I’ve always had a love hate relationship with school it when I was in third grade
with school it when I was in third grade
with school it when I was in third grade it was because I loved school supplies
it was because I loved school supplies
it was because I loved school supplies nothing better than the smell of a gummy
nothing better than the smell of a gummy
nothing better than the smell of a gummy racer we’re cracking open that new box
racer we’re cracking open that new box
racer we’re cracking open that new box of crayons and don’t even get me started
of crayons and don’t even get me started
of crayons and don’t even get me started on the Elmer’s glue but I hated math
on the Elmer’s glue but I hated math
on the Elmer’s glue but I hated math didn’t like math well now I’m a teacher
didn’t like math well now I’m a teacher
didn’t like math well now I’m a teacher and I’m really fortunate to be able to
and I’m really fortunate to be able to
and I’m really fortunate to be able to work with young people like Kyle who
work with young people like Kyle who
work with young people like Kyle who will be part of the next generation of
will be part of the next generation of
will be part of the next generation of teachers I’ve been teaching since 1984
teachers I’ve been teaching since 1984
teachers I’ve been teaching since 1984 and I still get very excited at the
and I still get very excited at the
and I still get very excited at the beginning of the year about school
beginning of the year about school
beginning of the year about school supplies and now I’m a department chair
supplies and now I’m a department chair
supplies and now I’m a department chair and I have a budget I still love the
and I have a budget I still love the
and I have a budget I still love the school supplies and there’s still some
school supplies and there’s still some
school supplies and there’s still some things about schools that I don’t like
things about schools that I don’t like
things about schools that I don’t like especially those things that get in the
especially those things that get in the
especially those things that get in the way of a child’s experience and they get
way of a child’s experience and they get
way of a child’s experience and they get in the way of learning I’m a teacher
in the way of learning I’m a teacher
in the way of learning I’m a teacher candidate and I also have a love/hate
candidate and I also have a love/hate
candidate and I also have a love/hate relationship with school but clearly
relationship with school but clearly
relationship with school but clearly enough to love it to do it for the rest
enough to love it to do it for the rest
enough to love it to do it for the rest of my career and as a teacher candidate
of my career and as a teacher candidate
of my career and as a teacher candidate it is my hope that I can instill a
it is my hope that I can instill a
it is my hope that I can instill a Democratic citizenship mindset into the
Democratic citizenship mindset into the
Democratic citizenship mindset into the students that I was changed for years to
students that I was changed for years to
students that I was changed for years to come one of the things that I currently
come one of the things that I currently
come one of the things that I currently about schooling I’m going to show a
about schooling I’m going to show a
about schooling I’m going to show a slide here and I just want you to say
slide here and I just want you to say
slide here and I just want you to say out loud what you think it is we can do
out loud what you think it is we can do
out loud what you think it is we can do that
not pencils not number two pencils
not pencils not number two pencils testing but not all testing testing good
testing but not all testing testing good
testing but not all testing testing good testing Florida so assessment is a
testing Florida so assessment is a
testing Florida so assessment is a necessary part of learning but the
necessary part of learning but the
necessary part of learning but the high-stakes standardized testing that’s
high-stakes standardized testing that’s
high-stakes standardized testing that’s being foisted upon communities in
being foisted upon communities in
being foisted upon communities in children by for-profit corporations and
children by for-profit corporations and
children by for-profit corporations and state and federal government this number
state and federal government this number
state and federal government this number these numbers represent the number of
these numbers represent the number of
these numbers represent the number of tests that right now in the United
tests that right now in the United
tests that right now in the United States students take between
States students take between
States students take between pre-kindergarten
pre-kindergarten
pre-kindergarten and 12th grade 112 other countries that
and 12th grade 112 other countries that
and 12th grade 112 other countries that typically do better than us on
typically do better than us on
typically do better than us on assessments take 3 so as one scholar put
assessments take 3 so as one scholar put
assessments take 3 so as one scholar put it if we can test our way to excellence
it if we can test our way to excellence
it if we can test our way to excellence we would be the most excellent country
we would be the most excellent country
