Where's that Renaissance man when you need him?
I guess I should have some kind of thread running through my blog -- and I do -- it all falls under building my nonprofit. I know,though, that sometimes I seem to be all over the place. However, it all fits in if you think in big pictures.
Today I want to bitch about the crazy need Americans have for specialization and being the expert on things. This obsession with having to prove our expertise had led to the inability to see how things fit together to solve problems.
Let me explain. Years ago, I worked as staff on interim New Mexico legislative committees. The one I became particularly fond of was the Welfare Reform Committee. We traveled around the state to monthly meetings where NM communities shared how they were using TANF and welfare-to-work principles to help their residents get back on their feet. Many discussions centered around finding ways to create jobs within communities that welfare recipients could fill.
I was very excited about some ideas that were talked about regarding helping welfare recipients work in their school districts as substitute teachers. It would be good experience for the person but it would also help fill the need for substitute teachers.
However, at the same time, in the field of education, laws were being passed to require that substitutes in public schools have the proper training/education leading to certification/licensure. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
We need to stop looking at things in isolation. The promising conversations about substitute teaching that began in the welfare reform committee just stopped when this obstacle was brought to light. Why? To me, that should signify the beginning of a conversation.
I get it but I don't agree with it. Make subs earn a certificate that shows they have studied to be in the classroom. Never mind that it takes time and money many people don't have. Never mind that few see the need. Never mind that the classes they need are 60 miles away.
They are doing the same with adult education, by the way, considering requiring a certificate to teach in that area. If they do that, it will be very hard to find good teachers.
The real shame, though, is that we are denying some really good, natural teachers the opportunity to earn money and have rewarding careers close to home. If we looked at it from the point of view of the community, we would have better results.
If we let communities, the school personnel and parents within them, decide who is worthy of subbing in their schools, and then give those subs the professional development and oversight they need, we could grow some awesome teachers and solve unemployment problems in the rural communities of New Mexico.
All of this specialization and certification crap simply supports the standardized testing crap. If we have to standardize something, then why don't we work on standardizing all technology so that anyone can use it (quit putting out new versions of Word. If it ain't broke...) and then let everyone go crazy with the creativity? Doesn't anyone appreciate the Renaissance man anymore?
Today I want to bitch about the crazy need Americans have for specialization and being the expert on things. This obsession with having to prove our expertise had led to the inability to see how things fit together to solve problems.
Let me explain. Years ago, I worked as staff on interim New Mexico legislative committees. The one I became particularly fond of was the Welfare Reform Committee. We traveled around the state to monthly meetings where NM communities shared how they were using TANF and welfare-to-work principles to help their residents get back on their feet. Many discussions centered around finding ways to create jobs within communities that welfare recipients could fill.
I was very excited about some ideas that were talked about regarding helping welfare recipients work in their school districts as substitute teachers. It would be good experience for the person but it would also help fill the need for substitute teachers.
However, at the same time, in the field of education, laws were being passed to require that substitutes in public schools have the proper training/education leading to certification/licensure. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
We need to stop looking at things in isolation. The promising conversations about substitute teaching that began in the welfare reform committee just stopped when this obstacle was brought to light. Why? To me, that should signify the beginning of a conversation.
I get it but I don't agree with it. Make subs earn a certificate that shows they have studied to be in the classroom. Never mind that it takes time and money many people don't have. Never mind that few see the need. Never mind that the classes they need are 60 miles away.
They are doing the same with adult education, by the way, considering requiring a certificate to teach in that area. If they do that, it will be very hard to find good teachers.
The real shame, though, is that we are denying some really good, natural teachers the opportunity to earn money and have rewarding careers close to home. If we looked at it from the point of view of the community, we would have better results.
If we let communities, the school personnel and parents within them, decide who is worthy of subbing in their schools, and then give those subs the professional development and oversight they need, we could grow some awesome teachers and solve unemployment problems in the rural communities of New Mexico.
All of this specialization and certification crap simply supports the standardized testing crap. If we have to standardize something, then why don't we work on standardizing all technology so that anyone can use it (quit putting out new versions of Word. If it ain't broke...) and then let everyone go crazy with the creativity? Doesn't anyone appreciate the Renaissance man anymore?
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