My Question????


My question deals with the curriculum and instruction in urban schools. Because of No Child Left Behind, schools have become so focused on teaching the test that teachers are not able to focus on the other important content areas and life skills besides literacy and mathematics. This form of assessment is used to mandate that schools raise their school rankings and bring their AYP to nearly unreachable levels or funding will be cut. How can that be a viable solution? Most schools don't have the necessary means and resources it needs now, how can taking resources away help? Also, what is teaching "the test" really going to teach a child...if you learn how to memorize information to regurgitate it to take a test well you can do/be anything?! NO. My problem is, these students aren't learning the necessary valuable skills that are going to help them succeed not only in future educational endeavors, but in life. What they are learning or should be learning in school would give children a well-rounded educational experience - Isn't that what we should be preparing students for - LIFE? I feel that students in urban areas are not receiving life skills. I don't feel that all of the failure should be put onto the educator's shoulders as it most often does. I feel that due to NCLB, teachers are inhibited in their teaching style because of having to place so much emphasis on the test and are not rewarded for all of their other successes and progresses made with their students.

An example of our urban schools not teaching the necessary life skills is little Ivan's mother from the Camden (video clip from class). She could only read at a 4th grade level and couldn't provide her family with the essentials, such as food or a home, because she didn't have the skills to get or maintain a job. These kids like Ivan are the future. We need to prepare them to make decisions that are going to impact themselves and the world, especially at a young age when they are moldable and want to go to school and learn. 

I feel that SCANS, the Secretary's Commission of Necessary Skills should be incorporated into the curriculum to provide students the skills needed to survive in this world. As you can see, I feel negatively towards NCLB. I think that it places unnecessary stress and pressure on the educator and inhibits teaching styles that may excite and engage the students more. I also feel that time is being taken away from other important content areas and life skills. 

So, in short I guess my question is, why aren't we preparing kids with the skills they need for life, (school and the workplace) especially in urban areas where most graduates do not pursue further education? This stereotype of most urban students not pursuing further education does not suggest a lowering of standards because if the students have the life skills needed intermixed with the understanding and application of the content areas, students will be able to make just decisions regarding their futures and may decide on their own to pursue further education. 

Content areas can be taught through the SCANS skills. For example, the basic SCANS skill arithmetic, can be taught by learning to budget, save and invest money; balance a checkbook; measure for building and/or cooking, estimate time; etc. These are skills can and will used for the long term, with success, if real life application and understanding is taught and learned.

 

****Link for SCANS. You have to download to pdf. The foundations and competencies are on page 6.  http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/teaching/

 

To be continued....