SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Just obeying orders

I’m going to stick my neck out somewhat today. I have been giving some thought to TDSBNW’s impassioned defence of classroom teachers (in the comments to “Reading the tea leaves”), saying that I was disengenuous to criticize a teacher for using foolish methods since she was following strategies mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Education and would be breaking the law to do otherwise. Well, of course, this is all true and I don’t dispute any of it. And yet and yet….....

Why is TDSBNW one of the very few teachers willing to say it out out loud that the mandated methods are ridiculous? Why are most teachers appearing to be fine with them - in some cases even embracing them whole-heartedly? Why aren’t more teachers grumbling about being forced to use methods that don’t work? Why aren’t more teachers sneaking in systematic phonics?

I am of course aware that the Ministry, faculties of education, and school boards do their level best to keep teachers in the dark about good reading practices. I know that teachers are not allowed to use decodable readers. I realize that peer pressure and shaming techniques are used to tremendous effect in schools. I have no doubt that there are many excellent reasons why the teacher worms are not turning.

Nevertheless, it still comes as a surprise to me that so many teachers are continuing to teach children using methods that are demonstrably failing something like half of the children in their classes - especially given how critically important the ability to read is to each child’s future. Would these same teachers passively acquiesce if they were being forced to beat their students? Would a dentist comply with orders to treat children’s dental cavities without freezing? Would an engineer meekly submit to directives to design unsafe strollers?

I’m just asking…...