One of the most refreshing aspects of writing about education is that there is no shortage of ideas, opinions, and the good sense to keep them in check. Hotly contested topics can be debated for decades, and never settled. Yet each day, educators must move on and enter the classroom.
At its best, this has the effect of engendering pragmatism and positive attitudes. Many teachers teach because they see possibility for change and growth, first and foremost in their students.
It would be naive to ignore the existence of pessimism and actual problems. But it would be even more unfortunate to be blind to the plethora of great ideas and efforts out there from people who simply and strongly focus on teaching as best they can despite the trials.
Demos is a multi-issue organization. Our Public Works program has as part of its mission helping Americans have a constructive view of government and related insitutions.
Taking a constructive view of schooling — by focusing on what can be done, given constraints, controversies, inequities and egos — is both a creative and a courageous act.
Education is an area where private citizens can become constructive.
Civic Ventures, a think tank focusing on baby “boomers, work and social purpose” and the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future published a paper last year about just one of these ideas: How Boomers Can Contribute to Student Success.
Their paper talks about “encore careers” that boomers can take up after ending one professional life and possibly moving onto another. The abstract of the paper reads:
The problem: Teacher turnover is rampant, and the nation’s teaching population is older than it has ever been, leading to the potential for mass retirements. More and better recruitment will help but won’t prevent a devastating brain drain. The solution: Boomers – both veteran educators and professionals from other sectors – are needed (and eager) to help students achieve and to strengthen school capacity in encore careers. Such careers combine personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income, enabling people to put their passion to work for the greater good. Creative staffing approaches, from part-time work to the widespread adoption of several new job categories that make the best use of boomer experience and talent, could go a long way toward improving student success.
This is not the only interesting idea out there. Fortunately there are lots more.
ed note: This essay was originally posted on May 10, 2011 on Demo’s Blog: Ideas and Action. It was reposted here with the author’s permission.
