This is Why I Don't Watch Movies Before Bed

Last night, my husband talked me in to watching Davis Guggenheim's documentary film, "Waiting for Superman" (see link to the right). Mr. Guggenheim has produced many films for our current President as well as worked on Al Gore's infamous, "An Inconvenient Truth". I was not in the mood, I must admit. I was already cranky from spending a day trying to figure out how I was going to pay for the things I need for my music class at my private, Christian school out of my own pocket. A documentary on public schools and all their money was not going to make me any happier.

There is too much in the film for me to cover in one post. I suggest you go and get it for yourself if you haven't seen it. It isn't a reactionary, "chicken little" kind of film. It was informative, and while I do not think it clearly addresses all of the reasons America is falling behind the rest of the world in education, it gives a good overview of the whole picture.

I want to address the two things that stuck out to me in this film and still have my blood boiling the day after:

1. A little thing called "Education Tracking"
2. ACCOUNTABILITY

"Tracking" is a practice that apparently became common in schools across the country after WWII. The idea is that you put students on a path towards a career based on their ability and other social and economic factors. So the brightest students are funneled into high level, high expectation math and science programs with the expectation that they will go on to college and become doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc. The students that are "just getting by" or show any signs of mediocrity are tracked to go to work at blue-collar jobs or at factories. They may be taking similar classes as their high achieving peers, but the expectations were much lower and they tended to move slower through the coursework. The idea was to supply the marketplace with the workers it needed to keep the economy moving. There were lots of factories in the U.S. after WWII that needed workers. We didn't "need" as many highly educated people. The film makes the point that the needs of the country are different now. There are more high skill jobs than factory jobs, but we are still tracking a lot of students to the low skill, low paying factory work that is no longer widely available.

All this may be true, but my main question is this: WHO THE HELL DECIDED THAT IS WAS A GOOD IDEA TO SAY TO ONE KID, "YEAH, YOU'RE NOT VERY SMART, SO WE DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GIVE YOU AS MANY TOOLS AS YOUR CLASSMATE OVER HERE THAT COMES FROM A GOOD HOME AND GETS BETTER GRADES. YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T BE A DOCTOR ANYWAY, SO HOW ABOUT A NICE JOB SEWING CLOTHES TOGETHER?"

Sorry for yelling. I'm still a little angry. I didn't sleep well last night.

Does anyone remember that Einstein was a horrible student? Most likely he would have been told to just settle for whatever factory work he could find and to stop being so creative.

Some people will say Einstein was the exception, not the rule; after all, most poor kids, kids from broken homes, kids with behavior or learning disabilities just cannot achieve great things in education. They just cannot close the gap.

What a load of __________ (insert favorite word here).

Kids will rise to the expectations we place on them. If you don't expect much, you won't get much. Period. And if they know people love them and care enough about the to expect something from them, they WANT to rise to the expectations.

I understand it is possible to expect too much. I don't expect my 3 year-old to understand a word of what I'm writing on this post. The funny thing is, though, that my 8 year-old gets the bulk of it (you should have a conversation with him about taxes; he has a better grasp on it than almost anyone in D.C.)

The bottom line is this: Every kid should learn to read, write, and do math at a high level, whether they are likely to go for a job as a lawyer or a hairdresser. If we think that we can look at a child in elementary school or even high school and see what they can or will become as an adult, we are the most arrogant people on the planet. We have no idea the plans that God has for them. Our job as parents and teachers is to train them for EVERY possibility, and give them the tools to reach for whatever it is they dream of doing.

I'm too worked up to even attempt my second point right now. I'm going to go find a Starbucks. I will tackle it when I've had my caffeine fix. :)

It's been awhile . . . . . . .

First of all, for those of you who helped make my trip to Lancaster possible way back in 2010, THANK YOU! (see previous posts if you are confused.)

I am entering into a 3rd year as the music teacher at Providence Academy of Green Bay, a classical Christian school. All three of my children will be in school this year, with my youngest starting K-4. I sing almost every week in church. I run my children to activities. Needless to say, I am busy.

And I'm starting a new project.

It's not one I'm anxious to start. It has been on my heart for at least a year. But it wasn't until last April that I felt "prompted by God" to do something.

It was not the audible voice of God or anything like that, just a feeling that I needed to speak out on some things. However, I don't like speaking out. So I didn't do anything.

I got constant reminders for the last few months. Gentle ones.

I made excuses. Lots of them.

Then I woke up at two a.m. with the distinct feeling that I was not going to fall back asleep until my disobedience in this area of my life was dealt with.

It was a long two hours. :)

The bottom line is this: From what I've been reading and seeing, I believe the Christian Church has fallen asleep at the wheel in matters of education and culture (and other things). My heart is to see the church wake up and start CHANGING culture, not be changed by the culture. I want to share with you what I've learned related to Christianity, education, and culture. Please feel free to comment and start a dialogue about what you think.

Don't just take my word on anything written here; check the facts presented for yourself. Digest it and pray about it. Challenge me if you need to. The good Lord knows I need that.

I hope you will follow me in the weeks to come and enter into the conversation. :)

Music Teacher on a mission

Among the many hats I wear, I am proud to wear the hat of music teacher. I choose to wear that hat in a classical Christian school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I believe passionately in the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty that is foundational to both classical and Christian education; music is one part of that beauty that we should strive to teach students in school. It is a great gift of God, one that is an essential part of our worship both now and in eternity. It incorporates all other subjects: science, grammar, history, mathematics to name a few, and it encourages life skills such as teamwork and perseverance.

I have the awesome opportunity to take part in a fine arts symposium next month that will help chart a course for music and art education for classical schools and home schools. It will help develop a vision that will restore music education to a balanced place in the curriculum of our schools, and in such, lead to better balanced students.

Due to budget constraints, I am asking for your help to get me there. It will cost me approximately $800 to pay for the symposium, the airfare to and from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and lodging while I am there. If you are in a place to give even just a small amount, I would greatly appreciate it (although large donations are warmly welcomed as well! Ha ha!). Music education is my mission field, my ministry to the next generation. Please help me to make a difference!