Schools Matter: Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don't

Schools Matter: Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don't:

Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don't

by P. L. Thomas

When Diane Ravitch asks "What do teachers want?" we must be diligent to clarify that educators know what reformers do not.


As I have noted recently, education has been driven historically by non-educators, and the current self-identified crop of "reformers" have no expertise or experience as educators, resulting in an important inverse relationship between what educators identify as important education reform and what "deformers" claim is reform but is actually perpetuating and expanding the status quo.


Two messages must come from the teacher survey so well examined by Ravitch:


(1) Teacher expertise and experience are calling for the following:

"1. Family involvement and support (84 percent said it would have a 'very strong impact');
"2. High expectations for all students (71 percent said it would have a 'very strong impact');
"3. Fewer students in each class (62 percent said it