Views of Education

There are many views of education these days. What is education? What is educational reform? Where do we start with the reform? Christian, private and public all look long and hard at education with the same lens and question: how do we improve it?

Warren Smith writes,

"True education reform takes place once the classroom door closes. A recent report by the National Council on Teacher Quality (“Human Capital in Seattle Public Schools”) reinforces this point. The most effective education reform begins and ends in the classroom. Nothing we do at the state level can replace the value of a superior teacher."

If that is true, and I believe it is part of the answer, then the teacher becomes a very important part of the puzzle regarding education. Mr. Smith steps into this puddle and asks hard questions like what makes a great teacher. He writes,

"The best teachers value their students as individuals. Danyell Laughlin, an English teacher in Silverdale, works tirelessly to show students that each one “of them is valuable and has valuable things to share.” Every child is a priority, and because that child is valued, that child values learning.

Our best teachers foster a respect for self and others, a love for learning, and a child’s capacity to dream and achieve those dreams.

The best teachers also believe that each and every child can learn. Their belief in their students is contagious.

The best teachers succeed with all students. They are open and approachable, able to relate to all as individuals and still lead the gathering of those individuals as a purpose-driven class. The superior educator has wall-to-wall impact; children lucky enough to find seats in their classes need not worry about being left behind. That overused term is more than just policy fluff here; it is a daily practice. These teachers are catalysts incarnate, capable of sparking learning in all students."

What he is referencing here is that our best teachers have... Christian values. You will not find the word "Christian" in his article, but you will find those traits all over his ideas about what makes a great teacher. He goes on to write about the idea of mentoring and how all teachers must be mentors; sound familiar?

As the world struggles to find plausible solutions to our educational issues, those sincere in their pursuit will stumble onto truth at times. And, that truth will always be rooted in Christ. The rest of his article is worth reading. Blessings to all!