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Make EDUCATION better! HOW?

Make EDUCATION better! HOW?

I would like for all teachers to think about this. If the school system you work for tripled your salary
Want would you different in the classroom?

My guess is that you are already doing all that you know how to do.
More money spent on teacher salaries would not make teachers currently employed any better.

If teacher salaries were tripled, MAYBE more people would be attracted to the profession.
Would the new persons be better teachers, maybe, maybe not.

So how could we make free public education better?

Here are some ideas that will work.

I am convinced that people toil to get money to pay bills. People work enthusiastically and creatively and are most productive when they get recognition and awards.

Use the teacher of the year programs that are currently in place as a productivity tool. Require the Teachers of the Year at the school level to submit their best teaching idea AND their best discipline tip.
Make this program retroactive and publish in house these best teaching ideas as submitted by our systems best teachers. Additionally award each of the Teachers of the Year a Green Jacket just as they go at the Masters Golf Tournament.

In the school system closest to current residence, one of its problems is that 25% of the first years teachers quit.
I believe we should identify the first year teachers that have the greatest potential. I believe that the greatest quality for a teacher is enthusiasm. There is no substitute for it and it cannot be taught. We should identify these ENTHUSIASTIC teachers and nurture them by giving them a beautiful certificate embossed on wood that says they are ROOKIE TEACHER OF SPECIAL NOTE. No one quite when they are acknowledged to be great.

Created a permanent HALL OF FAME for teachers. Make it a permanent fixture, if we can forever honor men for activities that are not really important, we should honor teachers who change (and save lives).

Segregate classes with respect to males and females wherever possible.

Create a few academic focused schools within the system with no sports. These schools would focus on academics only. Any negative behavior would result in expulsion.

Rigidly enforce the rule of good grades required to participate in extra curricular activities.

Expand the curriculum in high schools to include unique marketable skill training courses. (i.e. computer repair, computer programming, forensic science, sales marketing, and broadcast journalism.)

Increase the number of outside speakers and presenters who are experts in the fields of study. Bring in local experts often for lecture demonstrations and nationally known experts for on-line video presentations.

Declare all schools closed in the summer. Make all schools theme schools. Let all the schools compete for students. ( this will work best for smaller school systems)

Require parents to sit in on classes at least once a quarter

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Comment by Jeffrey Fuller on February 4, 2010 at 3:41pm: Didn't find that one.

Comment by William Lambert on February 4, 2010 at 3:34pm: How do we motivate students? See my blog,"make students like your class"

Comment by Jeffrey Fuller on February 4, 2010 at 1:31pm: Student motivation yes! And okay, some teachers do and some teachers don't like recognition. I think what we can agree on is that there are multiple solutions for multiple problems, which is why we're here.

Comment by Sara Redec on February 4, 2010 at 1:03pm: interesting response, Jeffrey. I think if you ask any teacher, they would certainly not wish for awards, but I believe people really do appreciate those gestures. You are correct, that is neither here nor there, in considering those who are ultimately in control of their education. Student motivation is certainly key.

Comment by William Lambert on February 4, 2010 at 8:58am: Comment by William Lambert 1 second ago
To Jeffrey Fuller

I know you are right. In my heart I know.
When I taught I never blame the student for his lack of success. ( I know maybe it was his fault)
But I blamed myself. I felt that I had failed to motivate this particular student properly.
The hardest thing that I had ti accept was that I could not motivate every student!
I then tried to establish a team of like-minded teachers. So that if there was one I could motivate, I would pass him off to another teacer to try and help save him.

Let me share this with you. I had an occasion when my students would come to me and say Mrs. Jones is just too mean and I cannot learn anything from her. I told them "let me teach you how to learn from a teacher that doesn't SEEM to care." I explained that in life you will encounter people (bosses) that aren't nice or interested in your success.
I was trying to teach them that learning was up to them. I also showed them this video
please click here and watch
It always helped!

I believe that to when a golfer wins the green jacket at the Masters Tournament they feel respected and valued fro their contributions. I feel football players feel valued if they are indected in the Hall of Fame.

Now why can't we have something like that for teachers?
We can!
And they would feel respected and valued. Don't you agree?

Jeffrey I know you are right.
But when I taught...I was just to stubborn, or too student to ever give up.
I kept blaming myself if a student didn't achieve, I kept trying new things, I kept changing, modifying, learning new techniques.

MY BAD.

Comment by Jeffrey Fuller on February 4, 2010 at 8:25am: Some of your ideas are great, however you missed one thing. For years educators have bounced around ideas similar to yours, but rarely does anyone suggest holding students more accountable for their own learning. I don't know any teachers who are interested in receiving awards or special recognition. I believe that many teachers are most happy when they are respected as professionals and valued for their contributions within their organizations.

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