I had a conversation with John-boy the other day on public education and why he thinks Presley and (for the sake of this column the new one will be called) Mick (after Foley) need to go to a private school. He is convinced the public school system is a complete wreck. I hate to break it to him, but private schools are not much better. Private schools more often use younger, usually better, teachers. But a whole bunch of new teachers are coming in and public schools are doing many things to be much better by the time Mick and Presley get there.
Now before I get a bunch of shit for saying younger teachers are better, I want to point out that I can name at least 5 teachers at WHS, BBCC, and WSU that are over 50 and just blatantly burnt out and sucking. I can name 2 that are over 50 that aren't, both at BBCC by the way. Now I can name my two favorite teachers, Michael Dellahoyde, of WSU, and J. Barcley Owens, of BBCC, as the two best and their both about 40. I think it takes about 5-10 years before a teacher finds their curriculum that works and about 10-15 after that before they're just looking forward to retirement. Need I bring up Mike Brown and Kay Swinger. Swinger has been teaching the same crap for the last twenty years. I didn't read one book that was written in the past ten years. Once I went to college I found out that there's a whole bunch of literature that you never knew existed. If she ever reads this, Kay will be hurt that I have such a low opinion of her teaching. But come on, she's teaching the same shit she taught John, 6 years before me. You got to change up a little to keep it fresh. Death of a Salesman was in our book and we didn't even look at it. That's a big one to just skip when you have the play right there.
What are schools in Washington doing to make themselves better. I have two things for you: EALRs and the WASL. EALRs are a set of requirements that teachers are supposed to cover throughout their year that prepare's them for the WASL. The WASL is the aptitude test that students must pace in the 4th(I think), 7th (I think), and the 10th grade before the can go to the next grade. Due to the fact that the students are pretty much smooth sailing after 10th grade, many schools are developing programs so students can learn a trade or such. The students can then join the workforce straight outta Compton, uh, I mean, straight out of high school. I've heard of students learning welding, beautician's work (I don't know what that is, hair styling?), auto repair, and, even, truck driving. For those students that want to go to college. They can do the Running Start thing, but schools don't get money if the student isn't on campus. So schools are developing more difficult math, English, science, history, and art classes so students can get their A.A. degree right at the high school.
John said "Do you think this will really happen?" I personally don't see how it can't. The intelligent students are leaving high school more and more to go to a Running Start program and schools really want that government money for having the student present and for having the students' ability to increase the average G.P.A. of the school.
Schools that have too many students failing the WASL will send the teachers of the students to workshops and teaching conferences to improve their teachers.
A big thing about this whole system that seems to be coming down the pike is that some teachers hate the idea of having to teach this way. I find it really great. It creates certain standards to teach to and the lesson plans are even provided so you can teach even closer to what the government wants.
The only reason I can see sending a kid to private school is for religion. Except John hasn't been to church as long as I haven't. Parents should teach religion in the home anyway. Nobody can influence their kid like a parent and religion is pretty important and shouldn't be left up to an educator of any kind.
I'm not really scared to become a teacher. I no longer doubt that I'll be ready when I do step up. I did a presentation today in front of a class of twenty+ fellow English teaching students. I was not nervous for the first time in recent memory. Those speech classes do eventually pay off.
One last thing I have to address before I wrap up with my recommendation of the week is that John said he could become a teacher in one year. I have spent lots of time thinking about this. I just can't see it possible. I've heard that EWU is supposed to have a really good teaching program (huh? with alumnae like Gary Brandt I'm not exactly sure how). A good teaching program usually means more classes. Now I'm sure your credits from GU will transfer straight across, John-boy. Yet, you still need to finish two years (for all other students except you, I forgot) of Art, Art History, and Art Theory. Then you have to do all the education...stuff like classroom management, lesson plans, observations, approaches, theory, etc. In one year, even if it's true you can do it in one year, you will not be ready. I've already heard from a good friend that did an observation near Tacoma that a great story. One of the students decided that having another male in the room was challenging the herd and pretty much asked K.C. if he'd like to step outside. I'm sure Spokane's way different than that school.
The second book is way different. It's about a Chinese girl in the late 1800s/early 1900s. She comes over to America and lives in Idaho. It's really good and very simple. This is one of the few books I really want to teach to students. It's called Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn. There's a Hallmark TV movie, but I heard it's very different from the book. It's another story of someone overcoming adversity to succeed. Lalu's adversity is a little more challenging than Angle's or Foley's is though. She gets sold into slavery and gets out of it and struggles with being Chinese during a rough time in America. It's a quick read, just try it, folks.
