Authority, although it was all over the news in 2012, including celebrity appearances by Duncan and Rhee.
https://www.the74million.org/article/persistently-struggling-lovely-warren-plans-to-rescue-the-distressed-schools-of-rochester
LikeLike
“There was one big kink in Warren’s plan, however: While the proposed district was similar to widely praised initiatives in Tennessee, New Orleans, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, New York’s new law does not contemplate such an arrangement, according to state officials. ”
They omitted Detroit. Detroit was actually just run through the Achievement District wringer in 2012, but Detroit isn’t a success story, so it simply… disappears.
—————————————–
To clarify, none of the other three “Achievement” districts mentioned —- Tennessee, New Orleans, and Lawrence, Massachusetts — were successes either. Though failures, they were not on the level of Detroit’s total disaster.
LikeLike
Jack – On what are you basing your description of Lawrence, MA as a failure? Are you saying they have gotten worse or have made no progress? Or that the progress they have made is not substantial? According to their 2012-2015 MCAS data they have made significant gains in the number of students proficient or above in math and science. ELA though has been essentially level.
I am not saying all is well in Lawrence; I’m just curious how you are measuring success.
LikeLike
“Our kids must be able to think analytically through incomparable volumes of information, to imagine, to work effectively with others, to find their voice in a sea of noise, to tell a compelling story, and to ask incisive questions to name just a few.”
I’m not sure I remember a time when being able to think analytically and imaginatively, to work with others effectively, to be able to express an opinion, ask thoughtful questions, or tell a good story were not important for someone to be considered well educated. Certainly the volume of information students have access to has increased dramatically although I doubt that the amount they can internalize effectively has changed. I don’t think we do anyone any great favor by continuing to talk in crisis mode. Disruptive innovation sure as h#** has not improved our school system, and if I thought about it, I could probably argue credibly that it has not done much good in other arenas as well unless you count making money by a few at the expense of the many “good.” I don’t mean to be critical of Tom Scarice at all; I totally agree with him that present policy is not doing anything to achieve the goals claimed to be of importance. I am just tired of this competitive race to who knows where.
LikeLike
Well, Tom S, what have you, yes you personally done to fight the edudeformers? (other than writing a less than satisfactory piece like the one mentioned above) Did you instruct your district personnel to send the tests back to the state unopened with a letter stating that you don’t institute invalid, unethical and immoral educational malpractices? Have you instructed your teaching staff to spend no time, zero time on test prep? Have you written to the parents telling them that the district wasn’t going to implement educational malpractices and then followed up with not instituting those practices?
Sorry, but I don’t buy into adminimal speak.
LikeLike
Cross posted at
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/An-education-revolution-be-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Bureaucracy_Education_Education-Funding_Education-K-12-160613-183.html#comment601785
With this comment taken from a post here:
“Conn Governor Malloy has had his way with Conn. schools long enough.
Jonathan Pelto writes about Connecticut Governor Dannell Malloy’s promise to prevents “Wisconsin Moment” in his state.
I agree with Pelto and say: “LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!
“Since his election and re-election,” Pelto says, “Malloy has inflicted a “Wisconsin era” on Connecticut.” Pelto writes: “Malloy is saying that the only budget that will get his signature is a full-fledged austerity budget; a spending plan that destroys vital state services and lays-off public employees while coddling the rich and shifting even more of Connecticut’s already unfair and inequitable tax burden onto the back of Connecticut’s Middle Class.”
“In his latest diatribe, the ever smug, sanctimonious and thin-skinned bully of a governor has announced that he will veto any spending plan put forward by the General Assembly’s Democratic majority that reverses Malloy’s record-breaking, mean-spirited and draconian cuts to the critically important services that Connecticut residents need and deserve.”
“Pontificating that Democratic lawmakers won’t consider “enough spending cuts,” Malloy has — yet again telegraphed that when it comes to the state’s revenue and expenditure plan it is his way or no way. It is a strategy that will require unprecedented state employee layoffs, will reduce the availability of critically important services for Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens, will mean less funding for Connecticut’s public schools and colleges, and will lead to higher local property taxes for Connecticut’s middle income families.”
LikeLike