Teach The Secret in Schools ? Part 2

For the past 30 years as an educator I don’t think a year has gone by without hearing the cry – for school reform. Schools have been under attack as failing our children as far back as I can remember. Beginning back in the seventies when I began teaching, the classic book “Why Johnny Can’t Read” embraced the need for school reform. For 30 years we’ve come up with new programs after programs; be it ‘new math’, literature-based reading, affective education… and the list goes on always focusing on what’s NOT working in education and how the schools have failed our children.

As an educator, I’m tired of the blame-game; watching the blame move around for the failure of schools to educate. We blame everyone and everything: society, economic status, poor schools, poor administration, funding, poor teaching, curriculum, no standards, lack of parent involvement…. And yet, if you track a child from 1st or second grade to high school (and I’ve done this repeatedly) their problems continue and never change- whether it is motivation, academic performance, capability, discipline- the cum seems to repeat itself for the 6 year old and them again as a 16 year old. The conclusion: education does not serve as an affective intervention.

I believe that the finger pointing does us no good- in fact it hurts us by taking us down the wrong road. When we hold kids responsible we empower them. When we point the finger of blame at schools, teachers and so on we disempower kids. We build a pecking order of blame…and the ironic part is that the kids never become part of it…. They get off the hook. They have no responsibility for their learning. If they don’t learn it’s someone or something else’s fault. They become victims.

For me this issue of failing schools should be addressed by starting with a new revolutionary approach which re-examines how we view the purpose of education....beginning with the questions- Who’s responsible when schools fail ? Or do they fail? Or should we rephrase it- when children fail to learn?

The answer- hold children responsible as the creators of their own lives- with limitless potential to be, do or have whatever they want. Teach them the power of thought. Incorporate the principles of the Law of Attraction: Teach kids, if you change the way you think, your world will change. You are in control of you. Take responsibility for creating the life you want. Accept where you are and move on to where you want. In a nutshell, empower school children to be all that they can be. And trust me ...I have seen it happen.
to be continued.... Joanne