Comments on: It Takes a Whole School http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/02/11/it-takes-a-whole-school/ Elona Hartjes shares the insights, resources and practical classroom strategies that have earned her A Teacher of Distinction Award. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:44:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elona http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/02/11/it-takes-a-whole-school/comment-page-1/#comment-6958 Elona Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:36:39 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/02/11/it-takes-a-whole-school/#comment-6958 Todd, I guess when I was thinking about teaching the kids to appreciate life I was thinking more in terms of them not getting caught up in consumerism and wanting ,wanting, wanting and to be appreciative of things that money can't buy. I've had lots of conversations with kids about this. Many of my at-risk kids have lots of material things and still are in pain. You're probably right about the appreciating life part. We can only show them why we think something is considered to be wonderful, we can't make them appreciate it in terms of liking it. Thanks for making that point. Ditto about the whole community educating the child. Todd, I guess when I was thinking about teaching the kids to appreciate life I was thinking more in terms of them not getting caught up in consumerism and wanting ,wanting, wanting and to be appreciative of things that money can’t buy. I’ve had lots of conversations with kids about this. Many of my at-risk kids have lots of material things and still are in pain. You’re probably right about the appreciating life part. We can only show them why we think something is considered to be wonderful, we can’t make them appreciate it in terms of liking it. Thanks for making that point. Ditto about the whole community educating the child.

]]> By: Todd http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/02/11/it-takes-a-whole-school/comment-page-1/#comment-6957 Todd Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:42:51 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/02/11/it-takes-a-whole-school/#comment-6957 I'm fine with the first two ideas Young states, but I dunno about that third one. Can you really teach a student to appreciate something? What if they, very simply, don't appreciate it? Teaching the appreciation is different than instilling it. The latter might be near to impossible for some in some subjects. Art isn't for everyone and neither is science. Some students simply do not appreciate reading. They don't appreciate fine writing, solid logic, stunning description, the power of words, emotional impact. Can teachers and schools really be held accountable for forcing their students to appreciate anything? That phrasing is in state standards and it bugs me there, too. Teachers can model appreciation for these things, but if students don't appreciate what we see as beautiful, we can't force them to. And I think it takes a whole community, including those outside the school: parents, neighbors, teachers, administrators. School and community working together create an educated society. Communities have bowed out for so long now due to the oppressive red tape of school districts and unions. We've only half the powers working to do all the work. Perhaps that's why we're struggling so much. I think that the success any schoolwide reform movement sees is due in large part to it being schoolwide (block scheduling, small learning communities, the KIPP model, etc.). Anything an entire school gets force behind and supports will meet with success during the initial years. That's the whole school working to educate the child. You're right on there. I’m fine with the first two ideas Young states, but I dunno about that third one. Can you really teach a student to appreciate something? What if they, very simply, don’t appreciate it? Teaching the appreciation is different than instilling it. The latter might be near to impossible for some in some subjects.

Art isn’t for everyone and neither is science. Some students simply do not appreciate reading. They don’t appreciate fine writing, solid logic, stunning description, the power of words, emotional impact. Can teachers and schools really be held accountable for forcing their students to appreciate anything? That phrasing is in state standards and it bugs me there, too. Teachers can model appreciation for these things, but if students don’t appreciate what we see as beautiful, we can’t force them to.

And I think it takes a whole community, including those outside the school: parents, neighbors, teachers, administrators. School and community working together create an educated society. Communities have bowed out for so long now due to the oppressive red tape of school districts and unions. We’ve only half the powers working to do all the work. Perhaps that’s why we’re struggling so much.

I think that the success any schoolwide reform movement sees is due in large part to it being schoolwide (block scheduling, small learning communities, the KIPP model, etc.). Anything an entire school gets force behind and supports will meet with success during the initial years. That’s the whole school working to educate the child. You’re right on there.

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