Op-Ed: DICHOTOMY OF TODAY’S TEACHING, LEARNING
BY LARRY WHITE, SPECIAL TO THE STOCKTON RECORD | HTTP://BIT.LY/1ONDGNX
Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 5:00 PM :: Schools are in the business of educating students and operate on the principles that all students can learn and all students must learn.
This reflects a belief that education is not only important, it is mandatory. If society requires that individuals and institutions are equipped to improve our political, economic and social fabric, then an educated citizenry is essential.In far too many instances in education today, however, there seems to be a system in place that runs counter to this goal. In other words, expressing one thing in terms of objectives but implementing rules and procedures that are designed in a completely opposite manner. A dichotomy. Speaking out of both sides of the mouth at the same time.
Recent research points out that students, especially teens, should not begin school until at least 8:30 a.m. Their internal clocks run on a different schedule than adults. They may not become tired until 11 p.m. or midnight. Teenagers also require more sleep than adults in order to function properly, about nine hours a night.
Yet, a majority of schools begin their day between 7 and 8 a.m. The early start times are in place to facilitate parent work schedules, bus transportation or after-school activities, such as athletics.
But the deeper point is students are losing sleep, which is not only unhealthy but also leaves them physically and mentally unprepared for learning.
Several other examples of this dichotomy relate to numbers. Students should be provided with the attention necessary to assist them with understanding the content, processes or skills to be successful learners. But many classrooms contain 30 to 40 students in a room, even in the primary grades, without additional paraprofessionals. Are those ratios going to enable the teacher to provide for the individual needs of their students? Effective teachers may be able to manage these size classes, but ensuring individual attention? Not likely.
School enrollments are another issue. The most appropriate school size for high schools, to maximize student learning and education need, is in the range of 650 to 850 students. Many high schools, however, number in the range of 2,000 to 3,000 students per school, sometimes even more.
In years past, a factory model might have served a purpose if we were training students to work on an assembly line. But today, students need development of 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Op-Ed: DICHOTOMY OF TODAY’S TEACHING, LEARNING: