Friday, November 9, 2007

SC and the field trip

I attended the meeting the other night because the acting superintendent requested that some of our focus group (on professional development) be there to either present or lend our support to him as he presented it to the school committee.

The main issue discussed though was a proposed field trip by the Middle school Onyx team. Several members of the team (teachers) were in attendance. The trip was to occur to Pennsylvania in June to Amish country, Hershey Park - sounded like a good time. The teachers made a good case for the educational aspects as well, touting the practical application of physics, history coming alive, english and math. They did a good job on addressing the cost issue and even did a poll of the parents on the "team" who were overwhelmingly in favor of it. Everyone applauded the teachers for their ambitious and well presented plan ... then finally and gutlessly refused to vote on it.

The problems came when a few of the mothers on the SC expressed concern over the issue of perceived "fairness" or unfairness as the case may be for the other team at the Middle School. Apparently the teachers on that team were not in favor of the trip for their students for several reasons, some personal and others because of liability (here we go again - a pet peeve of mine).

The big problem I have with shooting this down is that it appears the school committee in its infinite non-wisdom doesn't trust the teachers or principal to make their own decisions. They got hung up on what's "fair and equal" and ignored what was right. As one of the parents so aptly put as we were leaving - sometimes what's fair isn't always equal.

The other fair criticism is why are we splitting up the Middle School into two distinct teams like this? I guess that's the decision of the principal and again she probably has some good reasons for it. In life group dynamics arise in business, politics and personal life all the time. But in school there always seems to be an element of cliquishness involved. Are you a jock or a freak (in my time, probably showing my age ;). This concept seems to institutionalize it to some degree. It might work better to actually split things into smaller teams ... but maybe not too. The other question I have is (and I don't have experience so I'm asking) how much choice do the students have in their team? Some kids might not get along with or agree with the leadership style of the teachers on their team. Then again that's life. OTOH if they had choice you might end up with a competition of preference for one team or another. But that might be good too.

The good thing is schools are kind of a laboratory for experiments like this. But I think you have to be careful that the negative aspects of group dynamics don't hinder anyone's education.

I'm of the opinion that the school committee was heavy handed in this regard with a group of very well intentioned and energetic teachers. I think in the end although it's disappointing, it's only a trip and it shouldn't hinder their creativity all that much.

No comments: