The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/education/11cheat.html?pagewanted=2&hpw) is reporting on the rising number of suspected cases of teacher-tampering in state-level standardized testing.  According to the article, this issue is wide-spread, affecting many states and levels of education.  As the importance of standardized testing continues to grow I believe that this problem will, too.

Many states are considering or implementing systems that tie teacher pay to student test scores.  Some are going so far as to connect teacher tenure or employment to test scores.  As the pressure to train the students to perform continues to rise, so does the sense of desperation in teachers.

While I do believe that a teacher’s pay ought to be directly connected to their ability to teach their students, I think it is foolish to make the assumption that standardized tests are the most reliable and accurate way to measure that ability.  Standardized tests are flawed and cannot possibly be used to determine every child’s progress.  I don’t say this to “cover” for those teachers who are cheating and lying to save themselves, but rather to point out an obvious flaw in the system…one that we happen to be putting a lot of stock into. 

Education, what's it all about?  Our current financial times are requiring school districts everywhere to re-examine their course and program offerings.  This re-examination may result in a new definition of education.  As programs, such as music, art, theater, and sports, such as tennis, swimming, and soccer, experience budget cuts or total elimination, we see public education changing from the well-rounded, well-cultured approach to narrowly academic. Historically speaking, we've been here before.  Education in America started as an academic endeavor, designed to provide a certain set of skills to the general population.  Those who may have excelled in activities outside of the classroom were responsible for pursuing them on their on time and dollar, which normally limited exposure to the elite, wealthy populations.  In more recent history however, the public school system has prided itself on being a place where students learn more than simply the three R's.  Public school students have had the opportunity to experience foreign language classes, instrumental music classes, photography and ceramics, woodshop and cabinetry making, and many more.  Now however, these things are on the chopping block.  A New York Times article reports on some similar situations.  Click here to read more.  This financial crisis demands a critical look at what education is all about.  Is it the responsibility of the public schools to offer course like these?  How you stand on this issue will speak volumes on what education is all about for you. 

Teachers and would-be-teachers everywhere are searching the country for available positions.  The economic climate, which has lead to hiring-freezes, is to blame.  Historically speaking, education has always been a reliable profession.  One could anticipate each district or county have plenty of openings from year to year.  Teachers could comfortably assume that, no matter what happened in the rest of the world, their job would be safe.  Not so anymore.  With the trends leaning towards merit based-pay, and dismissal for sub-standard performance, teaching is anything but a safe profession.  Twenty years ago when a teacher entered the profession he or she was there to stay, sometimes for better or for worse.  Now, there is no guarantee.  People are holding on tightly to their current positions unsure of when the tide might change for them.  Meanwhile, thousands of college graduates look desperately for teaching positions.  The theory is that as competition for the select positions available increases so will the caliber of teachers hired.  So the search continues, for the best teachers, for the available positions.

Isn't it great when someone or something exceeds your expectations?  Michelle Obama was pleased to learn that students at GWU had exceeded her challenge of achieving 100,000 community service hours during the last year.  She gave the students a clear and attainable, yet challenging, goal to which they responded with determination and success.  To read more, click here. Students have a funny way of doing that.  Good teachers learn early on that it is important to figure out how to set clear, attainable, challenging goals for their students.  All too often, though, we see students and teachers fall into the self-fulfilling prophecy trap that ultimately stunts or reverses any progress.  Self-fulfilling prophecy is when you expect the very least, communicate that fairly clearly, and proceed to stand in the way of any possible progress.  And surprise, surprise, your low expectations are met.  Setting unrealistic, or lofty, expectations may create the same negative results as setting insultingly low ones.  If students feel completely incapable or unequipped to reach a certain goal they will most likely respond with indifference.  Know your students, set goals appropriate for their ability and interest, then facilitate achievement by encouraging them every step of the way. 

I'll admit it.  I'm confused.  The media, the government, even the business world seems to be telling us that education as we know it in America is the root of all our troubles.  We hear things like 'if our workforce were better educated the economy would be flourishing', and comments of that nature frequently.  I suppose the thought is that education equals economic success and sustainability. Here's why I'm confused.  If this is true, that education is to blame, then why are good teachers, ones who will and have make a difference in the life of a child, losing their jobs?  A friend of mine, who happens to be a great teacher, recently recieved notice that her position is being eliminated.  You may ask, have the number of students decreased that much or was she not an effective educator or is the program being restructured in a more effective way.  While all of these questions seem rational and valid, none of them are accurate.  She lost her job because of money.  The school still needs her.  The students still need her.  Our future economic health still needs her.  But the county can't pay, so she lost her job.   I don't understand why the current administration is insisting on playing this game of "Race to the Top" with education.  Good teacher, great teachers are losing their jobs today, and tomorrow, and the next day because the local governments can't afford them.  Why not focus all the hype and cash being spent on this "competition" on the real-life kids, classrooms, and schools that need it?  And save a few jobs at the same time!

How does a successful company with a demanding training schedule and education requirements hold it all together?  CLO magazine responds to this thought with an article entitled "Five Traits of Effective Learning Teams".   The article lists and describes these all-important traits.  They are, summed up, as follows: collaboration, communication, clear purpose, continuous improvement and innovation, and leveraging resources.  Certainly in an unsure and unpredictable economy like this one, we would like to know that every dollar is being used wisely to further our security in the global marketplace.  One way to achieve that stability and effectiveness is to implement an LMS, or Learning Management System, that can be the centralized location of training needs, requirements, and resources.  TrainingForce can provide an economically friendly solution for your training department.  Of the five traits listed in the previously mentioned CLO article, TrainingForce hits on every one.  The user-friendly system allows for collaboration and input from various users and communication templates that can be customized to meet your needs.  Centralizing training information will unify the purpose while allowing you to see areas that need improvement.  Most importantly, TrainingForce will allow you to manage precious resources, like time, energy, money, and people to the most optimal level.  TrainingForce can help you hold it all together.

A good teacher always leaves a legacy in the hearts and lives of his or her students.  A Washington Post article highlights the legacy of one such teacher.  Think back over your years of schooling and remember which teachers had a profound and lasting impact on who you were, who you have become, and who you may be in the future.  Teachers have a special role as part educator, part parent, part friend, part super-hero.  Students watch wide-eyed as Mrs. So and So tends to every student in the room while still making them feel special.  A good teacher knows her students when they don't even know themselves.  A good teacher cares about her students at school and at home. Teaching is not necessarily an immediately rewarding profession.  It may be years before the students realize the kind of impact a particular teacher had on their lives.  They may profess undying love for a teacher one year but pretend not to know you the next.  Teaching is a worthy, respectable profession that can impact generations to come. 

Each individual is endowed with the capacity for success.  Circumstances and experiences contribute to the development of that potential.  As an employer, you have the obligation and joy of unleashing that potential through training and learning opportunities.  This topic is also discussed in Chief Learning Officer in the May edition.  Certainly an employer would want to take full advantage of what their workforce has to offer.  Implementing an LMS, such as TrainingForce, can reduce the paperwork burden and organizational headache that may come with developing a widespread plan for learning.  TrainingForce is designed to encourage, track, and measure learning needs.  As your workforce is exposed to appropriate and effective learning, their potential for high performance will increase.  TrainingForce is a user-friendly, customizable, flexible program.  Not only does it assist with student and instructor scheduling, but it also allows you to manage rooms, resources, and reminders.  If your learning department is just looking to take off, TrainingForce may be exactly what you need to encourage and enable your employees to reach their full potential. 

As reported in the New York Times, today's leaders in this global economy are definitively different than those of past eras.  According to the article, successful leaders must possess chameleon-like qualties, affording them the ability to be comfortable in any environment and perhaps, more importantly, to make those in their environment more comfortable.  As the world watches and observes these "hybrid leaders", as they are referred to in the article, one will note the ease with which they present themselves and the attention their presence demands.  The most successful leaders are not trained so much as born.  Their histories and circumstances have contributed to who they have become.  What does a good leader consist of?  Essentially, a good leader is comfortable in their own skin, regardless of the company in which they find themselves.  Good leaders are innovators to the core and compassionate towards their workforce.  A good leader is someone who is timeless- not being bound by the traditions or rituals of an age-gone-by.

I have often questioned the American mentality that seems to imply that everyone should go to college or pursue higher education.  We tend to be idealistic in this regard.  We think that the more degrees one possess, the more success they will experience.  But is that true?  Does a degree, or many degrees, guarantee security? In fact, our public education system is under attack for this very reason.  The prevailing thought is that everyone ought to be able to achieve to equal levels and, if, that has not occured, there must be some major flaw in the system.  So, we find ourselves dismantling what we know to be semi-successful and searching for the most innovative and trendy method.  Students are indoctrinated to believe that personal worth is directly proportionate to educational achievement.  By doing this we really do our students a disservice.  Although, in recent years vocational education has taken on more respect, in general we don't respect and promote trade education as it deserves.  College is not for everyone but responsibility and productivity is.  Why not promote education or training that will reap long-term benefits not just for the individual but also for the collective workforce.