Page 79 - EdViewptsSpring2021

Perspective “Technology will not replace great Teachers had to lean in
teachers, but technology in the
Right now, at this very moment, we have hands of great teachers can be and touch the hearts
been given the opportunity to change transformational.”
education for the better, FOREVER! and minds of students
Think about it! Despite many wonderful - George Couros who were not physical-
innovations that have been implemented Another opportunity that presented
in school buildings throughout the itself was the narrowing of the digital ly in a classroom with
country, our educational system has divide, not only of our students but also them and they did with
held on to an array of, dare we say it, our teachers! Teachers are amazing! the help of countless
antiquated structures that at one time Let’s say that again, TEACHERS ARE
worked, but as we evolve so must our AMAZING! Every day they are reaching educational platforms
schools. Organizational theory 101 into their instructional bag of tricks to pull out there. Furthermore,
teaches us that the industrial model out activities that excite, ignite and leave
of the 1800s, that was still evident in a lasting impression on the beautiful districts supported
educational institutions during the pre- minds of the children they teach. Now teachers by creating
pandemic 21st century, fails to properly more than ever, our teachers had to professional learning
prepare our students for the vocations create ways to engage students; to
they will encounter in their lifetimes. transport them to the brick and mortar opportunities that em-
classroom that they were accustomed powered them to rei-
to but from the live and in living color
Abundant Opportunities of kitchens, dining rooms, hallways, magine every facet of
their instructional day.
closets, bathrooms and quite frankly,
The opportunities to change broken any room available. Teachers had to
systems that no longer serve the lean in and touch the hearts and minds
organization is right here before us. of students who were not physically Discovering EER: Equity,
An area we found broken was grading. in a classroom with them and they did Empathy, Resiliency
Let’s face it, traditional grading during a with the help of countless educational
global pandemic is a recipe for disaster! platforms out there. Furthermore, Equity
If we have learned anything from the districts supported teachers by creating Equity is not an educational axiom
work of Doug Reeves, Rick Wormelli professional learning opportunities to be surely replaced by another in
and Ken O’Connor, it is that grades are that empowered them to reimagine a year or two. It is not an infographic
never meant to be punitive. Who would every facet of their instructional day. of individuals looking over a fence.
have thought that during a crisis we In one day, technology became the Lack of equity is the elephant in the
could move away from the traditional chief cornerstone of the educational room that has far too long stifled the
method of grading students, which was foundation. growth of our educational community.
a dismal failure during the pandemic We cannot address equity if we at first
(and honestly prior) for the purpose of Finally, one of the greatest do not recognize it. Why did it take a
sorting and ranking, to a method that opportunities afforded to our school global pandemic to be the catalyst to
actually achieves the goal of guiding and community during this critical time get devices and wifi in the homes of
assessing the learning that occurred? was experiencing history. In one year, every child we serve? Why did we not
Why do we want to punish our children we witnessed injustice, insurrection, recognize that the grading practices,
for their trauma? Yes, when we take impeachment, and the installation of written in board approved district
points off for not completing homework the first female woman of color vice policies, actually add to the systemic
or award grades for participation, president. We protested, we cried, racism known in education as the
perhaps what we are actually grading we voted, we celebrated. We were school to prison pipeline? Equity is a
is the level of trauma a child inherently a living textbook. You may say, but promise to our children and a purpose
possesses not by choice but due to their that happens in the schoolhouse, for our educators. We should promise
living conditions. Therefore, if a student but does it? Often teachers are to always provide all students with
has not completed homework due to expected to teach curriculum and educational opportunities that fully
the circumstances of his/her home not CHILDREN. Teaching children enriches their experience in academia
life (trauma) you have now evaluated means being genuinely concerned and an educator’s purpose should be
that child, marking them down, like the with the world they live in and helping to unequivocally do so!
child may sometimes do to himself or them to navigate those feelings and Empathy
herself, thus, adding to their feelings of emotions they may have towards it.
unworthiness (more trauma). A grade Furthermore, teaching children means Do you know the students you teach?
on a paper is just that, but feedback, the you pull those standards from the Do you REALLY know them? Great
type that outlines a learner's strengths curriculum and you guide students to teachers do, and virtual learning
and areas of growth, that is more discover how they are to apply them to brought getting to know students to a
powerful than letters A through F. the world in which they live. monumental level. For the first time,
teachers were not just visiting a home

Educational Viewpoints -77- Spring 2021