VOICES-President John F. Kennedy said, "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." This message has apparently been lost on some people in our teachers unions who used their recent national conventions in Los Angeles and Denver to argue against desperately needed changes in our public schools.
At a time when only one in 10 low-income children is earning a four-year college degree and two out of three jobs of the future will require one, change is needed. At a time when more than half of young people attending community college need to retake high-school classes because the education they received was not rigorous enough, change is needed. At a time when American 15-year-olds trail their counterparts in 30 countries in math, 23 in science and 20 in reading, change is needed.
For some time now, teachers, elected officials, community, business and nonprofit organizations have advanced bold changes in education. America is raising standards, investing in teachers, rewriting curriculum, bringing technology into the classroom and exploring new learning models like public charter schools that are getting results in higher graduation and college-enrollment rates.
As mayor of Los Angeles from 2005-13, I met countless dedicated and hardworking teachers who were changing their teaching style to meet the new Common Core State Standards. I also saw students responding positively. They're more engaged and motivated, thinking critically, solving problems and digging deeper into the issues instead of simply memorizing facts. They're working individually and in groups and developing communications and research skills they will need to thrive in the 21st century.
(Read the rest … including how teachers unions are in denial … here)
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CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 59
Pub: Jul 22, 2014
