It is nearly impossible to be a functioning member of society and not have any knowledge of our current educational crisis. Headlines such as the following scream, beg, and demand anyone and everyone to take a look at our educational system and start making changes.
-“Education Department Increases Its Regulation of For-Profit Colleges”-NYTimes 6/2/2011
-“Idaho Education Firestorm Sparks Attempt at Repeal”-Yahoo News 6/8/2011
- “California Schools in a 'State of Emergency': Do We Really Value Education?” -Huffington Post 6/7/2011
- “The Education Crisis No One Is Talking About” -www.time.com
- “Area School District Budgets Put 213 Jobs in Jeopardy”-Daily Freeman 5/15/2011
- “Evaluation of D.C. Teachers is a Delicate Conversation”-Washington Post 3/9/2011l
It is all so very overwhelming. Where do we begin? Do we tackle it on a political level? An individual level? A professional level? A personal level? And, to add another hurdle, when we cannot agree on what the solutions are, how are we ever going to fix this problem? For many, these may be fleeting thoughts that are pondered for brief segments of time while chewing over the morning newspaper or distractedly listening to the evening news while making dinner. However for those who are directly involved with and impacted by the educational process, these are real, every-day struggles that cannot be forgotten about by simply turning the page or changing the channel. Educators contend with constant fears of being able to not only reach each and every single child, but also, ensuring that her students meet bureaucratically imposed standards.
At a time when such a vast divide exists in our educational system, teachers have become empowered by tapping into their own creativity and ingenuity by developing methods that celebrate and explore their students’ diversity while still teaching a mandated curricula. Educators are using innovative approaches that draw on students’ differing languages, learning abilities, cultures, genders, classes, religions, etc. They are facilitating the educational process by utilizing ideas of multiliteracies to reach all students, whether its is through written word, spoken dialect, song, dance, and so on. Here are a few examples that can be found on the internet of teachers who have exerted their power in curriculum based decisions.
These three short videos prove that it is possible to have power and control in your classroom while following strict guidelines. In addition to this, these educators are reaching children in a subject that is usually difficult for many to digest. As seen in the first video, children are given the opportunity of exploring Shakespeare through different personas. They are laughing, smiling, joking, having fun with the subject, yet learning it, understanding it The second video utilizes the idea of multiliteracies. The children are not only interpreting Shakespeare through a hip hop song, but they used Facebook as the media device to come up with the song. And, finally, the third video illustrates that all children can be reached. Educator Rafe Esquith encourages his student sto examine Shakespeare through music and a collaborative play. In a Los Angeles school district where there is only a 32% graduation rate, not only do all of his students graduate, they all proceed to higher education.
Yes, it is very easy for teachers to let their everyday struggles with bureaucratic policies leave them feeling defeated. However, it is also possible, as evidenced by these three videos, for educators to maintain their influence and control in their students’ education. Once power is rightfully back in the classroom, the helm of the educational process, changes can begin to be made.
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