Education Redux: Who Matters Most?

A Many Voices Guest Post by Ben Maisel

Ohio State educator and expert in the field of children’s literature, Rudine Sims Bishop, wrote, “Children need windows and mirrors. They need mirrors in which they see themselves, and windows through which they see the world.” Bishop’s comment speaks to me as a retired educator of some 30 years. I’ve always felt that children, given the proper amount of support, opportunity, freedom to choose, respect, and love, will grow into healthy, caring, well rounded, and responsible adults. When they are nurtured and encouraged to see who they are and who they want to be, as well as given an opportunity to look through windows into the lives and cultures of others, the seeds of a healthy world view can develop beyond the insularity of the tribe.

In the school district where I taught for most of my career, there was intense pressure from the parental community in a largely high-tech region, for children to excel in the traditional sense. Straight A’s and high test scores were paramount. I was fortunate to be hired by an alternative school within the district whose values on teaching and learning aligned with mine. Christa McAuliffe School was started by parents who rejected the traditional paradigm and wanted well-rounded, emotionally healthy sons and daughters who were equally comfortable playing in the mud as speaking with an assortment of parents, volunteers and teachers about their ideas and needs. My school valued consensus building, group work, and student choice in their learning. Projects created a high degree of buy-in which intrinsically motivated students. Daily class meetings in every room gave students a chance to share ideas and listen to others. Teachers were well trained to facilitate this process. I learned as much from students as they did from me over the years and the sense of mutual respect built a joyous community.

Photo by Agence Olloweb on Unsplash

In contrast, my childhood schooling was similar to many of yours, I imagine. Very mainstream. I’m sure I learned the basics and I can’t say I ever had a really bad teacher, but it was the typical grades and charts with gold stars. My sixth grade teacher was cool, however, and gave us numerous opportunities to be creative in our thinking. It definitely put him in good stead with me that he was willing to wager on the outcome of the NBA finals between the Lakers and the Knicks, with my level of participation in math hanging in the balance. Those who could measure up, like me, went through the motions and did what needed to be done, largely to please the teacher. This extrinsically motivated approach probably worked reasonably well for most people, but it has its limitations. What’s the difference between learning for learning’s sake and learning to please others? The latter seems to have repercussions as one gets older. On the job, for example, are we doing what is necessary or trying to earn a bonus, nothing else and nothing more? Or are we given freedom and agency to pursue our interests and to find that intrinsic motivation that enables us to grow in our profession? The more we empower children with the tools to pursue their interests and learn how to learn, the more they will lead more dynamic and fulfilling lives as they grow into adulthood. It’s not about praise and rewards. It’s about listening and helping children gain access to the internal and external paths to success.

Over the years, including in the current climate, I’ve witnessed many attempts by the usual suspects to undermine public education with a so-called “voucher system.” This is a thinly veneered excuse to further separate the haves from the have-nots. Those at the bottom of the totem pole are not able to benefit, which further erodes the public school system. What is happening currently is unconscionable and tantamount to telling public school children across the nation that they don’t matter and are unloved. I don’t think I’m exaggerating. More money for weapons and less money for kids. Telling students what they have to learn and what they can’t learn will dumb us all down, an obvious strategy for maintaining power over a population lacking the skills of discernment.

No doubt our public school system has had long-standing issues and the pendulum is constantly swinging back-and-forth on how and what to teach. The inequities are tangible and often dictated by how much your property taxes contribute to your child’s district. But how do we combat this systematic rape and stunting of the collective intelligence of our youth? We must fight tooth and nail for our children, the soul of our country.

Ben Maisel recently retired from a 30-year career as a fourth and fifth grade teacher, sports coach, and youth theater director. He currently lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Susan, two dogs, three cats, and four chickens. He is constantly on the go, either in his bicycle saddle, pottery studio, garden, or picking at his banjo.

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Copies of my 2019 essay collection, Twilight Time: Aging in Amazement, are available directly from me (signed) or from your local bookseller.