Beyond costly one-size-fits-all Ed Reforms

 There is a difference between the so-called recent literacy experts and me; they chase one-size-fits-all all silver bullets…

I learned from literacy giants; insisting that literacy experts must work in classrooms, next to children, parents, and teachers. Experts who place children at the center of learning. Context and proximity to children are far more important than test scores - or scatter charts. 

Rather than write books, we painted a masterpiece of humanity, and love for books, and focused on creating physical places, and literate environments that said “Come join the Literacy Club.“ We focus on motivating readers, giving them a reason to read, write, talk, listen, and draw new worlds. 

We seek not to prove our methods, but new ways to inspire a love of books. While the rest of the experts battle theory, chasing one-size-fits-all solutions. We battle for humanity, a humanity that honors all learners. 

When they argued that “testing" will save children“ and that one-size-fits-all programs can fix children. We argued children are not broken. Teaching with humanity opens the door to motivation. During the past 27 years, I worked to give children, teachers, and parents a place worthy of them. When no one listened I walked two walks to DC, close to a thousand miles - for humanity in our classrooms. 

Ed Reform Fixers, show me the humanity in your reforms?                                                                            Your boxed expensive curriculums and high-stakes tests have always failed,                                                  Show me the awesome learning environments that you have built,
Show me your humanity.                                                                                                                                  I have put all I have into building a place that inspires reading at our Literacy Center. 

This year is going to be my last year teaching here.                                                                                         I am ready to pass it on - next June. 

After that, who knows… maybe a book about teaching, and awesome welcoming learning places. 

Dr. Jesse P. Turner 

CCSU Literacy Center Director

How many school children must be sacrifice to scam Ed Reforms?

We miss you our Power House Union Truth to Power Badass Teacher Voice Karen Lewis

 

A question what asked today on Badass Teachers Facebook page: 

“Hi everyone. Music teacher (21years) here.

If you have a moment, please chime in on these topics.  I am trying to get a wider perspective. 

• Have today students become more resistant to learning?

• Are you experiencing more behavioral difficult difficulties than in the past during class?

• What ways have students changed in recent years? 

• Has teaching become more difficult?

I sure appreciate any thoughts you are willing to share. Anything you say remains 100% anonymous. Thanks” 

I responded 

No Child Left Behind, (NCLB), shifted the focus from teachers being judged by how creatively they engaged their students to the only thing that matters are test scores in our schools.

That shift also siphoned off billions of dollars from actual services for students, to standards, expensive tech-based data systems, and testing. Equity is not everyone taking the same test. I can’t emphasize enough how harmful that loss of services has been to Black, Brown, and Special Education students. This is child abuse!

Former CTU president Karen Lewis who passed away from cancer helped teachers in Chicago understand what we do to children, we do to teachers, and frame the battle against these high-stakes and school choice education reformers as a Civil Rights battle.

What I am seeing is a loss of humanity that abuses children and teachers, I would even call it, trauma. This trauma began in 2002 and drained everyone's energy. Teaching and learning are becoming more and more exhausting. We also have very few places to safely discuss this. BATS is one of the few safe places left.

I wish Karen Lewis was still with us, no one understood it better or stood taller. 

Respectfully,

Dr. Jesse P. Turner

Uniting to Save Our Schools

Badass Teacher 

If you like to listen to the tune that inspired my morning walk it is Teach the Children cover by Play for Change > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AuFDHdrrg <

You are a Racist, if you fear these 3 words: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

" Alabama lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that, if signed into law, would prohibit public schools and universities from maintaining or funding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs." Link for Alabama Legislation banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/us/alabama-bill-bans-dei-public-universities-reaj/index.html

What does structural racism look like?

The Alabama Legislature is banning Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in their public schools and universities. Looking at the definitions of the three in the Oxford English Dictionary we find the following:

“Diversity” is “the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.”

Inclusion is a term used to describe and promote policies, strategies, and practices which aim to enable all learners to participate fully in education.

Equity is defined as being fair and impartial. Equity in education refers therefore to the systems that support or allow for the scaffolding of learning to take place.

Perhaps next, Alabama will ban public education itself?

Let me state it plainly if you voted for this bill, you are a racist.

Just calling it as I see it, Dr. Jesse P. Turner Uniting to Save Our Schools Badass Teacher

Woke up this morning, Education is Civil Rights, and Civil Rights is Education, 

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my morning walk today, it is Freedom Singers "Woke This Morning" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsziXdKfOsE