What Matters Most - Anywhere

Systems, organizations, and hierarchy. As if these are the panacea for what education, students and teachers most need to get and give their very best in the classroom. It doesn't matter if it's Chicago, New Orleans, LA or the small rural school in Mississippi, the overarching question about the aforementioned idea that how schools are organized will render the best education possible is simply ludicrous.

Having qualified teachers who are hard working, intelligent, resilient and are willing to engage students and to build a respectful relationship with them has far more to do with student success than whether a school or district is a 'select' or 'charter' school. Providing support and resources to teachers and students, alike, will go much further to reaching educational excellence than creating an 'efficient hierarchy.'

When was the last time a principal, asst. principal, school board member or any other person in charge of a school or department said - and really meant it when they asked - "what can I do to help you, what do you need?" And then they went ahead and worked with you to provide those supplies or resources or answers to your querry?

As I have read about the demise of traditional neighborhood public schools in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina I am reminded about what most matters in the classroom. It's not that hard to figure out.

Dick