Once upon a time, there was an educator whose veins pulsed with the
thrill of educating young minds. She
toiled endlessly to create meaningful, connected lessons, drawing from research
to utilize the various strengths and skillsets of all students. Some days, students incorporated art into
English, other days—music or movement.
There were projects, field trips, and intense discussions about books,
characters, and writing. Students
learned passion for words and writing, and she learned how to let her students
teacher her.
And then, NCLB happened, with standardized tests, AYP, SINI, SCA, and
more acronyms than she could decode.
And then, scores happened and administration cared only about these
acronyms, her students’ identities conflating with their test scores.
And then, Race to the Top happened, with CCLS, CCSS, complex text, and
corporate reform.
Suddenly, this educator realized that she had become part of a system that
standardized teachers, standardized students, and standardized learning. This
system was closed to creativity, artistic expression, and professional
discretion. Her lessons became rigid and
rote, pleasing the powers, but sapping the students. This educator had simply become another cog
in an endlessly spinning reform wheel.
It was then that this educator, who was filled with resignation and
despair, spent three intensive weeks writing passion and hope back into her
vocation. Through the GVWP Summer
Institute, she rekindled her fire for teaching, reacquainting herself with her
former shadow and opening her mind to new possibilities and ideas from others
who live her educational struggle. She
researched, reflected, and wrote, remembering that educating young minds is not
an activity but an art.
This story will a happily ever after, but it is not yet written; in that
she must believe. She will return to September’s
classroom enthused and energetic, ready to face the dragon. Carrying her sword, armor, and shield, she
will fight against a mighty foe.
However, this year, she knows it is not a solitary battle; she has
others who are fighting by her side.
This story must have a happily ever after; in that, they all do believe.
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