I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer. I hope that everyone used the opportunity to grow in your profession and recharge your batteries as well. I just love seeing all the excitement as kids head back to school. The wonderful pictures on Facebook and Instagram and the tweets on twitter just make my day. Its one of my favorite times of the year for sure.
The summer also brought some exciting news in the educational world. We saw Oklahoma get out of the PARCC testing and saw Tony Bennett, the Chiefs for Change bigwig not the singer, take a fall as emails came out about favoritism towards donors and charter schools. As the debate on "corporate reform" continues one thing has always struck me as odd. The "corporate reformers" always talk about competing with the world but never really try to emulate any of those countries who have had success. One of those countries that is talked about and emulated by others frequently is Finland. Finland has been at or near the top for years now and was not always there. Finland went through great changes to get there. Recently Finnish President Sauli Niinista had some harsh talk for American Reformers. In an article here Finnish President harsh rebuke. In his rebuke he had this to say "We expected education reformers would do something in response to all they had learned from us but for some reason Americans just don't seem to be learning. Perhaps they have something other than improving public education as their goal." OUCH!!
The sad reality is as we go along we are finding several leaders in this "corporate reform" movement fit this comment. We have seen them favor corporate profits and charters that profit over true meaningful change. Change that actually helps ALL students. In my career as an administrator, that is going on 8 years now, I have not met one person that isn't for accountability and change that leads to progress. I have met many brave ones that have stood up to accountability and change that only leads to corporate profit, segregation along economic lines, and the demoralization of the teaching profession.
As this school year goes along I hope it is one that we can celebrate as the year of the student. One where we all come together for the good of ALL students. One where everyone gets a seat at the table to be involved and listened too. Our country's future depends on it! Hope you have a great year!!
