The Insanity of Education Reform

The way that we have been trying to change education is a variation on the old tune that defines insanity as doing the same thing but expecting different results. We test. We compete. We want accountability. We rail against tenure, unions, and bad teachers. We want things to be uniform and “common.” And nothing changes. In fact, it can be argued that our fetish with these approaches has made the state of education worse rather than better.

There are many schools, many in suburbs, smaller cities, and towns that are doing fine. Charter schools haven’t had a significant impact and are plagued by similar problems as the public schools near them.

So maybe, just maybe, it is time for a new approach. Maybe it is time to try another way. Here are some elements that we might consider:

Embrace and empower teachers. The reforms of the past three decades have focused on the “bad” teachers. Tests, standards, and other structures were designed to be “teacher-proof.” Instead, let’s work with teachers. After all, they are on the front lines. If they don’t buy into the plan, it will be far more difficult to carry out. If we work with, rather than against, professional educators, who know kids well, might we discover new ways to help kids learn?

Testing is a lost cause. We keep trying to use tests to solve education problems and it doesn’t work. We like tests because they generate clear numbers which we can compare and then use those comparisons to make judgments. However, tests are only one tile in a large and complex mosaic. Not only are they not the big picture, they are not an accurate little picture. They are merely measurable data and anyone who argues they work must address more than thirty years of standardized testing that if judged the way we judge any vehicle, fails to achieve a passing grade.

So what replaces testing? Smaller class sizes and increased resources. We waste billions of dollars on testing and make educational companies wealthy at our students’ expense. We know that smaller class sizes have a profound impact on learning. Give kids more teacher time and attention instead of testing drills!

No education reform can be complete without acknowledging that the research about student learning clearly states that the school (and to some degree the teacher) only control about a quarter of the factors that affect achievement. What goes on beyond the schoolhouse is far more important. Let’s focus there as well.

Let’s invest in parent education. Let’s address poverty, nutrition, and violence. Let’s increase funding of early childhood education and make access to preschool universal!

Let’s acknowledge that one size education doesn’t fit all! Uniform rules, tests, and standards don’t fit anyone! Education, like clothing, must be tailored and, since kids grow and change, evaluated and retailored constantly. Every child, school, and community is unique and deserves education that fits! 

We have tried the numbers, uniformity, and testing approach for more than thirty years. It doesn’t get a B or even a C. It has earned an F! Time for another course!