Are We Standardizing Our Students? New from Community Works Journal

Just a little time left to register! LIMITED Space Remains, Don't Miss These Events! only 3 spaces remain! CWI's Summer WEST Institute on Service-Learning July 30-August 3, 2012 Los Angeles, California at Loyola Marymount University register online l more info tel: 909-480-3966 l email only 1 space remain! CWI's Summer EAST Institute on Service-Learning July 16-20, 2012 at Shelburne Farms, Vermont register online l more info tel: 909-480-3966 l email TRAINING & PLANNING CURRICULUM TOOLS REFLECTION & INSPIRATION CONNECTIONS CWI ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS “I can't over state the importance of this event to my vision and enthusiasm.” Julie Metzler, Director Community Arts and Service-Learning Kansas City Art Institute “I loved the week! CWI’s Institute allows for personal and professional growth...." Dan Gaudiano High School Science Teacher Punahou School, Hawaii “You make the five day commitment worth it! Leitzel Schoen, S-L Coordinator Westminster School Atlanta, Georgia “I feel empowered! Thank you! Kathleen Harte, Teacher The Gillispie School La Jolla, California “This Institute has made me appreciate who I am and who I want to be as an educator and learner. Krista Zielinski, Spanish Teacher Wells Memorial School New Hampshire “I felt reaffirmed...Thank you for a stimulating, thoughtful, and useful week. I learned a lot, met wonderful people, and had time to think and plan. I was inspired!” Chris Tananone Global Issues/Service Coordinator International School of Bangkok “Thank you! The Institute exceeded my expectations and fed my spirit in a way that will accelerate my impact. It offered a rare opportunity to connect to other educators and look at purpose and intention on a deeper level. Paula Cohen, Teacher Orville Wright Middle School Los Angeles, California CWI's Summer Institutes 2012 Don't wait, space is limited! summer institute information NEW! from Community Works Journal July 2012 the Online Magazine for K-16 and Community Educators We remind you that we welcome unsolicited submissions. Subscribe to Community Works Journal for regular online updates. Be sure to check out our summer professional development events link below. FEATURED ESSAY—HOW TO LOVE EDUCATION AGAIN Succotash and Standardized Teaching By STUART GRAUER, Ed.D. We had taken the back road to get home from five days hiking the Southern Yosemite, Ansel Adams Wilderness, in no race to leave, winding down.  Reaching the foot of the mountain, we were drawn to a paper sign tacked onto a telephone pole and we pulled over.  We had walked many steps renewing our connection to the land; we were rested and calm and fulfilled from the mountains, the mountain air, and we wanted to hang on to all that, even for just a few days; we were taking our time for a change.  The sign read, “Labrador puppies for sale.”  We scribbled down the information and headed south, then east into the valley, into the farm town of Lindsay, California, driving fast down the long straight lanes of orchards and fields.  We pulled into the Newkirk farm, parked on the dirt, and there off to the left was a portable wire fence containing seven yellow-tan eight-week old slugs all cuddled up together.  It was sunny and hot and quiet.  A tall, stern man in boots ambled out across the dirt and straw, in slow motion. “I’m Newkirk. Paul.”  We did the introductions and bargained on the price for our pick. “What made you pick that one?” asked Newkirk, reaching down and giving him a little rub. “Maybe he won’t eat as much,” I said, being clever. “Anyhow, my wife likes an underdog.”  He gave a hint of a grin.  You could see there was something more behind it. “Well, you ought to live out here, then.”  We looked at the farmer, puzzled.  “C’mon in, it’s lunchtime.” Next thing, we were going through the fence gate, through the porch.  The aroma was in our noses before the screen door slapped closed behind us. Mrs. Newkirk was closest to the new mother, Old Yeller Sprig.  It was her dog, and she told a hunting story as we ladled thick white gravy out of a small wood bucket.  Sprig had fetched plenty of duck that had ended up on the long, rough-hewn pine table that was all set up for us.  We kept quiet and polite, talked a little about schooling like we always do, and dove into the succotash mix, old-time America’s effort to make okra palatable by mixing in everything else you could pull in from the farmyard.  “Where do you go to school?” we asked Newkirk’s daughter at the end of the table.  She said nothing, but Newkirk opened up like church doors.  We did not necessarily want to hear all he had to say, but by the time we could only see the bacon chunks at the bottom of the bowl, left for the hogs, we had learned plenty.  Except it was more like remembering than learning.  Later on, we showed Newkirk’s words to some teachers and one of them said, “What he was saying is what a lot of us are thinking, but might not have put into words yet.” “Schooling kids is a lot like growing crops,” Newkirk held forth.  “And we can’t get the heirlooms. anymore.  If we want to sell what we grow, we need to stick to the standard picks of the big chains.”  A sharp man. I related that I could hardly hang on to the ‘heirlooms’ in my classroom either;  how every year less and less of my English students had ever even heard of the classics.  “Rapunzel.” “Pandora’s Box.”  Gone.  They knew of ‘Snow White,” but that was just a Disneyland image.  Later on, we’d see how very much further along the situation would escalate, as classic literature pieces were steadily replaced by whatever would grind through the interest group debates.  “The heirlooms, they’re gone from the textbook.” Newkirk looked straight ahead, then down, then scrolled though some thoughts: “Fast food schooling.  Junk food …junk culture.”  And he reflected back:  “The school keeps getting bigger—it’s got nothing to do with our lives out here, or our living, nothing from our area.  It’s one size fits all.  The kids all learn the same thing from one region to the next, just like the local crops getting crowded out.” We nodded. “You mean the state curriculum.” read the full article EVENTS-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Don't Miss these Summer PD Opportunities! There is still time to register for CWI's annual series of unique professional development events. Among the events being offered are CWI's Summer EAST and WEST Institutes on Service-Learning and our partner Shelburne Farm's Education for Sustainability Institute. All events are appropriate for K-16 and community educators and administrators. Join with educators from around the world for a week of intense exploration, learning , and practical application. read more FOR MORE GO TO: communityworksjournal.org  l subscribe for updates copyright 1995-2012, all rights reserved, Community Works Institute (CWI) The properly credited re-publication of articles is welcomed. more information