David Warlick is angry...

... and that's a very good thing.

In a recent post entitled "Let's Just Put Them All In Jail 24/7," David's title came from a comment a reader left in the post before about Secretary Duncan's comments in Coloardo where he called for more time in schools as he said:


David weighs in with his own opinion about this:


The whole post is worth reading -- as are the comments, but I wanted to jump in and say that what angers David most, it seems, is the whole "the beatings will continue until moral improves" mindset that seems to be prevailing these days. And yes, it's being applied to students and teachers alike. The answer to our problems in education seems to be teach more, teach harder, learn more, learn harder. More hours, more homework, etc...

... without ever questioning the validity of the time we spend -- and the work we do -- together.

David is right to challenge the prevailing winds in education policy. He is right to be angry. He is right to worry that the path we're heading down does not lead to smarter, more passionate students and teachers, bur rather it leads to teachers and students thinking that school is something that is done TO students, not with or for.

If we want to see a smarter populace, let's start by making sure we find ways to make the time we spend together meaningful, and then let's continue by helping kids make all the hours of their days meaningful. That might mean letting them find their own learning from time to time, but first, we've got to make sure school doesn't take that love of learning away from them.