Howard Gardner and Jim Reese have a “modest proposal” for the Obamas when his term in office ends. They think the First Couple should teach in an urban public school (not a charter school), a school that accepts all children and operates under typical state and federal mandates and regulations.
This idea came to them when they read that the President told an interviewer:
” I understand, certainly sitting in this office, that probably the single most important thing I could do for poor black kids is to make sure that they’re getting a good K-through-12 education… I love teaching. I miss the classroom and engaging with students.”
What better place for him than an urban classroom? Assuming Mrs. Obama shares his passion, she too could serve as a teacher, helping the neediest children.
But, say the authors, there is much they need to learn.
“First, there’s the preparation for entering the classroom. The traditional teacher licensure pathway entails a number of courses as well as time in school learning the ropes from veteran educators. In the past two decades, however, “alternative” pathways have made it easier for professionals to make a transition to teaching on a faster track. Before entering the classroom the Obamas should learn about theories of child development, classroom management, and effective teaching and learning practices.
“Second, there’s the induction into the profession. While it would be quite intimidating for any classroom teacher or administrator to supervise the Obamas, it’s vital that the Obamas benefit from being mentored by outstanding veteran teachers. We should not expect anything less for any new teacher entering the profession!
And then there are the daily challenges, such as:
“*being held accountable for their students’ standardized test scores, no matter that those students might have pronounced learning challenges, still be in the process of learning English, or face serious problems outside school that affect their performance in school;
“*balancing what could very well be a rigid, uninteresting curriculum, mandated by the school board or other powers that be, against a desire to engage students and let their own passions drive the learning;
“*staying on top of major school-, county- or state-wide initiatives—often contradictory, and often changing on an annual basis—about which teachers have very little say;
“*or dealing with de-moralized colleagues who feel the changes in public education over the past 20 years have robbed them of the capacity to be creative, passionate or innovative in their practice.”
The alternative pathways into teaching like TFA and the few successful charter chains like KIPP–both endowed with many millions of federal dollars–affect the lives of a tiny percentage of children, they say. They do not affect the overall system that most children experience. The Presidential couple could make a significant contribution by calling attention to the real problems in typical schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 