I Walk Slowly. (And… I enjoy the beauty around me.)
I Learned To Read Slowly. (And… 62 years later I still recall with gratitude my 4th grade teacher, Miss Tabor, who introduced me to biographies about composers in a school without a library. I devoured those books!)
I Think and Process Slowly. (And… I mull over important questions and problems to solve.)
I Proceed Slowly. (But… with determination, persistence, commonsense and seasoned judgment I take whatever TIME I need to get where I need to go. )
For the past three weeks I've been mulling over a post about educational reform to contribute on October 17, the day suggested by @tomwhitby for posting positive Edu Reform. http://bit.ly/a3fH2a
However, my SLOWLY/SLOWLY mode did not cooperate. Instead, while taking a short bus ride into the center of Jerusalem a few days ago and enjoying the magnificient views of the Old and New City, this post SLOWLY/SLOWLY popped into my head.
So, what does the SLOWLY/SLOWLY mode have to do with schooling? Reflecting upon my 45+ years working with youngsters, I recognize now, more than ever before, that SLOWLY/SLOWLY is not only my mode of operation but a normal mode of operation for many more kids than we may have recognized.
**Many kids were penalized in the past because they did not fit neatly into school TIME. Students were often chastised for handing in homework late or kept in from recess to complete seatwork or…
**Categorizing certain primary youngsters as "developmentally delayed" is an insult. All youngsters needed to be valued and respected for who they are, not judged by some artificial developmental standard of TIME.
**What difference does it make if youngsters are Late Bloomers or Early Bloomers? They're all a joy to behold! Schools need to be places to learn and GROW.
**Why not drop all testing TIME limits and let all kids finish at their own pace. Are we assessing kids' speed or their understandings? Why allow students to feel humiliated when they cannot reach some artificial standard or give them false impressions of what they've learned or accomplished?
**Why waste the TIME of students and teachers preparing for and taking what appears to be an assault by "endless" hours of testing. Give students and teachers the gift of TIME to explore, to think and to continue the journey on their way to becoming lifelong learners.
**Schools, which require quick answers and responses to classroom presentations and where the SLOWLY/SLOWLY mode is considered an obstacle to learning, more likely focus on developing linear, rather than divergent, thinking. A pity!
In Project Based and other types of 21st century classrooms where students can connect to information almost instantly via the Internet, learning has the potential to become more personalized, challenging and self-directed. Youngsters are motivated by their interests and the freedom to make personal choices. For those who may proceed SLOWLY/SLOWLY, TIME is no longer the villain. TIME is a gift.
October 16, 2010