Comments on: Wilting Adminstrators and Small Learning Communities

By: Apocalyptic Undertones and This Blog « On the Tenure Track

Apocalyptic Undertones and This Blog « On the Tenure Track — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:31:38 +0000

[...] I written that could get anyone in trouble? If I ever write about the department, here, I’m complimentary more often than not. Then, I [...]

By: Deer in the Highlights « On the Tenure Track

Deer in the Highlights « On the Tenure Track — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:04:12 +0000

[...] Besides, this is one of the largest districts in California, and I’d believe they would at least entertain interviewing for some positions even if I didn’t know for a fact that my high school plans on looking for an extra social science teacher to fill out the new Small Learning Communities. [...]

By: eyeingtenure

eyeingtenure — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:45:55 +0000

As always, this lacks not just in schools. Commitment is a rare trait to find anywhere.

If there could be one administrator who is in charge of spearheading all of these reforms, and does this job well, I think schools would be much improved. Assuming, of course, that this administrator does he job exceptionally well.

There’s another rare trait.

By: penelope

penelope — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:59:43 +0000

Your one master teacher’s concern seems spot on to me. So many good ideas get put into place the wrong way and then done by halves until they’re useless and given up on and replaced by the next thing. Change takes real commitment and that’s what’s too often lacking in schools.

By: eyeingtenure

eyeingtenure — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:12:11 +0000

SLC is a great way to teach, but only as long as you have that great team. Administrators have to commit to it, and teachers have to believe in it.

Those are two huge obstacles, and even then they’re not quite enough to take out Dyer’s “nearly.” There’s always hope that they’ll work. Usually, it stays as hope.

By: dkzody

dkzody — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:43:26 +0000

I have taught in an SLC for 18 years, and with the great team I have, it’s the only way to teach. We are working hard to get Fresno High to go this direction, and we have the stats to prove it works, but some people do not like to be team players. Now I have to say your master teacher is very UNLIKE me.

By: Jason Dyer

Jason Dyer — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:55:48 +0000

It’s only the fourth time we’ve tried this since I’ve been here.

Really, that can be considered a mantra for nearly all educational reform. It’s all been tried before. As soon as everyone who remembers how badly initiative X went retire, those that are left want to start initiative X again.

(Note the “nearly”, though.)