we would be the most excellent country in the world but that’s just not how it
in the world but that’s just not how it
in the world but that’s just not how it works
works
works to be sure many parents in New York are
to be sure many parents in New York are
to be sure many parents in New York are catching on that something’s not quite
catching on that something’s not quite
catching on that something’s not quite right with all of the testing and
right with all of the testing and
right with all of the testing and they’re beginning to opt out in fact New
they’re beginning to opt out in fact New
they’re beginning to opt out in fact New York State has the highest number of opt
York State has the highest number of opt
York State has the highest number of opt outs in the country
outs in the country
outs in the country hey go New York alright
but in the debate about testing the one
but in the debate about testing the one thing that is left out which is
thing that is left out which is
thing that is left out which is invisible because we hear about students
invisible because we hear about students
invisible because we hear about students are stressed parents are stressed but
are stressed parents are stressed but
are stressed parents are stressed but the one thing that gets left out of this
the one thing that gets left out of this
the one thing that gets left out of this debate is a discussion of citizenship
debate is a discussion of citizenship
debate is a discussion of citizenship and in particular what state mandated
and in particular what state mandated
and in particular what state mandated corporate testing is doing to
corporate testing is doing to
corporate testing is doing to citizenship instruction in our schools
citizenship instruction in our schools
citizenship instruction in our schools and thus to citizenship in our society
Horace Mann many of which considered to
Horace Mann many of which considered to be the father of modern public school
be the father of modern public school
be the father of modern public school movement once said education them beyond
movement once said education them beyond
movement once said education them beyond all other devices of human origin is the
all other devices of human origin is the
all other devices of human origin is the great equalizer of the conditions of men
great equalizer of the conditions of men
great equalizer of the conditions of men the balance wheel of the social
the balance wheel of the social
the balance wheel of the social machinery and so this shows us that this
machinery and so this shows us that this
machinery and so this shows us that this idea of the school teaching citizenship
idea of the school teaching citizenship
idea of the school teaching citizenship and what’s necessary to become a good
and what’s necessary to become a good
and what’s necessary to become a good democratic citizen goes back to the very
democratic citizen goes back to the very
democratic citizen goes back to the very foundations of our public school system
foundations of our public school system
foundations of our public school system it’s not the other part of the 3 R’s of
it’s not the other part of the 3 R’s of
it’s not the other part of the 3 R’s of instruction we’re not talking about the
instruction we’re not talking about the
instruction we’re not talking about the grantee making civics or the grade that
grantee making civics or the grade that
grantee making civics or the grade that you make even in social studies all
you make even in social studies all
you make even in social studies all those those are important we’re talking
those those are important we’re talking
those those are important we’re talking about the often invisible hidden social
about the often invisible hidden social
about the often invisible hidden social function of school and social function
function of school and social function
function of school and social function of schooling is just as typically hidden
of schooling is just as typically hidden
of schooling is just as typically hidden it’s the way the school is organized
it’s the way the school is organized
it’s the way the school is organized it’s who gets to talk and who doesn’t
it’s who gets to talk and who doesn’t
it’s who gets to talk and who doesn’t it’s who has power and who doesn’t it’s
it’s who has power and who doesn’t it’s
it’s who has power and who doesn’t it’s all of the lessons that are implicit in
all of the lessons that are implicit in
all of the lessons that are implicit in the organization and running of the
the organization and running of the
the organization and running of the institution and these lessons are deeply
institution and these lessons are deeply
institution and these lessons are deeply ingrained in us by the time we’re 12th
ingrained in us by the time we’re 12th
ingrained in us by the time we’re 12th graders and we leave school and go out
graders and we leave school and go out
graders and we leave school and go out into the society it’s important at this
into the society it’s important at this
into the society it’s important at this point to talk about at least two
point to talk about at least two
point to talk about at least two different kinds of citizenship however
different kinds of citizenship however
different kinds of citizenship however there is what we call passive
there is what we call passive
there is what we call passive citizenship which tends to be a little
citizenship which tends to be a little
citizenship which tends to be a little authoritarian a little bit about rules a
authoritarian a little bit about rules a
authoritarian a little bit about rules a little bit about standardization
little bit about standardization
little bit about standardization sameness and then there is more of an
sameness and then there is more of an
sameness and then there is more of an active or participatory citizenship
active or participatory citizenship
active or participatory citizenship which is really more in line with
which is really more in line with
which is really more in line with democratic values because it teaches
democratic values because it teaches
democratic values because it teaches students to ask questions it tells them
students to ask questions it tells them
students to ask questions it tells them that in fact there might even be more
that in fact there might even be more
that in fact there might even be more than one right answer to some questions
than one right answer to some questions
than one right answer to some questions it also tells them that multiple
it also tells them that multiple
it also tells them that multiple perspectives are important and says hey
perspectives are important and says hey
perspectives are important and says hey stand up and be heard so when we think
stand up and be heard so when we think
stand up and be heard so when we think about these two different kinds of
about these two different kinds of
about these two different kinds of citizenship and we look at what’s
citizenship and we look at what’s
citizenship and we look at what’s happening in classrooms because of
happening in classrooms because of
happening in classrooms because of high-stakes standardized testing what we
high-stakes standardized testing what we
high-stakes standardized testing what we see is that the active Democratic
see is that the active Democratic
see is that the active Democratic citizenship pedagogy in ways of doing
citizenship pedagogy in ways of doing
citizenship pedagogy in ways of doing things are being shut down or being
things are being shut down or being
things are being shut down or being undermined by the testing because
undermined by the testing because
undermined by the testing because students are sitting quietly being told
students are sitting quietly being told
students are sitting quietly being told there’s one right answer and it’s very
there’s one right answer and it’s very
there’s one right answer and it’s very rural balance at the mind and at the
rural balance at the mind and at the
rural balance at the mind and at the time I was a high school teacher in
time I was a high school teacher in
time I was a high school teacher in Walled Lake Michigan and I had a
Walled Lake Michigan and I had a
Walled Lake Michigan and I had a colleague an English teacher and video
colleague an English teacher and video
colleague an English teacher and video cameras were kind of just coming out and
cameras were kind of just coming out and
cameras were kind of just coming out and they were getting smaller so you could
they were getting smaller so you could
they were getting smaller so you could use them in schools for getting them and
use them in schools for getting them and
use them in schools for getting them and he gave the seniors in his English class
he gave the seniors in his English class
he gave the seniors in his English class an assignment he said I want you to make
an assignment he said I want you to make
an assignment he said I want you to make a video that shows what school has
a video that shows what school has
a video that shows what school has taught you about life right your 12th
taught you about life right your 12th
taught you about life right your 12th graders you’re about to go out and we
graders you’re about to go out and we
graders you’re about to go out and we prepared you for life so this one group
prepared you for life so this one group
prepared you for life so this one group made a video I’ll never forget which I
made a video I’ll never forget which I
made a video I’ll never forget which I think illustrates this hidden social
think illustrates this hidden social
think illustrates this hidden social function of schooling in this point that
function of schooling in this point that
function of schooling in this point that I’m trying to make about citizenship and
I’m trying to make about citizenship and
I’m trying to make about citizenship and the kind of citizenship we want me
the kind of citizenship we want me
the kind of citizenship we want me imagine a car pulls up to the
imagine a car pulls up to the
imagine a car pulls up to the kwik-e-mart students get out they go
kwik-e-mart students get out they go
kwik-e-mart students get out they go into the kwik-e-mart
into the kwik-e-mart
into the kwik-e-mart and go up to the clerk then they say can
and go up to the clerk then they say can
and go up to the clerk then they say can we use the bathroom in the clerk just
we use the bathroom in the clerk just
we use the bathroom in the clerk just watch
watch
watch he reaches for the key and he hands them
he reaches for the key and he hands them
he reaches for the key and he hands them the key and immediately they all take
the key and immediately they all take
