We’re all really saying the same thing

As I was reading the latest Educational Leadership magazine from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, I was again struck by the common principles espoused by so many people from so many different factions in the education system.

And how the standards-based test-centered educational world of No Child Left Behind continues to ignore those basics.

Whether we come from the traditional US teacher training system, from which the ASCD is based, to Montessori to democratic Summerhill-type to progressive to whatever you want to call it, I think we agree on so many basic things. And these basic ideas are beautifully summed up in an article is entitled “Joy in School” by Steven Wolk, an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Northeastern Illinois University.

The article starts with a quote from John Dewey:

What avail is it to win prescribed amounts of information about geography and history, to win the ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul?

[I guess as long its on the test, its OK.]

The article goes on to list 11 joys, all of which we experience in our school daily:

• Find the Pleasure in Learning
• Give Students Choice
• Let Students Create Things
• Show Off Student Work
• Take Time to Tinker
• Make School Spaces Inviting
• Get Outside
• Read Good Books
• Offer More Gym and Arts Classes
• Transform Assessment
• Have Some Fun Together

Why are these “new” ideas? Aren’t they common sense?

Does NCLB support these joys in any way?

And why do people from the difference educational factions tend to focus on the differences between them instead of this common ground?

I think this common ground is summed up on the “About” page of the ASCD website:

Because we represent all educators, we are able to focus solely on professional practice within the context of “Is it good for the children?” rather than what is reflective of a specific educator role.

Or how about their tagline: “For the Success of Each Learner?”

What do you think?

Writing before Reading

Another article in the September issue of ASCD’s Educational Leadership is entitled “Why Phonics Teaching Must Change.” It explains why writing should be taught before reading because the Encoding is easier than Decoding. When I went through my Montessori training and was told Montessorians always teach writing before reading, I had never really thought about it. But it makes sense to every parent I’ve ever explained it to. It’s easier to start with a word you know than one you don’t. Another instance of more modern research proving Montessori’s experiences correct. When will this catch on?