Commentary: Teachers should lead professional development, not researchers
by thenotebook on Oct 25 2012 Posted in Blogger commentary
This is a guest blog, and the ideas expressed are solely the opinions of the author. The Notebook invites guest blog posts on current topics in Philadelphia education from its readers. Send submissions to notebook@thenotebook.org.
by Julio Núñez
If we want to get serious about improving academic outcomes, we must do away with the misconception that researchers and consultants are the experts in the classroom. They observe teachers and students for minutes at a time. At best, they walk away with mere snapshots of a choreographed reality.
Those who spend a bulk of their time in controlled quarters can easily account for any change or deviation from a theory. But the lab or ivory tower is not the classroom - isolating any given variable is virtually impossible. Despite the best intentions of these professionals to brainstorm ideas for effective practices, their disconnect from everyday teaching challenges has many unintended consequences.
Ask a teacher what he or she would change about the profession. You might hear as the top three items the following: parental involvement, adequate resources,