A Crack in My Heart Splits My Mind Open

I live in a bubble, I think. I have lived and worked internationally and taught in a PYP (Primary Years Program) school for a decade now and really have no idea what is happening in my home country of America. But this summer, I connected with educators at a training in the States and I was REALLY  surprised by what I saw and what I heard.

First of all, I saw students in summer school, sitting in rows of desks, being taught by a teacher at the head of the classroom. Not just in one classroom, but EVERY classroom that I passed by at the high school and middle school. This was an eye-opener. I really thought the days of desks in rows were over, that this traditional style of teaching and learning was a thing of the past.  But clearly, in these Blue Ribbon Schools, it was still the norm. Ironically, in our teacher training room, we gathered to learn professionally at tables, sharing and collaborating about preparing our learners for the 21st century.

In developing countries, I expect to see this in their public schools. Updating their classrooms are expensive and not many schools have the opportunity to do this. But in the developed countries like America, this is inexcusable. However, it doesn’t take thousands of dollars to push those desks together–get rid of those rows! If you can’t afford to make physical improvements, then make pedagogical ones! Why do classrooms look like the 1960s? I was appalled.

Then as we planned to take our learning back, making action plans, our conversations turned to our realities at our schools. These educators I gathered with were NOT working at inner-city schools, but some of their stories made me feel incredibly concerned and worried for those educators who do. But there was one technology “specialist” (I put that in brackets because her district and school were really wasting her talent–no offense to her, but anyone could have done her job) whose sole purpose was to teach keyboarding skills so that the students could be better test takers on the new digital state exams. Doesn’t that bother you? And how authentic and reliable are those test results when they depend upon students being able to type out answers? Furthermore, what about schools that can’t afford this “specialist”–how might this impact their funding? This is wrong on so many levels.

I don’t know if I am more mad or sad by this glimpse of reality for educators in America. And it makes me realize how my little bubble is probably an exception rather than a norm for so many educators around the world. Considering this has put a little crack in my heart. I really hope that educators, despite their schools or districts challenges, really start to question the little stuff and move away from these traditional structures.  Not to be trendy but because it is necessary and critical to preparing our students for their ever-changing world. As I think forward about this upcoming school year, it’s certainly has made me question what of the “old ways” I cling to–maybe not the desks in rows, but if I dare to look “under the rug”, I bet I’d find some dust as I reflect. Perhaps this is the greatest thing I can do as my summer rolls to an end: reflect and review.

Judy Imamudeen

Developing learners as leaders is my joy! I am committed and passionate International Baccaluearate (IB) educator who loves cracking jokes, jumping on trampolines and reading books. When I’m not playing Minecraft with my daughter, I work on empowering others in order to create a future that works for everyone.

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