Julie’s Blog

As I read chapter 12, I have been mentally preparing to administer the CRCT.  This year there has been a significant reduction in stress and anxiety associated with the test for me.  I am sure that this reduction has also transferred to and affected my students.  I was struck by the following quote at the beginning of the chapter.  “We offer strong evidence that the status quo is not a reason to give up on teaching, but the reason for teaching” (p.471).  The current status quo in schools seems to have so much to do with academic attainment, as measured by a test.  Much more that it used to and at the cost of all of the other social and affective components and venues that schools should be concerned with.  I’ve concluded that my lessened stress and anxiety must be a product of my new knowledge, awareness and understandings.  I am so very excited and content to pass this on to my students.  In a more theoretical manner the quote reminded me of something I realized this fall.  One goal I had in becoming a teacher was to help produce constructive, well equipped students competent of functioning and contributing to our democratic society.  This fall I was forced to address the short comings of this goal.  I recognized that I should be enabling students to become change agents within our democratic society.  The notion was something that I had never considered before.  The idea continues to make me think about what other aspirations I have as a teacher that are too short or narrow sighted. 

As I read through the last letters and captions I couldn’t help but think of what Karen pointed out during our last online class.  How would the letters and their content and messages be different if veteran teachers had written them?  In What’s Worth Fighting For, Fullan and Hargreaves point out that teachers from every point of the professional continuum have something valuable to offer.  Why did the authors of this book only include novice teachers?  How much richer would differentiated professional lens make this book?  Or would it lessen the book’s opulence?