Sunday, February 3, 2013

School Reform vs. Education Reform vs. Job Training

Education reform is sounding a lot more like school reform. Both are sounding a lot more like job training reform. Each of these reforms are different. And each is important in its own purpose. Let's not merge these three reforms into meaning a diluted tonic. Address each one on its own merits.

Reform movements are everywhere these days. 



Perhaps, all along, there have been just as many reform movements but they just have not been as well publicized. Still, I sense that the world is experiencing a wave of reform movements. 

Calling a movement or organization the "XXXX Reform Association" bothers me because being for reform does not tell what you want new form you have in mind. This might be where the devil, or angel, is in the details.

The catchall use of the term "reform" bothers me. The imprecise, if not purposeful misuse, of the kind of form groups want to "re" bothers me even more. It misleads.

So, I looked up the definition of reform.

Webster's Dictionary has some interesting definitions:

(1) "To put or change into an improved form or condition

(2) "To put an end to by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action

(3) "To induce or cause to abandon evil ways (Really, that's what it says.)

(4) "To subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking

(5) "Change for the better."

Well, that confirms reform as being an action of positive word and intent. 

But it still doesn't answer the question of reforming into what!


EDUCATION REFORM vs. SCHOOL REFORM ... and what "re" are we "forming"?

For example, so many Americans seems to be in favor "education reform" or "school reform". It's written about, debated about, acted on, and discussed everywhere. That seems to be a good thing in that people across the spectra agree on something. So we should be able to do it. Right?

Ah-h-h-h, but which reform do so many Americans agree: Education or schools? They are different, but often used interchangeably.

Sticking with the example of education reform  and school reform, perhaps the difference between those titles ... 'education reform' and 'school reform' might be a clue to the difference in different peoples idea of the 'what' of reform or reform into what. 

'Education reform' seems to speak about the curricula, as in what to teach and how to teach it. 'School reform' seems to speak about the facilities & staffing, as in who does it, who pays, how much pay, how to test performance, under what working conditions, and under what what administration. 

Both 'education reform' and 'school reform' greatly impact the results. But shouldn't we be more clear about which one we are debating?

So let's more clearly understand the specific meanings of these two terms, so we can hear what they tell us about the backers of each.


(1)  "The knowledge and development resulting from an educational process (Don't you hate it when they use the word in its own definition? Arg-h -h-h-h-h!)

(2) "The field of study that deals mainly with methods of learning and teaching in schools." (Now we're getting somewhere!)


(1) "An organization that provides instruction

(2) "The process of teaching or learning, especially at a school (There they go again -- using the word in its own definition! Arg-h-h-h-h!)

(3) "A school building

(4) "A source of knowledge

(5) "A group of people who hold common doctrine or follow the same teacher."

(Hey, what happened to a group of fish, as in a school of fish?)

Now I think I sense the difference: 'education' deals with what is taught or instructed and 'school' deals with the organization providing the teaching and/or the place where they teach it. 

Is that an acceptable clarification for you?

If we can agree on that, then we might agree that people who are for 'education reform' prefer changing the curricula and people who are for 'school reform' are for changing the organization(s) doing the teaching and/or the place(s) where they teach. People want to change all of these are for both education & school reform.

Which are you?

I most want to change the curricula which makes me for 'education reform'. But I also want to change the buildings which makes me for 'school reform'.

Why?

First, consider 'education reform'. I believe that education and training are different. 

Back to Webster's Dictionary. It defines 'training' as:

(1) "To form by instruction, discipline, or drill

(2) "To teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient

(3) "To make prepared for a test."

Education focuses on development, the growth of the individual to be able to think, learn, create, and innovate ... and mature.

Training focuses on adopting or becoming capable of doing certain, specific tasks. 

Our schools have evolved from places of education to places of training -- mostly job training. We devolve if we lose the knowledge gained over centuries of civilization. We devolve if we lose the ability to think, create, innovate, and mature. Training is good, but it's not education. 

Even the most basics, like what would one do if the electricity were out for an extended period of time, the supplies in our stores ran out, or if stranded on an island or some other such isolated place? How does electricity work? Which plants are safe to eat, which are good medicines (and for what),and which are good for making or cooking tools, adhesives, paints, and weapons. 

Now consider 'school reform'. Make the place be an extension of the home and, as they get into higher grades, of the office, let them remain and be encouraged to keep their independence and humanity, and don't let them even see cracks much less fall through them. 

I want to see, uniformly throughout the nation, small class sizes so that children do not have to lose their individuality, teachers can teach moreso to the individual, each student will thoroughly participate in discussion and gain speaking, debating, and conversation skills. I want to see high-content computers for each student's self-study while at school and during the portions of class when the teacher is with another individual student or project team of students. I want to see more sunshine in the classrooms. I want to see equal focus on the crafts, arts, and physical education. And, I want to see teachers more highly respected in how they are compensated and how they are addressed by everyone.

Not long ago, we hailed that an elementary school teacher was going up to space on the shuttle. Now we send teachers out into the classrooms stifled in methods and content, demonized in public as the total problem and organized to game the system, and demoted in stature in front of students, parents, and society ... and income.

Reminds me of the schoolyard joke: "When you were born, your mother said 'What a treasure' and then your father said 'Great! Let's bury it!"

How did I come to these 'words of wisdom? 

Studies of innovative and office performance show that these significantly increase outcomes at work, health, and society.

We all seem to agree that Education, school, and training are good things ... that we want them in the new form that our reform affects. 

I'm for reforming all of them. 

Here is were the debate should resume: What education reforms; what school reforms; and what training reforms? 

I will paint my vision for education, schools, and training in subsequent blog posts.

What are your visions? Please, don't focus on what you are against. Please do focus on what you are for. Paint the picture; then map out the details.

By Steve Reichenstein

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