Are We Failing Superman... or Can We All Be Heroes?
As a "connected" educator who uses Twitter and other resources to expand my knowledge and horizons, I see and read a lot of things daily. Some open my eyes to new horizons, others reaffirm my long-held beliefs.
That being said, while discussing our school's upcoming (2020 school year) NEASC accreditation visit- and the vision of what we want a graduate of Coventry High School to look like today, I was reminded of what is easily my favorite YouTube educational video of all time.
I grew up reading comic books. LOVING comic books, really. Adoring them. I had hundreds of them (and still have them- my son and daughter are almost old enough for me to feel that they are responsible enough to "inherit" them). While many adults scoffed at my preferred choice of reading material as an adolescent and young teenager, I have always felt that comic books should be accepted as having at least a modicum of literary worth. Not all comics have intellectual value, of course, but I would argue that just as many published novels are likely not worthy of that designation either.
When utilizing my vocabulary and so many turns of phrases each day in my communication, I am often cognizant of where I learned many linguistic tools of my trade from... comic books. The same way that many adults remember a favorite teacher, I remember favorite issues, stories and characters and how they shaped both my thinking and communication.
That being said, it will be obvious why this video appealed to me.
When you watch it, it will also be obvious why now, as an adult, as an educator, this video appeals to me as well. Because is is dead solid perfect in it's message. I have discussed many of these themes in a previous blog post, and have discussed most of the other points in private conversations with my fellow administrators and our teachers.
Aside from the many references to superheroes, some of which may escape you if you are not a fan, but add to the overall enjoyment of the piece... there are overarching themes that are inescapably provocative and thought provoking.
So let's reflect. What's your Hypokryptonite?
Do you value rote memory, content-only, single, factual answers over the use of analysis/evaluation/creation in your classroom?
Do you need to work on developing your skills as a coach or a guide to your students- giving up your traditional role as the the "expert" in the room to allow kids to direct their own learning and exploration as much as possible?
Are you an administrator who wants to make positive change but something or someone is holding you back from an action that you know is good for kids?
How can we all use our own superpowers to make positive changes in education?
Let's advocate, share and work together for a progressive education system that will prepare today's kids for lives in the actual world that they will be entering and leading very soon. Not the one we lived in. Not the one that the current No Child Left Behind and standardized curricula are forcing kids into while simultaneously standardized testing them into a place of boredom, frustration, depression and failure like a Batman villain would hope to do to him...
“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” - Brodi Ashton
As educators, we all have tremendous power to shape the future of individual students and schools full of them every single day- for many, many years. As Uncle Ben once told teenage Peter Parker (as a burgeoning Spider-Man), "With great power comes great responsibility."
We all can be superheroes to our kids. Let's start thinking and working together to get them there too.
That being said, while discussing our school's upcoming (2020 school year) NEASC accreditation visit- and the vision of what we want a graduate of Coventry High School to look like today, I was reminded of what is easily my favorite YouTube educational video of all time.
I grew up reading comic books. LOVING comic books, really. Adoring them. I had hundreds of them (and still have them- my son and daughter are almost old enough for me to feel that they are responsible enough to "inherit" them). While many adults scoffed at my preferred choice of reading material as an adolescent and young teenager, I have always felt that comic books should be accepted as having at least a modicum of literary worth. Not all comics have intellectual value, of course, but I would argue that just as many published novels are likely not worthy of that designation either.
When utilizing my vocabulary and so many turns of phrases each day in my communication, I am often cognizant of where I learned many linguistic tools of my trade from... comic books. The same way that many adults remember a favorite teacher, I remember favorite issues, stories and characters and how they shaped both my thinking and communication.
That being said, it will be obvious why this video appealed to me.
When you watch it, it will also be obvious why now, as an adult, as an educator, this video appeals to me as well. Because is is dead solid perfect in it's message. I have discussed many of these themes in a previous blog post, and have discussed most of the other points in private conversations with my fellow administrators and our teachers.
Aside from the many references to superheroes, some of which may escape you if you are not a fan, but add to the overall enjoyment of the piece... there are overarching themes that are inescapably provocative and thought provoking.
- Everybody is different and have various interests and abilities, just like superheroes, so why are we expecting kids to learn the same things at the same time and expect them to be interested, engaged and successful?
- High school diplomas value only a small percentage of humanity's skills and knowledge.
- A one size fits all curriculum is blind to our natural aptitudes and intellects.
- Why do we think that what prepared children to be successful in the 50's (or 1850's) can adequately still prepare kids for the future?
- Why do we have kids learning to do things by hand that no one does by hand anymore? No statistician calculates a mean deviation by hand, and you don't really need to in order to understand what it's for or how to use it. So why do we still do it?
- If a question can be answered in one second using a smartphone, why are we asking it? If we are just testing a student's memorization skills... then just do that... but it's only a tiny fraction of their intelligence and ability to understand and work with complex ideas and applications.
- In your adult life, do you ever learn something just in case you might need it five or ten years into the future? Of course not. So why are we force feeding tons of curriculum into kids for that same reason?
- We weren't born in factories from a mold and we don't develop at the same time and same way either, so why do we group kids by age and expect them all to learn the same things in the same amount of time?
- The best teachers aren't those who know the most, but those who believe in you the most. Who help you to develop the most. They do this by offering the right challenges at the right time, asking the right questions and providing the right feedback.
- Books and computers can not coach you, encourage you or help you discover your passions... that's why teachers are so important.
- A high school diploma doesn't prove that anyone knows or can do anything, really. It's not a testimony to knowledge, but to perseverance. It's about patience, not learning.
- People knowing and being able to do different things is not only what we need, but it's a truer reflection of who we are as a society.
So let's reflect. What's your Hypokryptonite?
Do you value rote memory, content-only, single, factual answers over the use of analysis/evaluation/creation in your classroom?
Do you need to work on developing your skills as a coach or a guide to your students- giving up your traditional role as the the "expert" in the room to allow kids to direct their own learning and exploration as much as possible?
Are you an administrator who wants to make positive change but something or someone is holding you back from an action that you know is good for kids?
How can we all use our own superpowers to make positive changes in education?
Let's advocate, share and work together for a progressive education system that will prepare today's kids for lives in the actual world that they will be entering and leading very soon. Not the one we lived in. Not the one that the current No Child Left Behind and standardized curricula are forcing kids into while simultaneously standardized testing them into a place of boredom, frustration, depression and failure like a Batman villain would hope to do to him...
“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” - Brodi Ashton
As educators, we all have tremendous power to shape the future of individual students and schools full of them every single day- for many, many years. As Uncle Ben once told teenage Peter Parker (as a burgeoning Spider-Man), "With great power comes great responsibility."
We all can be superheroes to our kids. Let's start thinking and working together to get them there too.
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