Failing Our Most Important Standardized Test

In the education world we are subject to determining our school’s worth based on standardized tests.  If you do poorly on these assessments, you are often designated as a poorly performing school and mandated to improve.  When you do well, we often complain that the school had an unfair advantage.  Maybe they are funded better or the families in the district are better educated.  Either way, we are all expected to teach the standards and pass the tests.

While looking for a working example of our country's response to the current challenges of our nation, I realize that our country is approaching failing the most important test yet.  I'm not talking about our world rankings, which leave much to be desired.  I am talking about what is taught that is not being demonstrated as we face some of the most difficult days in my lifetime.

There was a time that social studies was actually on the state tests.  They are not now.  We have de-emphasized social studies, the arts and vocational subjects in favor of math, reading, and science.  Us social studies teachers felt a little slighted.  If you get bored and want to see what courses and topics are mandated in Illinois, you find out they are almost all related to social studies.  So this old dog decided to explore my learning standards and see what it is that our people have not learned based on public tension during the pandemic.

Not to insult, but I am a junior high principal so I am looking at middle school civics standards.  These are the least complex in the strand to show you how elementary our basic knowledge of being a good citizen is.  Some of our notable failures are bulleted underneath each standard.

SS.CV.1.6-8.LC:  Identify roles played by citizens (examples: voters, jurors, taxpayers, military, protesters and office holders)

• We cannot distinguish between protesters and looters.
• We do not know or realize that protesting is free speech.

SS.CV.4.6-8.LC:  Explain the connection between interests and perspectives, civic virtues, and democratic principles when addressing issues in government and society.

• We cannot value mail in voting and in person voting equally as a democratic necessity.
• We dismiss the connection between race and many instances of police brutality.

SS.CV.6.6-8.LC:  Determine whether specific rules and laws (both actual and proposed) resolve the problems they were meant to address. 

• Refusal to wear masks and follow COVID-19 safety protocols.
• We see safety restrictions as an infringement upon our freedoms and not a solution to a problem.

Lets be fair.  We are not all failing at this.  This is what happens to schools with standardized tests.  You may have many that do well, but you are all in the same boat at the end of the day.  The whole school gets the label whether it is good or bad.  So how do we improve upon this if we have de-emphasized social studies and civics on our fancy state tests?

The social studies standards in Illinois have made a change for the better in recent years.  They place a priority on participatory citizenship within the content.  I was impressed by this when I first read them, but disappointed in how many of my social studies colleagues had not seen them.  In many cases, they were not noticed until a teacher had to write a formal lesson plan for an evaluation.

If we want to prevent failing the most important standardized test, which is democracy, we have to promote and actively embrace civics as a core piece of the school curriculum.  We have done so with legislation, but in practice we still cling to boosting math and reading scores as a way off of those ugly lists connected to standardized tests.  Another way to do this is to partner with organizations like Generation Citizen to provide an action civics education.  Better yet, get your high school involved with YMCA Youth and Government to practice democracy at the state level.  Either way, you need to teach civics by doing.  

If the past six months have taught us anything, it is that we need to produce citizens that can critically think and independently make decisions regarding our current situation and whatever challenges they face in the future.  Once again schools are tasked with making things right.  Embrace the task folks.

Rita Told Us to be a Champion for Kids

If you are a school administrator right now, you know we are up against a lot. Schools are facing a huge challenge re-opening and to make things tougher, the target seems to always be moving.  The state mandates one thing, our families want something else and we know we don't have the spaces or resources to do everything by the book.  This is a stressful time to be in this business.  It hurts my heart when I hear so many colleagues feeling lost amid the chaos of the situation.

My fellow admins, we are the best possible people to handle this. With just over a month before school is set to start, now is not the time to get frustrated or complain. Get it out of your system quickly because our kids, staff and families need us.

Remember, Rita told us to be a champion for kids.  It is a heavy load to carry, but we all believe this to be our role in our student's lives.  Otherwise, we would be doing something less impactful.

The Greatest told us what a champion is. Now is the time to dig deep and draw on those special qualities that make you a leader of kids and communities.  The state and other outside factors may set up roadblocks, but stick to the vision you possess for your students and schools.  These struggles will define you as leaders so it is time to take control.

