Comments on: The 95 Theses of Progressive Teaching http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:14:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Discource about Discourse | Consider me surprised. http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-14 Discource about Discourse | Consider me surprised. Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:17:47 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-14 [...]   « The 95 Theses of Progressive Teaching | Home [...] [...]   « The 95 Theses of Progressive Teaching | Home [...]

]]> By: Jeff http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-13 Jeff Sat, 19 Aug 2006 06:41:35 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-13 Let it suffice to say for now that any random five of these items gives ample reason why my wife, my son and I commute over two hours each day to his modest private school. His school is a cornucopia of diversity; each class in his three years there has been filled with students from across the globe. At the end of first grade he was reading at a fourth grade level and he was by no means the best reader in his class. They are busy mastering subject matter while their public (and many private) school counterparts are being subjected to "an environment that encourages life-long learning". Our nearest public school is 600 yards away from our house. Public education has been in the stranglehold of the "progressives" for what...about 100 years now? And this is what you have to show for yourselves? Let it suffice to say for now that any random five of these items gives ample reason why my wife, my son and I commute over two hours each day to his modest private school. His school is a cornucopia of diversity; each class in his three years there has been filled with students from across the globe. At the end of first grade he was reading at a fourth grade level and he was by no means the best reader in his class. They are busy mastering subject matter while their public (and many private) school counterparts are being subjected to “an environment that encourages life-long learning”.

Our nearest public school is 600 yards away from our house.

Public education has been in the stranglehold of the “progressives” for what…about 100 years now?

And this is what you have to show for yourselves?

]]> By: Tina http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-12 Tina Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:42:16 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-12 Number 7 struck me as well... not because I disagree with it, but because it made me take a harder look at myself and how I look at some of my colleagues. I sometimes "give up" too quickly. I don't ever give up on students and I should apply the same thinking to my colleagues as well. Good call. (Although it's damn hard at times!) I want to ponder this more and get back to you... What will be Number 51? I'd make it have something to do with balance... teachers do tend to have addictive personalities and can spend their days in "teacher-mode" without remembering to exercise, laugh, play, and drink a beer. : ) (Can you tell it's Friday and I'm tired of grading essays????) (Sounds "petty", I know, but this is one of my biggest pieces of advice to new teachers... we're no good to anyone if we're not good to ourselves first--I know we all know this but why do we forget it so easily???) I'm going to re-read these this weekend and get back to you.... Thank you for making me think. Especially on a Friday. Number 7 struck me as well… not because I disagree with it, but because it made me take a harder look at myself and how I look at some of my colleagues. I sometimes “give up” too quickly. I don’t ever give up on students and I should apply the same thinking to my colleagues as well. Good call. (Although it’s damn hard at times!)
I want to ponder this more and get back to you…

What will be Number 51? I’d make it have something to do with balance… teachers do tend to have addictive personalities and can spend their days in “teacher-mode” without remembering to exercise, laugh, play, and drink a beer. : ) (Can you tell it’s Friday and I’m tired of grading essays????)
(Sounds “petty”, I know, but this is one of my biggest pieces of advice to new teachers… we’re no good to anyone if we’re not good to ourselves first–I know we all know this but why do we forget it so easily???)

I’m going to re-read these this weekend and get back to you…. Thank you for making me think. Especially on a Friday.

]]> By: Darren http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-11 Darren Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:22:46 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-11 Since I was asked--in a most professional and courteous email, I might add--to explain my differences with the list above, I'll do so here. However, as today was my first day back at work as well as my first day back at getting up at 5:40, I'll only address the first four. Then I'm off to bed! 1. Teachers should be the change they want to see in their schools. What the heck does that mean? 2. Teachers should constantly reinvent the wheel to make it ride smoother and faster over any type of terrain imaginable. Why? There's another sensible saying: if it works, don't fix it. This doesn't mean that teachers shouldn't practice a critical pedagogy to determine if their instruction is meeting the needs of the students, but change for its own sake seems a tremendous waste of time to me. 3. Teachers should never teach the same things the same way twice. See #2. 4. Teachers should see tradition for what it is: the hope that things will stay the same forever. This is the most insidious. Tradition isn't the hope that things will stay the same, it's a link between the past and future. It gives us a foundation, a rock, something upon which to build. Graduation exercises are a tradition we have--should we get rid of them out of some belief that they're stale or out of date? That's not progressive, that's destructive. We'll see how I feel about addressing so many of the others over the course of the weekend. Good night! Since I was asked–in a most professional and courteous email, I might add–to explain my differences with the list above, I’ll do so here. However, as today was my first day back at work as well as my first day back at getting up at 5:40, I’ll only address the first four. Then I’m off to bed!

1. Teachers should be the change they want to see in their schools. What the heck does that mean?
2. Teachers should constantly reinvent the wheel to make it ride smoother and faster over any type of terrain imaginable. Why? There’s another sensible saying: if it works, don’t fix it. This doesn’t mean that teachers shouldn’t practice a critical pedagogy to determine if their instruction is meeting the needs of the students, but change for its own sake seems a tremendous waste of time to me.
3. Teachers should never teach the same things the same way twice. See #2.
4. Teachers should see tradition for what it is: the hope that things will stay the same forever. This is the most insidious. Tradition isn’t the hope that things will stay the same, it’s a link between the past and future. It gives us a foundation, a rock, something upon which to build. Graduation exercises are a tradition we have–should we get rid of them out of some belief that they’re stale or out of date? That’s not progressive, that’s destructive.

We’ll see how I feel about addressing so many of the others over the course of the weekend. Good night!

]]> By: Jennie http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-10 Jennie Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:56:35 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-10 What an interesting list. As the school year (and with it, the school drama) starts to really gain momentum, it's nice to read something so reflective and inspiring of reflection. Well done. What an interesting list. As the school year (and with it, the school drama) starts to really gain momentum, it’s nice to read something so reflective and inspiring of reflection. Well done.

]]> By: aquiram http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-9 aquiram Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:48:25 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-9 I enjoyed reading through your list. I have several things to mull over as my new years continues. May I share the list with my admin? I think they would love it! I enjoyed reading through your list. I have several things to mull over as my new years continues. May I share the list with my admin? I think they would love it!

]]> By: elementaryhistoryteacher http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-8 elementaryhistoryteacher Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:02:02 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-8 Very interesting and thought provoking. You have served as my muse. As I read through your list I earmarked several items that I wouldn't mind elaborating on. I was also convicted by several things on your list as well. Thanks! Very interesting and thought provoking. You have served as my muse. As I read through your list I earmarked several items that I wouldn’t mind elaborating on. I was also convicted by several things on your list as well. Thanks!

]]> By: Darren http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-7 Darren Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:56:39 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2006/08/14/the-95-theses-of-progressive-teaching/#comment-7 How do I disagree with thee? Let me count the ways. Ah, never mind. I'm just going to ignore #7. I don't think I'd change your mind. How do I disagree with thee? Let me count the ways.

Ah, never mind. I’m just going to ignore #7. I don’t think I’d change your mind.

]]>