The Dallas Diaries... come to an end...

What I learned this week that really matters...



All students deserve access to high quality education.
For too long, high quality instruction and high expectations have been reserved for the brightest and best students. Every student, whether in an AP class, an Honors Class, or a College Preparatory class deserves the best that a teacher has to offer. A student should write no less in a College Prep class than in an AP class. A student should work no less or be exposed to no less in a College Prep class than in an AP class. They key to improving education is to improve the quality of instruction for all students, regardless to their chosen level of learning. A student should be just as skilled in a given curriculum after leaving a college preparatory class as they are when they leave an AP class. The difference should not be the quality of instruction or the expectations of learners, but should instead be the curriculum covered.

All students belong in an AP class, but...not all students should take an AP class.
With the aforementioned said, not every student should take an AP class. Every student should have the educational opportunity, but not every student should take advantage of that opportunity. If a student lacks work ethic, regardless of the kid’s ability or intelligence, he or she will not succeed in an AP class. While the greatest determinate of student intelligence or ability is not academics performance, the greatest predictor or student work ethic is academic performance. Kids who make A’s work hard and will strive to reach the mark, regardless of how high it is set.

Many educational programs really only exist to make money.
College Board, Everyday Math, Success for all… numerous educational programs intended to improve education for all students only exist to make money. Education is not improved, tax payer’s dollars are wasted, and children are short changed.

The only good solution to improving education is solid teaching.
While devalued by administrators across the country, teachers make the difference in each classroom. It is not the quiet class, the well-structured class that indicates quality instruction. In some cases, it is not even test scores. Good teaching is indicated by student learning, period. Student learning is indicated by student progress or improvement. Data driven results illustrate this and should come from a variety of sources.

Good teachers stay focused on the bottom line: kids.
Despite administrator actions, district policies, or parent opinions, the bottom line is always what is in the best interest of the learners.