the key and immediately they all take their school planners and shove them in
their school planners and shove them in
their school planners and shove them in his face he looks very confused they
his face he looks very confused they
his face he looks very confused they said we’ve been taught that before we
said we’ve been taught that before we
said we’ve been taught that before we could go to the bathroom an adult has to
could go to the bathroom an adult has to
could go to the bathroom an adult has to sign our planners and that was true I
sign our planners and that was true I
sign our planners and that was true I was a teacher in that school that’s
was a teacher in that school that’s
was a teacher in that school that’s that’s what you have to do go bathroom
that’s what you have to do go bathroom
that’s what you have to do go bathroom even if you’re 18 years old so so the
even if you’re 18 years old so so the
even if you’re 18 years old so so the social function right and sometimes we
social function right and sometimes we
social function right and sometimes we don’t see it you don’t realize it and
don’t see it you don’t realize it and
don’t see it you don’t realize it and sometimes we certainly don’t get it
sometimes we certainly don’t get it
sometimes we certainly don’t get it right
anybody have to do that
anybody have to do that in a society based on participation on
in a society based on participation on
in a society based on participation on empowerment and democracy shouldn’t
empowerment and democracy shouldn’t
empowerment and democracy shouldn’t education be participatory empowerment
education be participatory empowerment
education be participatory empowerment and democratic
in Kentucky they learn this in 1990 they
in Kentucky they learn this in 1990 they decided they they wanted a more
decided they they wanted a more
decided they they wanted a more democratic active type of curriculum and
democratic active type of curriculum and
democratic active type of curriculum and so in the Kentucky education reform act
so in the Kentucky education reform act
so in the Kentucky education reform act they really were able to put together
they really were able to put together
they really were able to put together all the necessary ingredients were
all the necessary ingredients were
all the necessary ingredients were feeding a democracy that’s what they
feeding a democracy that’s what they
feeding a democracy that’s what they said and they begin doing their if you
said and they begin doing their if you
said and they begin doing their if you talk to him today though what has
talk to him today though what has
talk to him today though what has happened since 1990 is not pretty
happened since 1990 is not pretty
happened since 1990 is not pretty standardized testing has become the norm
standardized testing has become the norm
standardized testing has become the norm in all of those innovative empowering
in all of those innovative empowering
in all of those innovative empowering inquiry-based critical thinking kinds of
inquiry-based critical thinking kinds of
inquiry-based critical thinking kinds of approaches that empower teachers and
approaches that empower teachers and
approaches that empower teachers and empowered students have been replaced
empowered students have been replaced
empowered students have been replaced they’ve been pushed out because of the
they’ve been pushed out because of the
they’ve been pushed out because of the testing and teaching to the test in the
testing and teaching to the test in the
testing and teaching to the test in the concerns that our test grants high
concerns that our test grants high
concerns that our test grants high enough we get in trouble with the
enough we get in trouble with the
enough we get in trouble with the government we be put on the list if we
government we be put on the list if we
government we be put on the list if we don’t do well the local schools the
don’t do well the local schools the
don’t do well the local schools the parents teachers it was all power pushed
parents teachers it was all power pushed
parents teachers it was all power pushed away from them in tort corporation and
away from them in tort corporation and
away from them in tort corporation and the state and the federal government now
the state and the federal government now
the state and the federal government now recently I become very interested in
recently I become very interested in
recently I become very interested in book banning and censorship within
book banning and censorship within
book banning and censorship within schools especially within textbooks and
schools especially within textbooks and
schools especially within textbooks and I think it’s safe to say that as
I think it’s safe to say that as
I think it’s safe to say that as Americans we pride ourselves on the
Americans we pride ourselves on the
Americans we pride ourselves on the democratic nature of our society but as
democratic nature of our society but as
democratic nature of our society but as an education major hearing about some of
an education major hearing about some of
an education major hearing about some of these practices that are put in place in
these practices that are put in place in
these practices that are put in place in the classroom makes me question that
the classroom makes me question that