We have to be champions if we want to have a successful re-opening. Don’t spin your wheels on the things you can't control. Do the best you can with what you have to keep your school families safe.  They need your leadership, your talent, your resourcefulness, and your calm.  Control the narrative for your school and show your families that you have the steering wheel.

As for me, I know I am communicating.  I am learning.  I am researching.  I am guiding my team by urging them to only use the language of solutions and not the language of defeat.  We will do our best to create structures, procedures and an environment that keep our kids safe and follow the guidelines to the fullest extent possible.  We will be champions for our kids and not victims of a tough situation.

Information Cannot be an Impulse Buy

It's now a thing that people care about how reliable their news is.  I remember being a kid and not thinking anything of watching Ted Koppel deliver the news.  It was the news.  It was what was going on and you basically didn't question what was delivered to you.  The term "fake news" has entered our vernacular and while I will not debate that there is such a thing, my fear is that people actually can't tell the difference. If you need a couple of examples of how we are being fed fake news follow these links about Pizzagate and Twitter bots.

I don't watch television news the way I used to, but I do it differently that I used to.  Because of the bias of some news organizations, I dig a little deeper into my intellect to find my take-aways from a story.  I have to confess that I also really enjoy watching Jake Tapper's face during interviews.

We use our bias to frequent networks or sites and support their coverage and in turn they have to keep their customers by continuing the types of coverage their viewers want to see.  This leaves us with a new task that has blossomed into a civic duty.  As American citizens we have to be media literate.  How we receive and digest information is critical to our participation in this democracy.  It is frightening to know that there are people in this country that construct their own truth based on biased news, fake news or propaganda and then go to the polls to vote.

Sorry to add more to your plate, but your participation is going to require another layer of competency.  I'm not saying you should stop watching your favorite news channels.  I'm saying you need to use a fair and balanced lens.  I know what I'm getting if I turn on CNN or Fox News.  I do my best to sort out the skew and listen for the facts.  I can construct my own opinion based on what is absolute.  I can filter out someone else's truth.  I do not find any validation if they confirm something I believe so therefore I feel no allegiance to that source.

I stumbled across the chart below when I was preparing to speak to some student journalists about newspapers in schools. It is complicated to look at, but worth the effort in your search for facts.  I've learned to consider where publications are in this graphic before I read a story.  Look at it this way.  Before you buy something, we might look at ratings and feedback form other buyers.  If we are shopping like we are supposed to, we avoid impulse buys and the eventual disappointment if something is wrong with the product.  Why do we "impulse buy" news stories fed to us on television and online?  Not all news media is bad and with the scrutiny placed on them, they are right to be in defense mode.  Support good media by not impulse buying bad media.



The current issue that frustrated me to the point of writing this is the face mask debate.  You see one news story that gives you the facts and benefits pointed out by a medical professional.  In another, you have people screaming about their constitutional rights.  For those impulse media buyers out there, there is plenty of evidence that suggests masks can help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and zero evidence in the constitution or case law that says you have the legal right to refuse to wear one.  Remember, your rights end where the next man's nose begins.  If you heard that from any source that you see in the bottom right hand side of the above info-graphic, change your news habits.  Information cannot be an impulse buy.

Gestures of Progress

Amid all the racial tension we have been witnessing, our president signed an executive order protecting statues of military war heroes.  This comes after a flurry of activity about what to do with old statues that may symbolize racism.  This is yet another reminder of how hard it it is to be an American.  We seem to find ourselves in the most paradoxical situations and this one is no different.  Should we remove these public symbols of the Confederacy and racism?

Some things to consider.  First, we have to acknowledge that these figures may represent dark places of our history, but are still part of our history. The fact is that some of these statues represent beloved founding fathers that were slave owners and the truth is that slavery is over.  There are pieces of the American story that we are not proud of.  We can't erase those parts of history, but we can choose to move on from them.

Second, our history is rich with change and innovation.  Why do we not celebrate this as we go?  What if our monuments reflected how far we have come, instead of where we used to be?  Construction started on Mount Rushmore in 1927.  Did they really think that these four men were the best we were going to get?  I really never understood the back lash of putting Harriet Tubman on the 20 dollar bill.  This would be a symbol of progress in America.  Moving something out doesn't mean we have to forget about it.  It just means that we know where we are going and what it means to have come this far.

Third, these choices represent our values.  So what does this situation say about current American values?  Right now it means that we can still be polarized about an issue of decorum.  We have one side that says you can't erase history by removing statues.  We have another side that says these statues represent and symbolize institutionalized racism.  Picking a side seems to be our most prominent American value these days.  I'm not sure a sculptor could make a statue of that. 

I am not suggesting we destroy all these statues and monuments, but we have to move on from old stories.  If people in Kentucky can move on by removing a statue, then the nation can.  NASA will be renaming their headquarters after Mary Jackson, their first African American female engineer.  These are gestures of progress, not erasing history.  Those gestures have been going on for years.  Newsweek reported two years ago that over a hundred confederate statues had been removed across the US.  I don't recall any national outrage.  My point is, our old stories belong in museums.  The new stories of our country should be displayed.  You can celebrate our progress and still not forget our history.

A statue of Robert E. Lee being removed in Dallas back in 2017. (Newsweek)

A New War on Poverty

It is time for a new war on poverty.  Looking around and connecting so many of our country's toughest issues to poverty and economic opportunity is not a difficult task.  Our first war on poverty began in 1964 in conjunction with the Civil Rights Act.  While many could argue it's success and failures, there was a foundation laid for future efforts.  The reality is that the overall poverty rate since the war on poverty began has largely remained unchanged.  Sure there was some immediate relief, but it is obvious we have done little to protect and uplift the poor in a meaningful way since then.

Let's take one example of how not addressing poverty hurts us.  Poverty has an effect on crime rates.  Not addressing poverty helps the continuation of incarceration of poor people and makes social mobility nearly impossible.  This post is a great look at many societal factors affected by poverty.  We have to break these cycles and lift people out of poverty if we want to see thriving communities and better relationships.  Lack of economic opportunity has always led to tension and discrimination.  It is time to wage a new war on poverty and do better for our nation.

What should a new war on poverty look like?

• Paid Career training and assistance for in-demand fields.  Medical professions, trades and teaching all have candidate shortages and they are jobs that can provide upward mobility.
• True enforcement of current laws that protect the poor and minorities.  For example, housing discrimination still takes place despite 50 year old laws to combat the practice.
• Medicare for all is a must.  The biggest reason for someone to file bankruptcy is medical bills.  This is a barrier to social mobility.  Let's not forget to mention that a healthy workforce is a strong one.
• Restructure the federal student loan program to ensure that first generation college students do not end up in a debtor's prison.  

I'm sure an economist could devise a better list with better ideas.  I'm a rare example of a guy that moved from generational poverty to the middle class and I strive to help others do the same.  We have to build upon what was started in 1964.  Times have changed but the poverty rate has not.  If that is not a signal to do better, I don't know what one is.  As things seem to crumble around us, we cannot feel helpless to the point of inaction or bowing to political positioning.  We have to demand what is best for us as a nation.  That includes lifting up others.

Vote by Mail is a Pitch in the Dirt

Vote by mail had turned into a point of discussion weeks ago due to safety concerns during the pandemic.  Now the issue is renewed in Illinois after JB Pritzker signed new legislation into effect that will send vote by mail applications to 5 million Illinoisans ahead of the November elections.  As you would guess, I have no problem with voting by mail.  Not everyone sees it that way so I would like to challenge everyone to instead examine the real voting issues that keep people from voting and keeps career politicians in office.

How do Democrat’s and republicans differ on the vote by mail issue?  Democrats want to increase participation and allow many who are afraid to vote during the pandemic to do so safely.  Republicans worry about voter fraud.  It became  a heated partisan issue when  Republicans claimed  that it impacts them directly.  Research shows that it has no benefit to either party.  If you want a deeper dive into election fraud, The Heritage Foundation created a good interactive map to see what issues each state has had.  They report 1285 instances of voter fraud over an extended period of time.  That number compared to all voters does not seem like a very high percentage of fraud taking place.  Only four documented cases of voter fraud took place in the 2016 election.

