How can we improve education in schools?
First, we have to analyze how we spend our time. It's my guess that in some schools, time is not targeted well with regard to what really matters when it comes to happy, successful students.
Next, we have to take a close look at our teaching/learning environments. Are those environments positive, welcoming, bright, and warm.
Further, we have to look at how the schools are staffed. Adequate staffing is imperative. Too many schools do not have enough staffing for adequate teaching and learning. Also, in too many schools there's a lopsided staffing situation where there are many leaders without significant time-on-task with students. Good teachers with substantial experience should be mostly directed towards working with students. There's no need for lots and lots of administrators. Instead, a hybrid model of teaching and leading can serve to forward programs and student success too.
Teachers' and students' voices and choices need to be elevated with greater focus on distributed models of leading and learning.
Every child should have access to the best tech tools and equipment. It's a crime if a child doesn't have worthy, regular access to technology in today's world. (of course in wealthy systems where there's small teacher-to-student ratios, there might be more opportunity to hold off on tech, but with the large numbers of students in public schools, having quality tech is like having lots of extra hands.)
Schools need to find ways to welcome families to the learning/teaching community in ways that matter. Every school has to look closely at this issue with close attention to the context of the community where their schools are located and the students that they teach.
After school and before school programs are advantageous to many students and their families. Schools should look for ways to partner with local after school and before school programs so that students that need these services have this opportunity including the needed transportation.
Healthy, happy students learn better. Every school needs to partner with local organizations so that the students they teach are receiving basic needs of adequate clothing, loving homes, nutritious food, good rest, and quality health care. If students are hungry, cold, tired, unloved, or unhealthy, they won't be available to learning. I believe that individuals, communities, and the state can continue to improve their efforts in this area. Sometimes superficial efforts in this realm may be embraced when what's needed is deeper, more coordinated, and strategic efforts to truly make change.
To improve schools teachers need to be involved in high quality professional learning, research, and development. When this work is just relegated to those at the top of the hierarchy, it's less likely to trickle down to the students and their families. While everyone is working to impart what they know now, they should also be working to develop schools, teaching, and learning in ways that are research-based and known to elevate student success, contribution, and capacity.
To invest time, money, intelligence, and care into our schools in every community is to lift communities, and to lift communities means greater happiness, less violence, and more success for all. Research demonstrates that this is the best investment communities can make as they think about betterment. Massachusetts has done a great job with this, and there's still room for good growth. What will be your first step in this regard?