the classroom makes me question that exact philosophy how can an institution
exact philosophy how can an institution
exact philosophy how can an institution who preaches such authoritarian
who preaches such authoritarian
who preaches such authoritarian practices teaches anything about
practices teaches anything about
practices teaches anything about democratic citizenship in history some
democratic citizenship in history some
democratic citizenship in history some of the most authoritarian regimes have
of the most authoritarian regimes have
of the most authoritarian regimes have had very strict censorship rules on the
had very strict censorship rules on the
had very strict censorship rules on the literature and the knowledge that their
literature and the knowledge that their
literature and the knowledge that their citizens can have so why is this a
citizens can have so why is this a
citizens can have so why is this a problem because this kind of censorship
problem because this kind of censorship
problem because this kind of censorship offers a a jaded knowledge of the past
offers a a jaded knowledge of the past
offers a a jaded knowledge of the past of our country and whether you like it
of our country and whether you like it
of our country and whether you like it or not the events that have happened
or not the events that have happened
or not the events that have happened our pasts are what we have to learn from
our pasts are what we have to learn from
our pasts are what we have to learn from so that we can improve upon our society
so that we can improve upon our society
so that we can improve upon our society and this hasn’t been happening just
and this hasn’t been happening just
and this hasn’t been happening just recently either since 1980 there have
recently either since 1980 there have
recently either since 1980 there have been special interest groups approaching
been special interest groups approaching
been special interest groups approaching superintendents and talking to them and
superintendents and talking to them and
superintendents and talking to them and hoping that the issues that they find
hoping that the issues that they find
hoping that the issues that they find are too sensitive or too controversial
are too sensitive or too controversial
are too sensitive or too controversial for our students to learn about they
for our students to learn about they
for our students to learn about they hope that that would be taken into
hope that that would be taken into
hope that that would be taken into account so that they can be taken out of
account so that they can be taken out of
account so that they can be taken out of our textbooks think about that free and
our textbooks think about that free and
our textbooks think about that free and uncensored literature and knowledge for
uncensored literature and knowledge for
uncensored literature and knowledge for the next generation of students breeds a
the next generation of students breeds a
the next generation of students breeds a type of independent thinking that is
type of independent thinking that is
type of independent thinking that is deadly to authoritarian regimes
deadly to authoritarian regimes
deadly to authoritarian regimes authoritarian regimes would like to
authoritarian regimes would like to
authoritarian regimes would like to suppress that knowledge and so that we
suppress that knowledge and so that we
suppress that knowledge and so that we can only view our homeland in the best
can only view our homeland in the best
can only view our homeland in the best light possible behind me you can see the
light possible behind me you can see the
light possible behind me you can see the 20 some of the books that are examples
20 some of the books that are examples
20 some of the books that are examples from the 2017 bans banned book lists and
from the 2017 bans banned book lists and
from the 2017 bans banned book lists and the crusade against messages in book 7
the crusade against messages in book 7
the crusade against messages in book 7 has recently reignited in a school
has recently reignited in a school
has recently reignited in a school district in Mississippi who has
district in Mississippi who has
district in Mississippi who has challenged the ideas of Harper Lee’s To
challenged the ideas of Harper Lee’s To
challenged the ideas of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a book that I assume
Kill a Mockingbird a book that I assume
Kill a Mockingbird a book that I assume most of us have read at some point in
most of us have read at some point in
most of us have read at some point in our lives their reasoning behind it is
our lives their reasoning behind it is
our lives their reasoning behind it is that the racist language that was used
that the racist language that was used
that the racist language that was used throughout the entire book was making
throughout the entire book was making
throughout the entire book was making some students uncomfortable which is
some students uncomfortable which is
some students uncomfortable which is fair
fair
fair however this is the reality that we live
however this is the reality that we live
however this is the reality that we live in this was the norm in the past and to
in this was the norm in the past and to
in this was the norm in the past and to learn from our mistakes we have to
