Teachers march in Washington — For what?

For every question about improving education, my answer is the same — bring understanding, imagination strong character, courage, humility and generosity to the situation.  This is always my answer because this is an inspiring, useful definition of what it means to be educated.  It inspires and challenges teachers and students as it tells them what to do in every situation —  bring understanding, imagination strong character, courage, humility and generosity.

If you prefer complicated, incomprehensible, aphilosophical ideas for improving education, follow this link:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/15/35activists_ep.h30.html?tkn=XMPFvC9IlTqvoPSoM8oPC%2FXxcTXnRWmqW7FW&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

After reading the article, do you have any idea about how to improve student learning and assessment, teacher unionization, teacher evaluations, accountability for teachers and students?  What are your beliefs about new directions for education?

A demonstration in Washington might be good.  Good for what?  What alternatives are being presented?

The Leonard Waks comment at the end of the article is thoughtful and true.  But the GNGarcia comment assumes we must govern education politically.  Good luck with that approach.   Do politicians  pay attention to the facts mentioned by Waks, if those facts get in the way of being re-elected?  Or do they spout “beliefs” as if they were facts.

Do educators know the difference between facts and beliefs?  Read the article, or any education article, and count the statements of fact and belief.  Education writers make all kinds of belief statements.  This is good, if we we use them to help us build deep, useful educational philosophies.  That is what we need to improve schools — deep, useful philosophies of education.  (BTW — that is a belief statement.)

Have you ever known someone with such a philosophy?  Have you ever seen one on the internet?  Have you ever heard one at a school board or faculty meeting?  Have you ever experienced one at an education conference, or at an in-service for teachers?

Why are teachers marching in Washington?  The political reason is their frustration.  What is their philosophical reason?  After all, education is a branch of philosophy, not politics.