What is it?

Speaking with my colleagues, a theme is evident...this is one tough school year! Being a wonderer(that is not a word but that is what I do) I am a wonderer. I am also a realist. And a pragmatist. The situation needs analyzing. We see the problem. Goodness, we feel it everyday! Just stating the problem is not enough. I avoid the teacher's lounge because problems are so often stated-I want to solutions. Let's roll up our sleeves and find solutions. OK, so what are the possible solutions. Usually I will tell you that structure and consistency are key to a successful classroom. Experience has, at least anecdotally, prove this theory correct. Now we need to move this idea through the campus. How? Training? A lot of training goes unused. That is just the truth. We can't fix what happens outside the school. My goodness children have such heavy backpacks. They shouldn't, but they do. We can't change that. How can we equip them with the tools required to develop resiliency? That is a tough question. As society further deteriorates children arrive at school in greater need. As educative we are standard driven, improve test scores, get the blue ribbon. I think we are missing a link in this chain. We need to build a bridge. A really strong bridge-teachers need to know more and learn more and we need more freedom and more accountability-accountability that has nothing to do with test scores. A child's school success has so darn little to do with a test score. What about the ability to interact with peers? How about the ability to interact with authority figures in a positive manner? I reckon some teachers want to k ow bow to keep a child in their assigned seat. See, as medicine realized treating the disease is good; treating the whole patient is successful! We need a plan- a plan that meets the needs of the whole child. A plan that empowers teachers so they are not afraid to put down a standard and talk to a child! Relationships-we need relationships built..child to adult, child to child, teacher to careprovider, teacher to teacher. A village needs building. We need hammers and nails and 2*4's! We need to roll up our sleeves and do the work. Stop whining about what we don't have and let us get to it! Dang, we must get started, NOW!