Last week, I posted a Blog about What Students Want. This week, listen to this video to learn more. In it, students speak out to President Obama, telling him how they believe schools should be reconfigured. Watch the short video, and post your comments.http://www.tomorrow.org/DearMrPresidentVideo.html
Image from Speak Up at http://www.tomorrow.org/Speakup/
11 comments:
It's refreshing to see students' sincere comments on what they would like to improve their education. Many of the suggestions made sound like very necessary improvements that should occur such as: create activities connected to the real world with field trips, increase technology, reduce class size, don't just be teaching to standardized tests, teachers should have a passion to teach and make their subject area challenging, teach job skills and teach about the U.S. economy and how it actually works. We, as teachers sometimes under estimate the almost sixth sense of students to know what is needed for them to be more successful in life. We as educators should improve in the areas that have been suggested by all the students that have "spoke up." The standardized testing, no child left behind and class size is up to the nation, states, communities and boards of education.
I wasn't able to watch the entire video for some reason, but it is a great idea to get students involved. There was a TV show when I was growing up called kids are people too. I am not endorsing the show but the idea that students could add to the discussion is a valid one.
WOW - every comment was great. The insight these students have is amazing and right on target. A few comments really stood out though for me - smaller class sizes; applying what is learned to real life; new textbooks; teach outside the four walls of the classroom; teachers that teach not because it is a job, but rather a passion. With the economy the way it is and districts cutting education budgets and laying off teachers - it is a little disheartening to think that all this if futile but teachers and students alike can never give up!
I was surprised to hear what the students had to say. I only WISH schools didn't focus so much on standardized testing. Unfortunately, that's one of the major areas we focus on in my school. I do what I can to involve and excite students however, with 26 students all at varying ability levels, it is very difficult. This video was very interesting to me. I agreed with some of the ideas the students suggested. I would be interested to hear what my students would say if they were asked the same question. I may show my students this video and have them write their own Dear Mr. President letter.
It's always empowering to hear the voices of our students as they speak up about their own education. In many ways, the things the students are saying mimic the thoughts of many teachers: better funding in our schools, the effectiveness of teaching to the test, more technology, more hands-on exploration, classes that are more geared towards real-world job searching (vocational classes), etc. Their website, www.tomorrow.org, boasts that
281,150 Students, 29,644 Teachers, 21,309 Parents, and, 3,115 Administrators have responded to surveys in the 2008 year. That's quite a voice. I hope our new President is listening.
I, too, was impressed by the insight and wisdom of the students' suggestions. There were common themes that emerged and have been sufficiently covered in previous comments. I was inspired by the students' obvious enthusiasm and thoughtfulness about the future of education. It is good to consider the idealism of youth before we get so caught up in numbers and rituals that the heart of learning is squelched. Technology is just one way to add excitement and real life experiences to the learning environment.
I found the students comments to be moving, not only were the able to communicate clearly their positions, their proposed solutions for remedying problems in the US public education system I think are reasonable and would be potentially successful if they were implemented effectively.
In particular agreed with Samantha's (11th grade) suggestion that all student be provided with laptops, which the student sat the school I'll be teaching at provides, because it helps familiarize and prepare students for a higher level of comfort with computers in this increasingly technological world.
Also, I agree with Jessica (11th grade) who wanted schools to "expand their sea of knowledge" so that students could go outside the classroom to have "hands on experiences on what it is they are doing." I don't think that the classroom should be the exclusive site for learning for students in public schools, because authentic learning can take place anywhere.
Finally, i agreed with Vicky (12th grade) who wanted to see more "incentives for math and science student to return to schools to become teachers". As a math teacher, I think there should be more done to encourage talented math and science students and professionals who are potentially-talented teachers to share their love of the STEM subjects with today's public school students.
I think it's great that this generation is becoming more vocal in what they want and feel they need to improve their education. But, I'm looking for the next step. I find that many teenagers have learned to talk a good game but don't follow thru. Does anyone have any good ideas or suggestions to help motivate students from statements to actions?
After watching this video I was really suprised to hear that the students want us to really challenge them and excite them about the subject. They don't just want us standing there every day gearing all information towards a test. Viewing this video just makes me even more want to make sure that I am doing all I can to engage each and every student in the subject and making sure I am constantly finding new ways the bring my students more hands on ways of learning.
The video was great to see what students truly want out of their education. Many of their concerns are the same concerns we all hear from fellow teachers. I thought it was great that the students want to be more challenged in the classroom and not be taught just for the test. Hopefully, people will start listening to what students and teachers want out of the education in this country. I thought that the students all made great points especially about technology. Students are aware of their education and know what needs to be done in order for them to achieve their goals.
Many of today's students are surprisingly focused on and passionate about their education. It is as if this generation knows that it will take wisdom, education and collaboration to begin to change social injustice and provide a free and equal education to all children. It is beneficial to consult students about what they want to learn. We might see fewer behavior issues if students feel invested in their education.
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