During the summer, teachers have time to daydream and be inventive. I wonder what a school would be like if I could wave my magic ruler and create one with no legal or budgetary constraints? My ideal school would:
» Have administrators who teach in the classroom every day. They would not earn more than teachers but would teach fewer hours because of their administrative duties. They would therefore never forget the realities of the classroom.
» Allow students to sign up for classes and teachers, just like they do in college. That would be a sure way to retain good teachers and jettison dead wood. Excellent teachers are always popular with parents and students, even when they are very demanding. Contrary to myth, the most “popular” teachers are not those who are “easy” graders.
» Include a required ethics class that would address issues of bullying, cyberspace etiquette, and addictions considered “normal,” such as texting and playing video games. Students are often unaware of common-sense guidelines and would benefit from instruction that advises them of legal and moral issues related to their activities.
» Involve parents in their children’s classes. Each year teachers should invite parents to participate in an evening class that simulates the child’s classroom. This was a very successful innovation in my Advanced Placement classes; parents loved finding out firsthand what the class was like, and children loved that their moms and dads had to write and meet in groups, just as they did. This is a win-win activity.
» Require every student to participate in some form of community service. Nothing increases empathy more than service, and our children would become more informed as they begin to make decisions on issues and candidates when they turn 18.
» Ban “busy work” from every classroom. In the humanities, students should be engaged in interactive projects instead of being asked to answer questions in their textbook. (I would ban textbooks, too, but I have seen a few good ones among the many bad, and wouldn’t want to lose those few useful tools.) Teachers who lecture more than half the time, or whose lessons create passive classrooms, should be required to adopt a more engaging teaching style.
» Involve students in setting rules for the classroom. Teachers would be able to set parameters, but students would benefit from a “buy in” and would be more likely to accept rules when not imposed unilaterally by teachers or administrators.
» Provide nutritious lunches for students every day, with no chemicals or additives. When practical, students should be able to plant a vegetable and herb garden on school property so they can see how food is grown.
What kids are reading
This weekly column will look at lists of books kids are reading in various categories, including grade level, book genre and data from booksellers. Information on the books below came from Amazon.com’s list of children’s best-sellers.
Books about good schools
1. A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech and Harry Bliss (ages 4 to 8)
2. The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson (ages 9 to 12)
3. Wow! School! by Robert Neubecker (baby to preschool)
4. Molly McGinty Has A Really Good Day by Gary Paulsen (ages 9 to 12)
5. One Happy Classroom by Charnan Simon (ages 4 to 8)
6. Our Peaceful Classroom by Aline D. Wolf (ages 4 to 8)
That’s what I would do if I could create a school from scratch. Every one of these ideas has been effective in my own school or one I’ve read about. Students still look at school as a prison, and I propose we remove the “bars” from our schools, and make them an integral, constructive part of our communities. Some schools do that already, and I say — clone them!
Erica Jacobs, whose column appears Wednesday, teaches at George Mason University. E-mail her at mailto:[email protected] “>[email protected].