learn from our mistakes we have to
learn from our mistakes we have to accept that and accept that the ideas
accept that and accept that the ideas
accept that and accept that the ideas and the words that were used 30 40 50
and the words that were used 30 40 50
and the words that were used 30 40 50 years ago they happened there is a
years ago they happened there is a
years ago they happened there is a difference however between challenging a
difference however between challenging a
difference however between challenging a book and banning a book a batting takes
book and banning a book a batting takes
book and banning a book a batting takes it completely out of libraries and out
it completely out of libraries and out
it completely out of libraries and out of the hands of students but challenging
of the hands of students but challenging
of the hands of students but challenging it just says that you disagree with the
it just says that you disagree with the
it just says that you disagree with the ideas and the messages of the book
ideas and the messages of the book
ideas and the messages of the book exposing our students to challenge books
exposing our students to challenge books
exposing our students to challenge books and uncensored our text books is an
and uncensored our text books is an
and uncensored our text books is an incredible way for students to become
incredible way for students to become
incredible way for students to become motivated to learn about learn more
motivated to learn about learn more
motivated to learn about learn more about these topics so that they can be
about these topics so that they can be
about these topics so that they can be the positive societal change that we
the positive societal change that we
the positive societal change that we need to see we live in a politically
need to see we live in a politically
need to see we live in a politically correct world and in 1992 this was
correct world and in 1992 this was
correct world and in 1992 this was already starting to be discovered a book
already starting to be discovered a book
already starting to be discovered a book was written called
was written called
was written called what Johnny shouldn’t read something
what Johnny shouldn’t read something
what Johnny shouldn’t read something that just for researching for this talk
that just for researching for this talk
that just for researching for this talk I found and became very interested in
I found and became very interested in
I found and became very interested in and the author quotes this and I thought
and the author quotes this and I thought
and the author quotes this and I thought this was one of the most important books
this was one of the most important books
this was one of the most important books that I could find textbooks are not
that I could find textbooks are not
that I could find textbooks are not being written for a well-rounded
being written for a well-rounded
being written for a well-rounded knowledge of the subject that the
knowledge of the subject that the
knowledge of the subject that the students are saying they are instead at
students are saying they are instead at
students are saying they are instead at being written to avoid controversy think
being written to avoid controversy think
being written to avoid controversy think about
about
about we are teaching our students to avoid
we are teaching our students to avoid
we are teaching our students to avoid conflict and avoid comical controversy
conflict and avoid comical controversy
conflict and avoid comical controversy through the censorship of their
through the censorship of their
through the censorship of their knowledge and in order to breed positive
knowledge and in order to breed positive
knowledge and in order to breed positive societal change in the democratic ideal
societal change in the democratic ideal
societal change in the democratic ideal into the next generation of students we
into the next generation of students we
into the next generation of students we need to stop that because now everything
need to stop that because now everything
need to stop that because now everything has to be politically correct
has to be politically correct
has to be politically correct educational philosopher John Dewey said
educational philosopher John Dewey said
educational philosopher John Dewey said education is not preparation for life
education is not preparation for life
education is not preparation for life education is life
if living in a democratic society is
if living in a democratic society is committed to human rights creates well
committed to human rights creates well
committed to human rights creates well VIII and if people learn primarily based
VIII and if people learn primarily based
VIII and if people learn primarily based on the people and the environment that
on the people and the environment that
on the people and the environment that surrounds them and if culture is
surrounds them and if culture is
surrounds them and if culture is transmitted from one generation to
transmitted from one generation to
transmitted from one generation to another and I’m going to leave you with
another and I’m going to leave you with
another and I’m going to leave you with this then
thank you for listening to our talk
thank you for listening to our talk [Applause]
”
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