Helping Students Succeed in School: The Role of National Service and Community Volunteering - ServiceNation Summit 2008

[GRASocialMedia]

In this, we come into direct conflict with people who want to use the education system to reinforce systems of stratification and identity creation that they have carefully constructed over the victims lifetime.

[GRASocialMedia]

In this, we come into direct conflict with people who want to use the education system to reinforce systems of stratification and identity creation that they have carefully constructed over the victims lifetime.

[GRASocialMedia]

The problem with innovation is that for some people their expectations are drawn from a series of traditional images. If it looks like teaching, then it is teaching, while if it doesn't look like what they recognize then it is not teaching. Innovators run the risk actually creating opportunities for the problem to resolve. (cont.)

[GRASocialMedia]

...I was also very clear about what I expected. Unfortunately, I did not spend enough effort on teaching parents how to appreciate the techniques that I innovated. There were some parents who failed to share my goals of producing confident students, and failed to understand my techniques. Their expectations drew on traditional images of authoritarian control. They complained, I defended my ground rather than teaching them, and I was let go. 5 years' insights written-up remain uncirculated

[GRASocialMedia]

If I'm not mistaken, this panel did not have a teacher on it sharing this crucial perspective. Why is this? As a former instructor, I can say that I practiced a disciplined systematic approach to innovation. I innovated constantly. I arrived at techniques that worked and produced results. I gained a reputation for being the best in my area. Some of the subtle changes that I used involved creating ownership and a sense of control to students at crucial times. (Cont.)