5 Things We Need to Stop Pretending -Twitter Challenge-

First it was the Ice Bucket Challenge and now it’s this. I was challenged by one of my education mentors, Scott Bedley, to list 5 things we need to stop pretending in education. So here  goes:     5 Things We Need To Stop Pretending

• That the arts are important when no official time is given to teachers for creative/arts enhanced PD.

• That all students should go to college. The 4 -year institution is one method of higher learning but it is not the only method. College is not for everybody BUT higher learning is!

• That noncognitive skills aren’t important as academic ability (skills like perseverance, grit, resilience and resourcefulness). I know very smart people sitting on their couch – defeated and/or unmotivated.

• That teaching is an art when there is still so much standardization and scripted curriculum.

• That we can close the “Achievement Gap” without closing the “Exposure Gap”. Exposure to alternative perspectives, methods of thinking and mindsets is critical for all students, especially my students’ demographic.

OK that last one I adopted from Scott but I always speak on ‘Closing the Exposure Gap’ and share the importance to exposing students to as much as possible so they can begin to develop schemas for these concepts we are presenting to them. I would love to hear from Kelly Spector and Damon Qualls!