Here is my proposal that educators diversify their reading lists. There is an expression “Think global, act local” that pretty much summarizes the concern encouraging my suggestion. Every educator faces certain day to day issues and it makes sense that they seek ideas relevant to these daily challenges. So, whether you want to speak like a pirate, hack, code or develop mindsets, there is a book and possibly an app for that. Without meaning to imply a lack of value, these are “flavor of the month” proposals that encourage a different way of thinking about daily practice that may or may not be rehashes of previous ideas. Any trend that encourages reflection is likely a good thing and some variation in classroom activity refreshes the daily experience.
Core problems facing educators are deeper and more systemic.
I am more concerned that public education is being expected to take on problems that originate elsewhere (not a new thing) such as poverty, inequity, and national economic prosperity, blamed for being slow or ineffective in addressing such expectations, and then targeted by politicians and business opportunists with schemes that degrade the great majority of professional educators and divert funds. This sequence creates a downward spiral that feeds on itself and offers justification to those critics unwilling to follow the path of cause and effect.
Here are a couple of recommendations I would encourage for book study and social media comment:
Russakoff, The prize: Who’s in charge of American schools (you will recognize familiar settings and people – Chris Christie, Cory Booker, Mark Zuckerberg – the problem with New Jersey schools and the political solution)
Goldstein, The teacher wars: A history of America’s most embattled profession.
