This afternoon, as I was reviewing notes from a meeting that I really hope turns into something interesting, I ran across this line:
I just want it to be sexy for Colorado educators to be reflective about their practice.
It turns out that I said that. And, well, yeah. I mean it. As I see the standards changing, and the assessments coming and the stakes going up1 while the quality of the rhetoric is going down, that’s really what I want to see. I want it to be said and praised that the folks who emerge as the victors in the educational reform conversations aren’t the ones with the best toys, or the ones who have the biggest PR budgets, or the ones who have the loudest megaphones or maybe even the ones with the best test scores.2
I want the ones who get the glory to be the men and women toiling in cramped office spaces, working through complex arguments, ideas and situations. I want the big shots to be the ones who are actually wrestling with ideas and opportunities and setbacks and successes. The heroes are the folks who are struggling to help children to realize amazing3 things. And are wrestling with the ideas that emerge from such work. I want the reflective teachers to come through in the lead and with the praise and admiration.
Are you with me? Let’s make thoughtful sexy. Again.