Do not be distracted from the real problems.  The two real issues to focus on here are election day administration and gerrymandering.  Take a look at what happened in Atlanta recently on their primary election day.  Many voters waited hours in line just to be shuffled around and given alternative ballots because machines could not be operated.  As a technologically advanced country, why does this happen?  I won't point the finger just yet and say it is on purpose to keep people from voting (oops I just did), but we clearly do not value the practice of voting.  Voting is the easiest way to have your voice heard in our democracy.  If we are the great nation we say we are, the administration of the process on election day, would have more resources devoted to it.  If you looked at the Heritage Foundation site, you would see many of the fraud cases  come from registration and double voting.  A boost in effort and resources could prevent these things from happening.  We have to say that it is important enough that we will spend extra time and resources for a smooth election day.  Otherwise, we are accepting the status quo that produces consistently low voter turnout and less than desirable results.

Gerrymandering.  I'm sure you remember that funny word from high school government class.  If you need a review, it is simply drawing districts where your base voters are.  Look at this congressional map of Ohio.  The current map on the left should have some red flags.  Look how jagged and strategically manufactured those districts are.  Especially the district that Cleveland is in.  This practice benefits the party in power because they get to draw the map.  If redrawn in either other configuration, the popular vote would have more say over the outcome.  In fact, in the 2018 election, Democrats won 2035 seats in the House with a 6.7% popular vote margin.  Republicans could have won 235 seats with just a 1.1% margin. (Please click on the link for the methodology.)





I can't image anyone seeing this as fair.  We all complain about career politicians and I support term limits fully.  Completely ending gerrymandering would not only make things better for voters, it would put politicians on notice that they are there to serve and if not it may be a short stay.

The vote by mail issue is a pitch in the dirt.  Don't chase it.  There are other election problems to tackle that would create the results we want.  If we want to strengthen our democracy, we have to take control of the issues and not let those who benefit tell us what to think about.  Demand reform in the areas that will  impact democracy the most.

The Time I used Public Enemy as a Teaching Tool

It seems like educators are called to fix every social ill and the current state of affairs is no different. As our country is again being reminded of racism and discrimination that take place everyday, there are calls for schools to step up and fill the need to help end this societal disease.  California's State Superintendent spoke words that rang out to me.  He said,

“Today we should be in a classroom helping students process all that is happening around us,” he said in a statement. “Schools must be part of the solution because a great education is the most important part of the path out of poverty. But opportunity gaps for black students have persisted for more than a generation. The war on poverty declared more than 50 years ago seems to have been lost.” 

I cannot imagine that any educator could disagree with this statement.  For those that often complain that we are asked to bear too many burdens, let me offer a different perspective.

I used to teach geography to sophomores.  One day we were mindlessly going through he motions of our textbook when one of my students asked about a tiny graphic in the corner of a page.  It was a diagram of the slave trade routes.  His interest turned into classroom interest.  Two thirds of my class was African American and the level of curiosity on the topic told me that I was not doing enough to meet their educational needs.  From that point on, we jumped out of the textbook and I created a unit on the slave trade that even included an exercise in breaking down the lyrics of the Public Enemy song, Can't Truss It.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  Imagine a classroom of students marking and writing on their lyric sheets while they bobbed their heads to the music.  It was great. This didn't make me a hero to my African American students.  I proved to them that I would go out of my way to meet their needs and help them develop their own perspective.  They knew I was there to educate them.

As a white man, I think I exceeded their expectations and many barriers were broken down that might have only been perceived.  If my students and I relied simply on our implicit biases it may have played out differently.  I likely would have dismissed the new adventure as someone that was not credible to them because of my skin color.  They could have dismissed me as only telling the story in a way that was convenient to a white person.  There are a ton of ways that this activity could have become disingenuous to both student and teacher.  What happened was that I gave all of my effort to meet the needs of my students that were hungry for knowledge and social perspective.  Educators, this is our super power.

We are agents of change for so many social problems like bullying, poverty and racism. We should see this as a badge of honor and really take this distinction seriously. The next time someone complains that the schools should be doing more to fix a problem, know that the complaint you heard was a huge compliment.  Right now it is time to put on your capes and be ready to teach beyond what is expected of us when we come back.  They will need us now more than ever with the challenges that our country is facing.  They need our calm and our super powers.  Meaningful change takes place one person at a time and it can start in our classrooms.  As you plan for next school year, let's find ways to meet these challenges and be proud that society expects us to do it.