NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATOR

by JANN FLURY
Columnist EducationNews.org

December 31, 2001 

New Years's resolutions are hardly ever taken very seriously, not often kept, and when broken are never judged harshly like broken promises. The purpose of making New Year's resolutions in the first place is simply to acknowledge ones own flaws and admit that there is room for improvement. It's an innocuous critique of ones own flaws and foibles. However, recognizing and admitting ones own shortcomings is the first step to improvement.

In the case of public education, the taxpayer would consider it as encouraging news if the pedagogical elitists that run our public education system made some New Years resolutions in recognition and admission of their own failings.

Here are some meaningful resolutions the pedagogical establishment could make for 2002 We will blame no outside factors for poor performance in teaching and learning. We will assume full responsibility for learning achievement in the public schools. We will assume full responsibility for the quality of teachers produced by our teacher-training establishments. We will train new teachers how to teach subjects, instead of lecturing them on our "progressive theory" of education. We recognize that school is a place for learning, and students must be kept on track by being led and directed by the teacher so they can learn the meaningful subjects in logical sequential fashion. We recognize that school does not need to be made into a playhouse that is fun and exciting, because true LEARNING in itself is what makes school fun and exciting for students. And above all, we resolve to teach ALL normal children to read and write in grade one, because all further learning in school depends on the students being able to read.

If the education establishment could bring themselves to admit some of their major failings, the above resolutions would go a long way toward reestablishing their credibility in the eyes of the public.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL