Keep the brains, change the culture

There is a lot of talk on a day to day basis from lots of people about how to best teach our kids.  There is talk from politicians, doctors, lawyers, school boards with little educational experience beyond being a student.  Now this does not exclude these folks from having an opinion and certainly can be useful.  What is more upsetting though, is the lack of the people with power, rarely asking the people on the front lines what changes needs to really be made so that learning occurs. 

The other day I held a class meeting with my reading students.  They are a bright bunch of kids.  Probably one of the most articulate group I have had, coupled with the ability to look at issues or concepts from several different angels.  Our discussions have depth, meaning, disagreements, consensus, and are thought provoking.  We always are caught by the bell and the kids groan when it is over.  So the other day their attitude and depth was a normal occurrence for my students, during reading. 

The question I posed to them was, "What do you find challenging about sharing your true opinion?"  Boy, I got some real answers, mainly because they feel very safe in my room during reading with each other.  The bright, with the bright.  Ultimately the expressed in many different ways that did not feel like they could express their opinion in their other classes, because the other kids would bully them, make fun of them, or just not even be willing to think through a complex idea.  Other students expressed that their peers typically have made up their mind and become emotional before a discussion even really begins, so they have stopped trying.  MY STUDENTS ARE 6th GRADERS. 

Then there was the topper, the culminating theme of the discussion.  They said, "Look, we realize that our school does not have many minorities.  We are mostly Christian, mostly white, mostly well to do, but being smart is a minority, and we are bullied constantly for our brains." 

We are a school.  Our job is to make them smarter, but our school culture does not value their brilliance.  Oh dear.  Why do we have pep-a-rallies honoring our athletic teams, touting our cheerleaders, kids who pay happily to see a football game, but kids are ashamed to me on the scholars bowl team, or participate in the science Olympiad. 

This cultural flaw in schools and in daily society is the first change we must make in this country, if we want to join the ranks of the smart nations of this world.  Even if you don't want to join those countries, what about doing it so some 6th grader does not already feel like they must sensor their ideas so they don't get shut down by the loud popular bully that sets the standard for our cultural norms.