February 11, 2008

As I read this article I was thinking of my experiences with teaching.  While still young in the profession having only taught seven years, I still believe that I’ve had a lot of experience.  I have taught only kindergarten and I have been at three different schools in two different counties (Clayton and Henry) since beginning my career in 2001.  I began my career with a principal who allowed those of us in kindergarten to teach the way we saw best fit for the students.  (I cannot speak for other grade levels.)  We were to use the TE and supplemental materials as we saw fit.  I believe at that time the only program we were required to use was the Saxon Phonics Program.  The next school I was at was pretty much the same way with a different principal.  Both of these schools were in Clayton County.  Both were Title One schools as well.  I made the switch to Henry County when Clayton County schools were in jeopardy of losing accreditation.  I have now been at SES for four years.  The switch was had its positives, but it also had its negatives as well.  I am very much a developmental teacher.  The school I am currently at I feel is not developmental.  Instead there is an extreme push for academics beginning in kindergarten and up.  We are a title one school and AYP is a constant concern for us.  Teachers in grades first through third (we are only a K-3 school) are pushed to “teach to the test” or at least the material they think will be on the test.  As I read what Goodman wrote about teachers forming their own “knowledge base to free themselves from textbooks and standardized tests” (p.1) I felt happy to see that someone shared my viewpoint.  I mean shouldn’t we focus on individual needs and not so much on standardized tests.  Isn’t that what we were all taught in school?  I mean I remember when I was in undergrad I was so excited at the thought of teaching students based on their needs.  I don’t think I was ready for the shock of the “real world” expectations put on teachers.  I wonder what it would take to get us back to (or even at) the point where we as educators can make decisions for individual students based on classroom assessments and teacher observations and stop focusing on standardized tests.  Maybe we should just band together and form our own school…what do you think?