Wagging the Dog

Photo from: Eric Doherty

I recently had a conversation with my excellent student-teacher about last week's post advocating for an end to traditional grades.  She pointed out the implications of the large-scale practical application of grade-less education.  How would that affect admissions into higher-ed?  How would that effect financial aid and scholarships?  My collaborator Joey Till responded in a very matter-of-fact way, 'well, we have to change the system'.  

Obviously the system can change.  From NCLB to merit-pay and school choice--education policy will bend to the loudest voice.  Unfortunately, these changes have all been in the wrong direction.  These were top-down changes that have mainly come from outside sources who political motivations.  We need a positive change toward progressive pedagogy/assessment on a platform of technology with an evaluation system that doesn't involve a carrot or stick.  This needs to be bottom-up initiative that moves from the teachers to buildings to districts to the state level. 

I haven been a part of major change in my building (1:1 computing), which is now affecting change in my district (1:1 grades 4-12 next year).  Other schools have been visiting our school and changing their districts--hopefully this will lead to changes at the state level.  However, the fight to changed the evaluation system is a much harder fight.  I think its a fight worth fighting.  I think what we need is an organization of teachers who want change.  We need to create a grassroots organization of teachers who are interested in changing educational policy in the interest of learning.  Does one exist already?  Where do we start?