After reading The Flat World and Education, Linda Darling-Hammond made a great point by bringing up inadequate and unequal funding. But I have seen and witnessed what the difference is between a school that gets inadequate funding and a school and gets a remarkable amount of funding. Both schools had great student attendance. They both had similar school functions like science fair, and a walk-a-thon. However, both schools were very different. One school is a title-one school in a below average socioeconomic neighborhood. This particular school was rated a 4 out 10 according to greatschools.com. But the school that has adequate funding and all the supplies a teacher dreams of, is not getting their funding from the school district. Nope, the affluent families that attend the school always find a way to fund the school with their own personal money. Every year this school is able to raise up to 600,000 a year for the school. But, if you were to ask the parents on what they are spending their money on, they will tell you its not just on school supplies, but for salaries for the teachers. And nope, not to the teachers who are already there under contract of the district, but teachers who can teach art, music, IT, librarian, and make sure there is a coach for P.E. daily. This more affluent school seems to understand that all subjects need to be supported by another teacher other than the general education teacher. However, the other school I mentioned before doesn’t get any of those resources and the general teachers understand that they do need to plan for creative times like art and music into their classroom culture and curriculum. This would all help me as a teacher prepare my students for future learning.
Linda Darling- Hammond brought up the educational reform in Finland. The statistics show that clearly, Finland is doing something right. Here are some key concepts on what the Finnish system focused on which I feel is something we strive for here in the United States, but then again, the financial burdences seem to get into the way of being successful. The Finnish system provided resources for those who NEED them most, provide high standards and supports for special needs, hire qualified teachers, evaluation of education, and balancing decentralization and centralization. I constantly see the educational system in the United States a little distraught with funding and providing services for students who need it. Other educational reforms have worked for other countries like; South Korea and Singapore. Again, I feel this will lead our students now and well into the future be well prepared for the future of their lives if they are provided with an adequate education and it does all start with the politics.
I also feel like another key component to keep in mind is to have structures for personalization. I completely agree with Darling- Hammond when she explains how important successful schools are when schools have a foundation to keep students feel important by personalization. I noticed, though I was hesitant to get to know my students. I think I was in denial that I AM their teacher. But once I really started to show that I cared about them and what they do at recess or after school or even out of school events I saw a very new side to my students. All of a sudden, I started getting invites to soccer games, and I would go and bring my students an extra very cold Gatorade and tell them how awesome they are doing on the field. Not only am I building a rapport with my students, but also a positive relationship with the parents. Whereas, the parent community is known to drive new teachers away with their negative attitudes towards new teachers. I'm even getting tickets to see my students in plays. I feel like I need to take these olive branches I am receiving from my families and let them get to know me and see how their child interacts with me.
Linda Darling- Hammond brought up the educational reform in Finland. The statistics show that clearly, Finland is doing something right. Here are some key concepts on what the Finnish system focused on which I feel is something we strive for here in the United States, but then again, the financial burdences seem to get into the way of being successful. The Finnish system provided resources for those who NEED them most, provide high standards and supports for special needs, hire qualified teachers, evaluation of education, and balancing decentralization and centralization. I constantly see the educational system in the United States a little distraught with funding and providing services for students who need it. Other educational reforms have worked for other countries like; South Korea and Singapore. Again, I feel this will lead our students now and well into the future be well prepared for the future of their lives if they are provided with an adequate education and it does all start with the politics.
I also feel like another key component to keep in mind is to have structures for personalization. I completely agree with Darling- Hammond when she explains how important successful schools are when schools have a foundation to keep students feel important by personalization. I noticed, though I was hesitant to get to know my students. I think I was in denial that I AM their teacher. But once I really started to show that I cared about them and what they do at recess or after school or even out of school events I saw a very new side to my students. All of a sudden, I started getting invites to soccer games, and I would go and bring my students an extra very cold Gatorade and tell them how awesome they are doing on the field. Not only am I building a rapport with my students, but also a positive relationship with the parents. Whereas, the parent community is known to drive new teachers away with their negative attitudes towards new teachers. I'm even getting tickets to see my students in plays. I feel like I need to take these olive branches I am receiving from my families and let them get to know me and see how their child interacts with me.