Beside policies being served and enacted, there are ideas which motivate effective practice in schools. These ideas can reform schools effectively if done correctly. The first is assessing if the old school system is working effectively. If it is resistant to change and is politically dysfunctional, consider replacing it with something new and different.
New systems may include charter schools, education savings accounts, or other similar mechanisms. Charter schools although imperfect show that good schools can be measured if equipped with right combination of policies, funding, and civil society structures. Change in policy can give birth to these new systems. To help enhance them, however, support from philanthropists, advocacy groups, social entrepreneurs, and NGOs are of big help. When such systems are fully supported, the compelling combination of self-sufficiency, responsibility, and parental option can create an atmosphere in which best quality schools searching constantly for ways to improve their practice can flourish.
Disruptive innovations that affect teachers and students directly also need reform. Innovation in education should be that it creates and sells services and products that target teachers and students or those close to them. Curriculum providers and makers should provide that which capture the greater number of learners and their significant others with quality educational experiences.
Another effective way to reform schools is to invest in leadership. While there are great educational policies in our country, some of our educational leaders at the school and the district levels are not yet prepared to respond constructively especially with the pressures brought about by standards, testing, and accountability of these policies. The regulated and bureaucratized system and habitual coping strategies may hinder adapting to the challenge of getting results. However, new ways of recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting our educational leaders can help them and our educational system as a whole to be equipped with the skills and effective response to accountability and competitive pressures.
Evidence-based practices are also helpful machineries in continuously professionalizing the education system. More talented and well-trained leaders ready to respond and are accountable to find and implement practices that work best for students can be readied. Teacher applicants can learn about these practices in their training, determine their knowledge through board exams, and use the effective procedures.
With these ways, schools can be continuously developed to becoming better provider of effective education that truly addresses the needs of both students and teachers.
References:
Banks, J. and Banks, C. (2009). Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives
ISBN-13:978-0470483282.
Koonce, G. (2010) Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Educational Issues, Expanded18th Edition. ISBN-13:978-1259341335
Postman, N. (2000).Building a Bridge to the 18th Century: How the Past Can Improve Our Future. First Vintage Books.
By: Heidi N. Gatchula | Teacher III | New Alion Elementary School
