My district's current buzzwords and initiatives include: differentiation, visual literacy, professional learning communities (PLC), curriculum mapping, and teacher portfolios.
These all suck. I have seen them all before. I have "been around the block." I can't believe I am suddenly an aged professional, complete with holes like swiss cheese.
It's true, what the old timers used to tell me: if you ignore enough state and district unfunded mandates, they will come around again with another name and a new "book" and "Ph.D" behind them. So, what did these used to be called? Differentiation has always been here, it's child-centered learning or standards-based education (or, gasp, what we called "Outcomes based education" in the 80's, before it got reamed by the conservative "right.")
It's not that I don't agree with the philosophical underpinnings of such initiatives: I do. I believe that each child should be in the center of his/her intended curriculum. Period. End of story.
So why does the state and federal government make things so fucking complicated? What the hell is happening when things like No Child Left Behind and its mandated testing focus become the law of the land?
I'm sorry Madeline Hunter. I know you are rolling around in your grave right now. Thumbs down.
Who will come to save the day?
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