Transformers

I liked the Transformers movies. I liked the toys and the cartoons. They remind me of a history of great mythology around changelings, all of which is fascinating to me. Wouldn’t it be fun to simply change to something else, or become someone else, or whatever? I know I’m a great grandma, but I can imagine a few people I would like to be able to change into if I had the Allspark. Not so sure I would want to become a car or a truck or a tank, but becoming Jennifer Aniston whenever I wanted could be really cool – unless she really is pregnant!

We hear a lot of talk today about school transformation and frankly, regardless of the camp, I am not impressed. Everyone is looking for the Allspark for public education. No one seems to be thinking outside the box. All the visions, plans, strategies, etc. are grounded in the current organization of schools by grade levels in little boxes with an adult per group of kids using the old industrial model and funded in the same old ways. Here are just a few out-of-the-box suggestions that I believe could radically alter public schools:

1. Churches and their ilk are all tax exempt. And yet, we know preachers preach politics. No telling how many Tea Party members get their political leanings from the preaching of the gospel of conservatism. Public schools are tax exempt and forbidden from lobbying. Isn’t that interesting? Why not do the same for churches? If a preacher takes a political position from the pulpit or in the Sunday school class, then he or she has violated the notion of the separation of church and state and that church begins to pay taxes. Revenue for schools goes way up, or preachers return to philosophical and theological discussions rather than political ones.

2. Implement a state income tax in Texas. Foolish that we do not have one. It could even be a flat tax, though I totally support the notion of a graduated tax. We would all save a ton of money on our federal income taxes if we paid state income tax.

3. Eliminate compulsory attendance. All the nonsense we hear about schools of choice, vouchers, etc. disappear if kids do not have to come to school. For the first time, public education would have the same choices regarding kids that charter schools and private schools have. If you do not study and do the work and behave we will send you home. We could eliminate charter schools totally as every school now becomes a school of choice. And, with the drop in enrollment, schools and taxpayers will save money. Public education will increase in value, still available to all, but not required of all. Professional educators will increase in status as they will have the ability to refuse service to anyone who does not value the gift of free education. To really make this work, all government subsidy programs to the poor would be contingent on whether the children of the recipient were enrolled in school if they are under the age of 18. If your child is removed from the public school then you lose your subsidy. Simple.

4. Change teaching to a year round profession and operate schools year round. Ideally, teachers would teach about half a day and plan and learn the other half. The additional expense would be funded by all the additional revenue and cost savings in numbers 1, 2 and 3 above. Teachers would be better prepared and outcomes, however we measure such, would improve. Teachers would be paid much more money, commensurate with their professional status. If we implement number 3, we will need fewer teachers for fewer students.

5. Stop playing I’ve got a secret with standardized tests and stop using the durn things for high stakes accountability. If teachers are in any way held accountable for what is on the test then they should see the test. Can you imagine teaching drivers’ education and the state does not let you see what your students will be asked to answer on the test? Ludicrous. I have ranted enough about why these tests should not be used for accountability and will not repeat it here.

OK, that’s my quick 2¢ on transforming public education. I may even have a nickels worth of additional thought on each of the above and other ideas to change the system from within. I believe these five simple ideas, however, would get the ball rolling and would radically transform public education. All schools could focus on preparing students to be successful adults and live in our democracy.

Sadly, all teachers cannot be Jennifer Aniston.

Well, that’s probably a good thing.