Simplify Educational Bureaucracy

Simplify educational bureaucracy by Daniel Gardner, Special to the Gazette

Education needs are best funded and administered at state and local levels as opposed to one-size fits all. Teachers and students’ needs drive wise curriculum choices. Teachers and students’ relationships are the most foundational predictors of educational successes.

I begin every semester telling students that every student in our class can do something better than any other student. In other words, some students need more help learning what other students already know how to do.

Before we begin class we need to get to know each other. Like most teachers I want to know my students names, what they prefer to be called. You might be surprised. It doesn’t matter to me. I call them whatever they prefer and ask them why they’re famous. Usually, this opens a dialogue about interests and accomplishments, or sometimes feelings of inadequacies. I begin to know them.

Critical thinking is foundational for all learning. Few people know how to think critically or to practice thinking critically. We all get stuck in our own roles and beliefs. Last week I commented that most people in our class were open minded, right? Yes, that was the consensus. Nobody in our class was closed minded, right? Right! “Could anyone persuade you that your strong belief is wrong?” I could almost hear the gears turning.

In fact, most of the students realized they were closed minded about some things! I commended them for being smart enough to realize they were closed minded. All critical thinkers know they’re closed minded about some things. If they’re not closed minded they’re not critical thinkers.