Teaching Children

Sorry if this posts seems to wander. One thought leads me to another, but I'll try to cut it off. :)

A few years ago I made a statement to my class that I don't work for their parents. It was a moment of frustration, but it is true. I have always believed, and will state if it comes up, that I don't work for the state; I don't work for the district; I don't work for the school; and I don't work for the parents. I work for the children!

Yes, I have responsibilities and accountability to the state, district, school, and parents, but if I teach from that mind set then I miss out on the real reason for teaching. It is all about the children. Otherwise, why should I bother!

With that in mind I teach the children, not the standards. They have to take tests at the end of the year that show that they learned something, that they've shown growth. I can decide to teach my students to pass the test, which honestly is less important now, because of the emphasis on growth. The test can become the biggest focus of our year together, but I can't do that. I can't twist children into knots over a test that measures more their testing stamina than their actual knowledge of the subject matter.

Do we talk about the test? Yes, but not much. What do we talk about? We talk about goals and successes and how-we-got-theres. We talk about what interests us and how to interact with each other. We talk about our families, our pets, and our hobbies. We laugh and help each other and we become more responsible. I say we because each year I certainly want to grow and become more personally responsible as well. That shouldn't stop just because I am grown. Will that change because of new tests, based on national standards? Ummm...no!

Interestingly I was doing some pinning on Pinterest and came across some interesting information. It seems that they are coming under scrutiny. There are states that held out and never adopted the standards and there is a growing number of states that may be pulling out of them. There are bills before some state legislatures to do just that. A few weeks ago I even received a survey from a group in my state about my thoughts on Common Core and the idea of slowing them down or stopping them. I kind of wished I know then what I know now before filling out the survey. Oh, well.

Yes, there are plenty of things that I like about the Common Core, but there is also some things that I don't. I do not the idea that I am focusing on preparing my students for the future as the main goal. These standards are based on being college and career ready. The truth is not all students want to go to college. They don't usually say that in school. They usually will give you the name of a college and a job that they want to do, but sometimes that is just because everyone else is. If a girl in my room dreams of being a domestic goddess I want to encourage that in her. If a boy or girl wants to be a farmer or rancher they can go to college for that but don't need to. Should I push them to go to college rather than choose the school of experience option?

I believe that if I encourage my students to be responsible in the here and now then they will continue to be responsible in the future. Being consistently responsible for what they say and do and their work should lead them to make being responsible a habit. Once it becomes a habit than it should stick. If responsibility is taught and expected when they are young then it will continue in them as they grow. Standards and educational approaches will change. Teachers from one year to the next and one class to the next will vary. Circumstances and experiences will change throughout their lives. If students are responsible then they can adjust to the changes because it will be about them, not about their circumstances. With that in mind, I worry less about their futures, and more about how to help them learn to be responsible.

So I teach the children, and I teach them how to be responsible.

Like I said this post did ramble from one idea to another, but in my mind they go together. :)