A Blueprint for Failure, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 98

A Blueprint for Failure

By

Roger Behra

In many parts of the United States there are recorded examples of school failures. There are definite reasons for those record failures. And a very large number of America’s teachers have the precise answer, and it would be so productive in the right direction if the school administrators would listen to classroom teachers.
At the top of the list of reason is the fact that teachers cannot spend the proper amount of time they need to prepare their lesson plans and then executing the ones they do plan. As a result at the end of a school year teachers are considerably short of the total requirements need for a successful teaching year. The big question is why?

The mayor standby reasons still exist. Classrooms are still very overcrowded. The school day and school year are too short. There are too many free days. The teacher has too many extracurricular activities. Now, an extra activity has been added. It is called the “testing season”.

Years ago it was very simple. There were teacher made subject matter test and mid-April state mandated achievement tests. That is still in effect, but it is along with the added “testing season” as it is called.

It is not the “testing season” test period that is the problem. It is the ancillary activities. It is the barrage of activities that must take place BEFORE the actual testing can take place. That includes test-prep materials, and the meetings about how to understand test scores, and how to use the test results to improve classroom instructional time, which has now been cut shorter because of the barrage of these extra activities. It has become an insane situation, and teachers are left hanging with no solution in sight.

This is simply and clearly not the way to go if failing schools are to improve. In fact in the near future “seasonal testing” will add to the total amount of existing school failures. The school administrators must come to their senses and allow restoration of list preparation time and teaching time that is so drastically needed for the improvement of failing schools and the elimination of added school failures in the future. All classroom teacher time should be and must be spent preparing lesson plans, and teaching those lessons, and giving remedial help when needed. The daily blueprint must be changed and very soon. It is the only salvation the school systems have. That’s the only reality way to go.

In our modern world of today classroom teachers in the elementary and secondary schools of America face an uphill battle just because of the daily routine problems, with discipline problems and, yes, not enough time to accomplish the minimum academic goals at the top of the list. They do not need the added problem of the “testing season”. It simply adds more mud to the already muddy waters, and it is going to drive more teachers out of the profession. Gifted and very qualified teacher will simply give up teaching if they really can. Administrators must come to their senses, and give the classroom and time needed there back to the classroom teacher. A first grade pupil can figure that one out.

R.B.
7-19-09